Ozempic's most common side effect is nausea: 15.8% of people on 0.5 mg and 20.3% on 1 mg in its diabetes trials, against 6.1% on placebo. The injection starts at 0.25 mg a week for four weeks, then 0.5 mg, and can go to 1 mg and 2 mg if more blood sugar control is needed. Ozempic is approved for type 2 diabetes, not for weight loss, so its label numbers come from people with diabetes. Below is what the FDA label says.
By Alexandru Vieru | Independently researched | Every number on this page is from the FDA prescribing information on DailyMed. This is general information, not medical advice: your prescriber decides your dose.
Ozempic side effects in its trials
Adults with type 2 diabetes in placebo-controlled trials, Ozempic injection (side effects in 5% or more of people on Ozempic). Percent of people who reported each one:
| Side effect | Placebo (262) | Ozempic 0.5 mg (260) | Ozempic 1 mg (261) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nausea | 6.1% | 15.8% | 20.3% |
| Vomiting | 2.3% | 5% | 9.2% |
| Diarrhea | 1.9% | 8.5% | 8.8% |
| Abdominal pain | 4.6% | 7.3% | 5.7% |
| Constipation | 1.5% | 5% | 3.1% |
How many people stopped because of side effects
Stomach and bowel side effects were reported by 32.7% and 36.4% of people on Ozempic 0.5 and 1 mg, against 15.3% on placebo, mostly while the dose was being increased; 3.1% and 3.8% stopped because of them, against 0.4% on placebo.
Serious risks
The label also warns of pancreatitis, diabetic eye complications, low blood sugar with insulin or sulfonylureas, kidney injury from dehydration, severe stomach and bowel side effects, allergic reactions, gallbladder disease and inhaling stomach contents under anesthesia or deep sedation.
Boxed warning. Risk of thyroid C-cell tumors: semaglutide causes these tumors in rodents, and it is unknown whether it does in humans. Ozempic must not be used by anyone with a personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) or with Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2).
From the FDA prescribing information for Ozempic (revised May 2026 (injection), January 2026 (tablets)), read on DailyMed and, for the tablets, DailyMed on 16 October 2026. A summary, not medical advice: a clinician decides whether it suits you.
Ozempic dosage, from the label
The dose schedule
- Injection: 0.25 mg a week for 4 weeks, then 0.5 mg; the dose can go to 1 mg and then 2 mg a week, each after at least 4 weeks, if more blood sugar control is needed.
- Tablet: 1.5 mg a day for 30 days, then 4 mg; from day 61 it stays at 4 mg or goes to 9 mg.
How it’s taken
- Injection: once a week at any time of day, with or without food, under the skin of the belly, thigh or upper arm. A missed dose can be taken within 5 days.
- Tablet: once a day in the morning on an empty stomach, with up to 4 ounces of water, swallowed whole; then wait at least 30 minutes before eating, drinking or taking other oral medicines.
If you miss a dose
Injection: take a missed dose as soon as possible within 5 days. After more than 5 days, skip it and take the next dose on your usual day.
From the FDA prescribing information for Ozempic (revised May 2026 (injection), January 2026 (tablets)), read on DailyMed and, for the tablets, DailyMed on 16 October 2026. A summary, not medical advice: a clinician decides whether it suits you.
Ozempic's numbers aren't Wegovy's
Ozempic and Wegovy are both semaglutide, but the trials behind each label were different: Ozempic's in adults with type 2 diabetes at up to 1 mg, Wegovy's in adults with obesity or overweight at 2.4 mg. That's why Wegovy's label shows higher nausea rates.
What it costs and who prescribes it
For Ozempic's price from the manufacturer, with and without insurance, and the online clinics we review that prescribe it, see our Ozempic guide.
FAQ
Is Ozempic approved for weight loss? No. It's approved for type 2 diabetes. Prescribing it for weight is off-label; the semaglutide approved for weight management is Wegovy.
What if I miss an Ozempic dose? Take it as soon as possible within 5 days. After more than 5 days, skip it and take the next dose on your usual day.
What is the highest Ozempic dose? 2 mg once a week, reached in steps of at least four weeks.
Source: the Ozempic prescribing information on DailyMed (adverse reactions, dosage and administration, and the boxed warning), read 16 October 2026.
