Ozempic Dosage Guide: Finding Your Correct Dose - Levity
Dr Ashwin Sharma
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Jun 20, 2024
This GLP-1 drug requires titration. Our Levity clinical experts break down everything you need to know about the Ozempic dosage schedule here.
One of the best-known treatments for weight loss – Ozempic has become synonymous with injectable weight loss medications. Read on for your guide to the popular treatment, including how Ozempic works, who is eligible to take it and importantly, how and where to get it.
Although you will likely have heard of Ozempic in the context of weight loss – it is prescribed and approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as a diabetes treatment for people with type 2 diabetes. Although here at Levity we can prescribe Ozempic for weight loss off-label too. The active ingredient inside called Semaglutide is a type of drug called a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist.
Our bodies naturally produce a hormone called insulin when we eat. It allows our cells to absorb glucose from the bloodstream – which regulates our blood sugar and tells our bodies that we’re full. It’s the body’s GLP-1 hormones that act like a messenger, telling the pancreas to release insulin.
GLP-1 agonists, like Ozempic, behave like this natural hormone when injected into the body. They effectively trigger insulin production, which not only helps people with diabetes to manage their blood sugar levels but also slows gastric emptying which promotes a feeling of fullness, and acts on the hypothalamus in the brain to control appetite. [1]
In clinical trials, Ozempic has been shown to help those taking it lose up to 7%% of their body weight after a year. [2]
When looking to begin any weight loss treatment – your healthcare provider will individually assess your eligibility for Ozempic or any number of other medications available. Here at Levity, this assessment will take into consideration your medical history, any medical conditions you have, your weight loss goals, whether or not you’ve already tried diet and exercise to lose weight and your age (you must be over 18 years old).
Ozempic – like all other GLP-1s – is a prescription medication. So it is essential first to see your doctor, health care provider or if you choose Levity as your weight loss partner, to complete an online consultation. From there they’ll assess if weight loss injections are a suitable treatment option for you and your weight loss goals.
As previously mentioned, Ozempic isn't yet FDA-approved as a weight loss drug. The FDA has only approved it as a diabetes medication, so insurance companies will only help cover the cost of Ozempic for patients with type 2 diabetes. Here at Levity, it is available off-label for weight management, which simply means that it is still prescribed by a board certified MD, the only difference is you won’t be able to use an insurance plan to help pay for it. You can find everything you need to know about the cost of Ozempic without insurance assistance here.
If in-person appointments and pharmacy visits aren’t the right choice for you, online healthcare providers like Levity might work best. Before our clinical experts prescribe your weight loss treatment, they’ll first ask you to complete an online consultation. If eligible for GLP-1 weight loss drugs, our team will show you all of the different prescription drugs available to you – which could include Compounded semaglutide – an unbranded generic treatment, or popular brand-name drugs like Wegovy, Mounjaro and Saxenda. You can compare their prices and benefits on the Levity website here.
Once you’ve chosen your treatment, our clinicians will prescribe your medication and have it sent directly to your door. Every step of the way including consultation, the Ozempic medication and ongoing clinical support is included in the monthly cost of your treatment.
GLP-1 receptor agonists are titrated drugs, which means you start on a low dose and each month slowly increase until you reach your maintenance dose. That’s the point at which you get maximum benefits with minimal side effects and will be different for everyone. With Ozempic, you’ll start off with a 0.25 mg dose for the first four weeks, then go up to 0.5 mg, 1.0 mg, 1.5 mg and 2 mg.
Your weekly injection is self-administered, and comes in a pre-filled dose pen with the correct amount inside. You won’t be able to increase your dosage unless you complete your regular check-ins with our Levity clinical team, so they can assess your progress and monitor any possible side effects.
As weight loss medication is just one piece of the puzzle, health coaching is also included in your Levity plan, to ensure you’re maintaining a lower calorie diet and an active lifestyle.
1. Introduction [Internet]. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health; 2019. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK544009/
2. Wilding JPH, Batterham RL, Calanna S. Once-Weekly Semaglutide in Adults with Overweight or Obesity. The New England Journal of Medicine [Internet]. 2021 Feb 10;384(11):989–1002. Available from: https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2032183
This GLP-1 drug requires titration. Our Levity clinical experts break down everything you need to know about the Ozempic dosage schedule here.
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Wondering how to start using an injectable GLP-1? Get all the information you need from our experts here.
Understanding where you inject your insulin is as important as knowing your correct dosage. Read your Levity guide to subcutaneous Ozempic injections here.