Ozempic is a weekly injection of a medicine called semaglutide. It was first approved for adults with type 2 diabetes, and it is now widely known because people who take it often lose weight.

How it works

Semaglutide works like a natural hormone (GLP-1) that the body releases after a meal. It helps the body release insulin when blood sugar is high, slows digestion, and makes you feel full sooner, so you eat less.

Ozempic and Wegovy

Both contain semaglutide. Ozempic is approved for type 2 diabetes, including lowering the risk of heart attack and stroke in people with diabetes and heart disease. Wegovy is the version approved for weight management, at a higher dose, and since January 2026 also as a daily pill. Your provider will help decide which one fits your health and goals.

Who it may help

  • Adults with type 2 diabetes whose blood sugar needs better control
  • Adults with obesity, or with extra weight and health problems such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or sleep apnea

It is not right for everyone. It is not used during pregnancy, and it is not used if you or a family member had medullary thyroid cancer or a condition called MEN 2.

Side effects

  • Common: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, and less appetite, mostly in the first weeks and after a dose increase. Starting with a low dose and raising it slowly helps.
  • Call us right away for severe stomach pain that doesn't go away, vomiting you can't stop, or signs of an allergic reaction.

Get it safely

  • In the US, Ozempic is sold only with a prescription, from a licensed pharmacy.
  • Avoid websites that sell it without a visit, and medicine brought from abroad. The FDA has found fake Ozempic pens in the US.
  • Your weight and blood sugar matter long after the first months. Regular follow-up visits, food, and activity help you keep the results.

At our clinic

We prescribe Ozempic, Wegovy, and other GLP-1 medicines such as Mounjaro and Trulicity when they're the right choice for you, as part of our weight loss management. At your visit we review your health history, check blood work, and make a plan with regular follow-ups. Coverage depends on your plan and your diagnosis, so call (425) 440-7760 and we'll help you check. You can talk with us in Russian or Hebrew.