Key Points

• Ozempic (semaglutide) injection is a medication used for type 2 diabetes that comes in a self-injectable pen. This pen is a device that is pre-filled with medication and makes it easier for you to give yourself the weekly injections.
• If you use the 0.5 mg, 1 mg or 2 mg maintenance dose per week, your pen will hold 4 doses and last for one month.
• Ozempic pens contain different amount of medicine. You may have a pen that delivers 0.25 mg, 0.5 mg, 1 mg or 2 mg per injection. It depends upon how your doctor orders Ozempic, and what dose you are using. The 0.25 mg dose is a starter dose given once weekly. After 4 weeks, your doctor will increase your dose to 0.5 mg once weekly. If needed, higher doses may also be prescribed.
• Each carton also contains NovoFine Plus needles that are used with the Ozempic pen.

Ozempic injection is available at the pharmacy in three options:

• A carton that contains one pen with 2 mg/1.5 mL of Ozempic. This pen delivers 4 weekly doses of 0.25 mg plus 2 weekly doses of 0.5 mg per injection OR 4 weekly doses of 0.5 mg per injection. The carton also contains 6 NovoFine Plus needles. This pen is intended for treatment initiation at the 0.25 mg dose and maintenance treatment at the 0.5 mg dose. The pen delivers 4 doses of the 0.25 mg and 2 doses of the 0.5 mg strength. It can also deliver 4 doses of the 0.5 mg strength.
• A carton that contains one pen with 4 mg/3 mL of Ozempic per pen. This pen delivers 4 weekly doses of 1 mg per injection. The carton also contains 4 NovoFine Plus needles. This pen is intended for maintenance treatment at the 1 mg dose only. Each pen delivers 4 doses of the 1 mg strength and contains a month’s worth of medication.
• A carton that contains one pen that contains 8 mg/3 mL of Ozempic per pen. This pen delivers 4 weekly doses of 2 mg per injection. The carton also contains 4 NovoFine Plus needles. This pen is intended for maintenance treatment at the 2 mg dose only. Each pen delivers 4 doses of the 2 mg strength and contains a month’s worth of medication.

Your doctor, nurse or pharmacist will show you how to use Ozempic the first time. Ozempic is injected under the skin (subcutaneously) of your stomach (abdomen), thigh, or upper arm. Do not inject Ozempic into a muscle (intramuscularly) or vein (intravenously).

Don’t share your Ozempic pen with anyone, even if the needle has been changed. Use a new needle each time you use Ozempic.

Is Ozempic available in a starter-kit?

Your doctor or pharmacist may be able to supply you with a free 6-week starter kit for Ozempic. Each box will contain one prefilled, disposable pen with 2 mg/1.5 mL (1.34 mg/mL) of Ozempic and 6 NovoFine Plus 32 gauge disposable needles.

The kit also contains instructions for use, information on the Cornerstones4Care free support program supported by Novo Nordisk, and an Ozempic savings card.

If you have eligible commercial or private insurance (not government-sponsored like Medicare or Medicaid), you may pay as little as $25 for a 1-month, 2-month, or 3-month supply for up to 24 months.

If you have questions about how to save when filling your prescription for Ozempic, call Novo Nordisk at 1-877-304-6855 if you have commercial insurance or 1-866-310-7549 to learn more about Novo Nordisk assistance programs.

What is the dose of Ozempic?

Ozempic is injected once a week, exactly as prescribed by your doctor.

Start at 0.25 mg once per week for the first 4 weeks. You start with a lower dose to help your body adjust to the medicine, but the 0.25 mg once per week dose is not effective in lowering your blood sugar over the long-term.

At Week 5, your doctor will increase the dose to 0.5 mg once a week. If, after at least 4 weeks on the 0.5 mg dose, you need further blood sugar control, your doctor may increase your dose to 1 mg once a week. There is a separate pen for this dose and you will need a new prescription.

If additional blood sugar control is needed, your doctor may increase the dose to 2 mg once weekly after at least 4 weeks on the 1 mg dose. There is also a separate pen for this dose.

The maximum dose of Ozempic is 2 mg once a week. Administer the injection once weekly, on the same day each week, at any time of the day, with or without meals.

Ozempic injection 0.5 mg, 1 mg, or 2 mg is used:

• along with diet and exercise to improve blood sugar (glucose) in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus.
• to reduce the risk of major cardiovascular events such as heart attack, stroke, or death in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus with known heart disease.

In addition, Ozempic can help many patients lose some weight.

How do I store Ozempic?

Your Ozempic pen should stay in the refrigerator (between 36°F to 46°F or 2°C to 8°C) until the first time you use it.

After you’ve used it for the first time, you can either store your pen at room temperature (between 59ºF to 86ºF or 15ºC to 30ºC) or you can continue keeping it in the refrigerator. Throw away the pen after 56 days, (whether kept in the refrigerator or at room temperature), even if it has medicine left in it. Do not use the Ozempic pen if it has frozen.

Do not keep your pens in the car as they may get too hot or cold.

Bottom Line

There are 3 different self-injectable pen options with Ozempic. Each pen contains 2 mg in 1.5 mL, 4 mg / 3 mL, or 8 mg / 3 mL.

One pen option contains 4 doses of the 0.25 mg per week starting dose and 2 doses of the 0.5 weekly maintenance dose. This pen can also be used for 4 doses of the 0.5 mg weekly dose. The 0.25 mg per week dose is a starting dose only to help you become used to the medicine. This pen is also supplied in the starter pack.

The other pen option contains 2 doses of the 1 mg per week dose, but there are 2 pens in the carton. This carton containing 2 pens can last you a whole month. You would only need this pen if your doctor has prescribed you the higher dose of 1 mg per week of Ozempic injection.

Your Ozempic pen should be stored in the refrigerator (between 36°F to 46°F or 2°C to 8°C) until the first time you use it. After you use it the first time, you can keep it at room temperature or in the refrigerator. Either way, dispose of the pen after 56 days, even if it still contains medication.

This is not all the information you need to know about Ozempic for safe and effective use. Review the full Ozempic information here, and discuss this information with your doctor or other health care provider.