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Drug Info

How long does it take Ozempic to work?

The GLP-1 is revolutionary for its effect on blood sugar and weight loss—but it doesn’t work overnight
Ben Michalak
By | Jan. 26, 2024 Medically reviewed by Lindsey Hudson, APRN, NP-C, CDCES
A clock on top of an Ozempic pen | How long does it take Ozempic to work?
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Ozempic (semaglutide) is one of the most popular prescription drugs for treating Type 2 diabetes on the market. Approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2017 for blood sugar management, Ozempic has recently gained attention for its weight loss effects. Healthcare professionals prescribe Ozempic off-label for weight management for patients with obesity. (They also prescribe Wegovy, which is the same diabetes medication sold under a different brand name. It received FDA approval for weight management in June 2021.)

Though it’s very effective, Ozempic is not an overnight miracle drug. Some of its effects may take weeks, even months, until noticeable improvements in blood sugar or weight are seen. In this article, learn how long Ozempic takes to work and how it can help you achieve your blood sugar or weight loss goals.

How fast does Ozempic work?

It may take four to eight weeks for the full effects of Ozempic to kick in. Ozempic (semaglutide) is a once-weekly subcutaneous injection that helps manage blood glucose levels and reduces heart disease and stroke risk. In your first month, you’ll start on a low dose of 0.25 mg while your body gets used to the medication. During this period, you may not experience any noticeable changes in your weight or glucose levels. This is perfectly normal. The medication needs time to reach a steady level in your system. You might not even see full effectiveness until you titrate up to the maximum dose of 2 mg. Everyone is different.

Monitoring your blood sugar readings and HbA1C levels is one of the most recommended ways to track your progress on Ozempic, says Alex Foxman, MD, internist and medical director of the Beverly Hills Institute in Beverly Hills, California. When the numbers begin to decrease, it means the medication is working. 

How long does it take to start losing weight with Ozempic?

While you may start to see lower blood sugar levels after four to five weeks of taking the lower doses of Ozempic, weight loss may take some time.

“I sometimes see patients start to lose weight as early as two to three weeks after starting the initial dose of Ozempic; however, substantial weight loss usually occurs at the higher doses,” says Soma Mandal, MD, an internist at Summit Health in Berkeley Heights, New Jersey. 

One study found that patients noted a 5.9% total body weight loss after three months on semaglutide (the active ingredient in Ozempic) and 10.9% after six months. At that point, patients were taking doses from 1.7 mg to 2.4 mg, with the study’s primary goal to observe their weight loss. It’s important to note that 2.4 mg is the maximum dose for Wegovy, the brand name of semaglutide that is approved for weight loss. The maximum dose of Ozempic is 2 mg. 

Another program, The Semaglutide Treatment Effect in People with Obesity (STEP) program, was conducted to study the impact of semaglutide injections on overweight or obese people who did not have diabetes. After taking a 2.4 mg dose of semaglutide for 68 weeks (about 17 months), patient results showed a weight loss of 14.9% from baseline. 

Although you may not notice the numbers on the scale moving right after you start taking Ozempic, you may begin feeling its effects. Ozempic mimics a hormone, glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), that helps decrease your appetite and slows gastric emptying, or the rate at which food leaves the stomach. Many patients report feeling a loss of food cravings within their first month on Ozempic at just 0.25 mg.

RELATED: How to get Ozempic prescribed for weight loss

Can Ozempic be taken long-term? 

Ozempic is traditionally prescribed as a long-term medication for the management of Type 2 diabetes. Still, Dr. Mandal says its suitability for long-term use can depend on a few factors. “The patient’s overall health and any associated side effects patients may experience” are the deciding factors when a healthcare provider considers a patient’s future with Ozempic. 

If Ozempic works for you, your healthcare provider may indefinitely keep you on a maintenance dose. Consistent, weekly injections will positively affect your weight, keep your blood sugar low, and reduce your risk for cardiovascular diseases. 

Can you regain weight after using Ozempic?

Although Ozempic is meant to be taken long-term, some people will need to discontinue use—and it is possible to regain weight after you stop taking Ozempic. If you are taking Ozempic to manage Type 2 diabetes or other health conditions, you may face additional complications when you stop your weekly injections. 

In an extension of the 68-week STEP program, patients reported regaining 11.6% of their lost weight after treatment withdrawal by week 120. With this regain, the overall net loss over 120 weeks was reported to be only 5.6%. Any heart health or Type 2 diabetes improvements were reversed by the end of the 120 weeks. In addition, appetite will return once the medication wears off.

“Obesity is a chronic disease and requires chronic management, just like hypertension, diabetes, or hypercholesterolemia,” Dr. Foxman says. If you are taking Ozempic for weight management and plan to stop using it, you need a plan to keep the weight off that involves continuing the lifestyle changes, reduced-calorie diet, and exercise routine you started when you began taking Ozempic. 

If you discontinued use because of the side effects of Ozempic, you can also try another weight loss drug, such as:

Like Ozempic, other medications can be prescribed off-label for weight loss. They include:

Seek medical advice from your prescribing healthcare provider on which medication could be a good fit for you.

RELATED: Could one of these prescription weight-loss pills be right for you?

The bottom line

Be patient with Ozempic. You will not see miraculous results by the end of the first week. However, if you stick to a weekly schedule, make lifestyle changes, and track your progress, you will likely start seeing your desired results with Ozempic in four to eight weeks of treatment.