Health information to help you understand symptoms. It isn't a diagnosis.
Check symptoms

Semaglutide

Brand names: Ozempic, Wegovy, Rybelsus

Semaglutide is a GLP-1 medicine that lowers blood sugar in type 2 diabetes and helps with weight loss. It's a weekly shot or a daily pill.

Brand namesOzempic, Wegovy, Rybelsus
Type of medicineGLP-1 receptor agonist
Prescription?Prescription
ImportantThis page is general information, not a prescription. Don't start, stop, or change a medicine without talking to your provider or pharmacist.

Overview

It acts like a gut hormone that boosts insulin when blood sugar is high, slows stomach emptying, and reduces appetite.

Ozempic and Rybelsus are for diabetes. Wegovy is for weight management and lowering heart risk.

What it's used for

  • Type 2 diabetes
  • Lowering the risk of heart attack and stroke in some people with heart disease
  • Chronic weight management (Wegovy)

How to take it

  • Injections: once a week on the same day, under the skin of the belly, thigh, or upper arm.
  • Pills (Rybelsus): first thing in the morning with no more than 4 ounces of water, at least 30 minutes before food, drink, or other medicines.
  • The dose is raised slowly to reduce stomach side effects.
  • Eat smaller meals and stop when full.

Your dose depends on your health and other medicines. Always follow your prescription label, and ask your pharmacist if anything is unclear.

Side effects

Common side effects

  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Diarrhea or constipation
  • Stomach pain
  • Less appetite
Call 911Severe belly pain that spreads to the back, with or without vomiting (possible pancreatitis)
Call your provider todayVomiting or diarrhea that won't let you keep fluids down
Call your provider todayPain in the upper right belly, fever, or yellow skin or eyes (possible gallbladder problem)
Call your provider todayA lump or swelling in the neck, trouble swallowing, or hoarseness
Call your provider todayVision changes (in people with diabetic eye disease)

Warnings

  • Not for people with a personal or family history of medullary thyroid cancer or MEN 2.
  • Tell anyone giving you anesthesia that you take it; it slows stomach emptying.
  • Only use FDA-approved products from a licensed pharmacy.

Other medicines, foods, and alcohol

  • Insulin and sulfonylureas taken with it raise the risk of low blood sugar.
  • It can change how other pills are absorbed.

Tell your provider and pharmacist about every medicine, vitamin, and supplement you take.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

Stop at least 2 months before a planned pregnancy. Tell your provider if you become pregnant.

Missed doses, overdose, and storage

If you miss a dose

Weekly shot: take it within 5 days of the missed dose; if more than 5 days have passed, skip it and take the next dose on your usual day. Daily pill: skip the missed dose and take the next one the next morning.

If someone takes too much

Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 or get help online at poison.org. Call 911 if the person collapses, has a seizure, has trouble breathing, or can't be woken.

Storing it

Store at room temperature, away from heat and moisture (not in the bathroom), and out of reach of children and pets.

Conditions it's used for

Sources

Last updated 2026-11-13.