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Key takeaways
Ozempic must be injected once per week on the same day each week, but there is flexibility in terms of what time of the day you take it.
Although some people prefer to take Ozempic in the evening so they can sleep through potential side effects like nausea, it’s fine to take it earlier in the day as well.
Most people find that Ozempic side effects decrease the longer they take Ozempic and their body adjusts to the medication.
Ozempic (semaglutide) is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to help control blood sugar in adults with Type 2 diabetes. Ozempic is also FDA approved for cardiovascular risk reduction and kidney disease. Ozempic is part of a group of drugs known as glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists. It is injected subcutaneously (under the skin) once a week, on the same day each week. The once-weekly dosing schedule of Ozempic is important for consistent results. Read on for some expert tips on the best time to inject Ozempic and other tips for creating an Ozempic injection routine that works for you.
How Ozempic works: The importance of timing
Ozempic has a once-weekly dosing schedule. Although Ozempic is not a medicine you have to remember to take every day, it is important to inject your dose once a week on the same day each week. This is also true of other GLP-1 medications like Wegovy, which also contains the active ingredient semaglutide and is made by the same manufacturer, Novo Nordisk. Unlike Ozempic, Wegovy is FDA approved for weight management, although healthcare providers sometimes prescribe Ozempic off-label for weight loss.
These medications work best when used consistently—for example, if you are using Ozempic for Type 2 diabetes, injecting it once weekly as directed helps keep your blood glucose levels controlled. If you are using Ozempic for weight loss, your weekly dose helps regulate appetite. Establishing a regular injection routine can make it easier to remember your dose and include dosing as part of your weekly routine so you can more easily stay on track with your treatment plan.
The day of the week does not matter, though—you can pick the day of the week that is best for you and inject Ozempic on the same day every week.
When is the best time of day to inject Ozempic?
There is a lot of leeway when it comes to when to use your Ozempic pen, says Thaïs Aliabadi, MD, OB-GYN. “I recommend that my patients inject when it is convenient for them,” Dr. Aliabadi says. The key is consistency. “So if you inject on Saturday, you will always inject on Saturday,” she explains. “It doesn’t have to be the exact same time of day, but it does need to be the same day of the week.”
How to pick the best time to inject Ozempic
When choosing when to inject Ozempic, there are a few things to consider. For example, Ozempic can cause unpleasant side effects, especially when you first start taking it and your body adjusts. The most common side effects of Ozempic are nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, and constipation or diarrhea. Sulagna Misra, MD, internal medicine physician, obesity medicine specialist, and founding physician at Misra Wellness, recommends patients take their first dose on a weekend or when they don’t have obligations to leave the house. That way, they can rest at home in case gastrointestinal issues like nausea, vomiting, abdominal discomfort, diarrhea, or constipation occur—or if they have any other side effects such as fatigue.
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Morning vs. evening Ozempic injections
Again, it’s really up to you in terms of when in your daily routine you take Ozempic. For some people, using their Ozempic pen first thing in the morning is helpful, so that they can get it out of the way and not have to remember to take it later.
Morning injections
One of the potential side effects of Ozempic is nausea, and some people prefer to wait till later in the day to take Ozempic so that they don’t experience nausea as they go about their day. But there are ways to minimize nausea, which typically goes away once your body gets used to the medication, so don’t rule out taking Ozempic in the morning if that’s your concern.
For example, you can minimize nausea by avoiding greasy, spicy, and sugary foods and drinks for breakfast if you take your injection in the morning. “I always tell my patients to listen to their body. If they get nauseous from a certain food they ate or a drink, they need to make a mental note of it,” Dr. Aliabadi says.
One benefit of taking Ozempic first thing in the morning is that it may be easier for people with busy schedules who may forget to take their medication later in the day or who may be away from home. Ozempic pens need to be refrigerated, and proper storage when you’re away from home is important.
Nighttime injections
“Many people end up preferring to use their Ozempic pen in the evening so that any side effects are felt overnight and not around meal times,” explains Johnny Franco, MD, a board-certified plastic surgeon and founder of Austin Plastic Surgeon. But Dr. Franco also shares that this tactic is usually mostly helpful when you first start taking Ozempic; after a while, your body will adjust, and the issue of nausea will be less of a concern.
“Due to the medication’s extended half-life, approximately seven days, patients eventually reach a steady state,” Dr. Franco says. “At this point, the dosing becomes more consistent, and patients experience fewer peaks and valleys in medication effects.” Imagine the levels of medicine in your body as a straight, steady line rather than wavy lines.
Dr. Misra has taken Ozempic herself and also usually recommends that patients start out taking Ozempic at night. “I have personal experience with these medications, and I always recommend that, if you have intolerable side effects, you should inject at night so you hopefully sleep through most of them,” she shares. That being said, Dr. Misra emphasizes that people usually tolerate the injection similarly, whether they take it in the morning or evening.
Ozempic and meals
“Semaglutide medication, such as Ozempic, doesn’t need to be taken at specific meal times,” Dr. Franco says. Ozempic is injected once weekly, but it has a long half-life. This means that it remains in your system for a significant duration, and its impacts are felt throughout the week, rather than in a particular time period. As such, it shouldn’t interact with a specific meal you’ve eaten.
This is different from certain other medications commonly prescribed for diabetes. “Unlike treatments like insulin, which require timing around meals, the goal [of Ozempic] is to establish a steady state in the body over time. This steady state helps in reducing appetite and hunger consistently, contributing to lifestyle changes that decrease overall calorie intake and enhance overall weight loss,” Dr. Franco explains.
Tips for taking Ozempic consistently
Ozempic only needs to be administered once per week, and experts say that most people generally don’t forget to take their weekly injection. “It is so rare that someone forgets,” Dr. Misra says. That being said, a few tips can help you keep a consistent Ozempic routine.
1. Choose the least busy day of the week
According to Dr. Aliabadi, some people like to time their injections on the weekend if they have a busy work week. They may also want to do this if they experience nausea along with their injection, so they can take it easy after the injection. “We suggest patients add it to their calendar as a weekly reminder, but frankly, this is not a big challenge because patients are excited to stay on track with their goals,” Dr. Aliabadi says.
2. Pair your dose with a weekly habit or chore
It may be easier to remember tasks when they’re paired with other tasks. For example, if you go grocery shopping once a week or have a weekly yoga class you attend, it may be helpful to take your Ozempic shot before or after you go.
3. Store your Ozempic in a visible spot in the refrigerator
As the FDA notes, the best place to store unopened, unused Ozempic is in the refrigerator at a temperature between 36°F and 46°F. It shouldn’t be stored in the freezer, and you shouldn’t use Ozempic if it’s been frozen.
Once you use an Ozempic pen, it is safe to store it either in the refrigerator or at room temperature (59° F to 86° F) for up to 56 days. Nonetheless, experts recommend storing it in the fridge for consistency. Dr. Franco has used semaglutide and GLP medications as part of his own weight loss journey. “Keeping the medication prominently placed in the refrigerator, within easy reach, further aids in remembering to take the medication,” he shares.
RELATED: How long does Ozempic last? Shelf life and other considerations
What to do if you miss a dose of Ozempic
If you do miss a dose and it is within five days after the missed dose, inject your dose of Ozempic as soon as you remember. However, if it has been more than five days, skip the missed dose and inject the next dose on the regularly scheduled day. Either way, resume your once-weekly schedule.
Other important information about Ozempic
Something else to consider when using Ozempic is that you should rotate your injection site with each use. For example, you can inject Ozempic in the stomach, thigh, or upper arm. So, if you inject Ozempic in your right thigh on Monday, you would switch to a different site, such as your left thigh, stomach, or upper arm, the following Monday.
Always keep the pen cap on when you’re not using Ozempic, and never use it past its expiration date. You should also never share your pen or needles with anyone else. Be sure to use a new needle for each injection and dispose of used needles in a sharps container.
Ozempic has a boxed warning, also called a black box warning, the most serious warning required by the FDA. The warning states that in animal studies, semaglutide causes thyroid C-cell tumors. It is not known whether Ozempic causes thyroid tumors in humans. You should not take Ozempic if you have a personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma or if you have Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2. People who take Ozempic should be alert to symptoms of thyroid tumors, such as a lump in the neck, hoarseness, trouble breathing, or trouble swallowing.
In rare cases, serious allergic reactions may occur. People with symptoms of an allergic reaction should get emergency medical help. Symptoms may include hives, trouble breathing, or swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Other serious side effects may include:
- Pancreatitis
- Diabetic retinopathy complications
- Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar)
- Kidney problems
- Gallbladder problems
Before you take Ozempic, tell your healthcare provider about all of your medical conditions and medical history. You should also tell your healthcare provider about all the medications you take, including prescription drugs, over-the-counter medicines, and vitamins or supplements.
- Public interest in the off-label use of glucagon-like peptide 1 agonists (Ozempic) for cosmetic weight loss: A Google Trends analysis, Aesthetic Surgery Journal (2023)
- Ozempic, DailyMed (2025)