What happens if you miss a dose of Ozempic?

In this article:

• What happens if you miss a dose of Ozempic?
• What to do if you miss a dose of Ozempic?
• How to stop taking Ozempic

In this article

• What happens if you miss a dose of Ozempic?
• What to do if you miss a dose of Ozempic?
• How to stop taking Ozempic

Ozempic is a brand name for semaglutide, a medication that’s FDA-approved to manage blood sugar in people with Type 2 diabetes, and approved for cardiovascular risk reduction and kidney disease. It is also prescribed off-label for weight loss. Research has found that people who take Ozempic usually lose an average of about 5 pounds a month, or about 15 pounds in three months. If Ozempic is working for you as a weight loss medication, it will usually be prescribed on a long-term basis.

What happens if you miss a dose of Ozempic? Missing one dose of Ozempic will not likely have immediate side effects; however, if you miss several doses, or don’t make up your missed dose for an extended period of time, you may notice nausea, GI symptoms, increased appetite, blood sugar fluctuations, and weight gain.

What happens if you miss a dose of Ozempic?

The good news is that missing one dose of Ozempic doesn’t typically have immediate effects on the body. “There are zero withdrawal effects by stopping or missing an Ozempic dose,” assures Megan Horsham, MD, emergency medicine physician and medical weight loss doctor at The Sanctuary Wellness Institute. “One dose missed here and there is not a big deal.” This is because some amount of Ozempic will remain in your bloodstream even after that missed dose.

Richa Mittal, MD, triple board-certified in internal, obesity, and lifestyle medicine, and owner and founder of Radiant Health Dallas, agrees. “Overall, if a person misses a dose, as long as it has been a few days, there are no major issues,” she says. This is due in part to the half-life of Ozempic, meaning the amount of time it takes half a dose of Ozempic to leave your body. The half-life of Ozempic is seven days, and the drug can stay in your body for several weeks, Dr. Mittal notes, which is partly why it takes a while to notice the impact of missing a dose.

Still, none of this means that you should skip Ozempic doses on purpose. It’s important to stick to the dosing schedule and treatment plan your healthcare provider has given you. At the same time, you can be assured that forgetting to take a dose for a few days will not have immediate negative effects on your body or your weight loss journey. On the other hand, not taking a dose for a longer period of time—or frequently missing doses—will likely have impacts.

“If people go longer than 1.5-2 weeks between injections, they can have more side effects like nausea and other GI side effects when getting back on the medication,” says Dr. Mittal. Likewise, other consequences may begin to happen, including fluctuations in blood sugar levels, with rises in blood sugar levels occurring, especially in individuals with Type 2 diabetes.

People with diabetes specifically need to be careful about missing doses of Ozempic, especially frequent doses, as this can cause more serious problems. “If you frequently miss doses, you can have more ups and downs in blood sugar, which can lead to symptoms like fatigue, dizziness, nausea, and GI side effects like constipation or diarrhea when getting on and off the drug repeatedly, rather than keeping it in a steady state,” Dr. Mittal explains.

Finally, as less Ozempic is in your system, you will begin to notice an increase in appetite and less fullness after meals. In time, you will likely gain weight back as well, Dr. Mittal says.

What to do if you miss a dose of Ozempic?

If you miss one dose of Ozempic, don’t panic. What to do in this circumstance depends on how long it’s been since you took your last dose, as well as any underlying medical conditions you have. For instance, if you are a person with diabetes, missing doses may be more risky for you, as Ozempic helps regulate blood sugar.

The Ozempic prescribing information states that if you miss a dose, inject it as soon as possible if it is within five days after the missed dose. If more than five days have passed, you can skip the missed dose and inject your next dose on the regularly scheduled day.

RELATED: When is the best time to inject Ozempic?

It’s best to contact a healthcare professional or pharmacist if you’ve missed a dose of Ozempic and you are not sure what to do, or if you have any questions. 

However, if it’s been more than a week or so, your provider may consider a different recommendation. “If you have been off the medication for more than 10-14 days, it is best to consult with your healthcare provider because you may need to restart at a lower dose (example: half of your dose) to avoid side effects while getting back on the medication,” says Dr. Mittal. “Once back on it, you can work on titrating the dose weekly to get back up to your regular dose.”

Of course, everyone is different, and this may not be the advice your doctor gives. That’s why it’s vital to contact your prescribing provider directly if you miss a dose of Ozempic and it’s been over a week or so.

One thing you definitely should not do is double up on doses if you have missed multiple doses. “Do not take two Ozempic doses less than a week apart and never double your dose, as this may cause too strong a dose for you and could cause side effects,” Dr. Horsham warns. Ozempic is meant to be given weekly so that there is a steady stream of the drug in your body.

RELATED: What is the maximum dose of Ozempic? | Ozempic side effects in females

How to stop taking Ozempic

There are several reasons why someone may intentionally want to stop taking Ozempic. Although many people don’t have side effects while taking Ozempic, one main reason people want to stop taking Ozempic is because of unwanted side effects, which may include nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, constipation or diarrhea, increased burping, and heartburn.

As such, you may be wondering about the best way to stop taking Ozempic. For example, you may want to know: “Can I take a half dose of Ozempic?” or “Can I skip a dose of Ozempic?” First of all, you must talk to your healthcare provider or pharmacist before changing anything about your medications. Often, your provider will discuss options for slowly tapering off the medications, but it depends. “In certain situations, it may be best to stop the medication cold turkey if the side effects are serious,” says. Dr. Mittal.

Again, Ozempic stays in your system for more than a week. So the effects of stopping “cold turkey” aren’t typically extreme. “If you need to stop Ozempic due to unpleasant side effects, you can stop Ozempic immediately without any repercussions,” says Dr. Horsham. “You will get your hunger back slowly as the Ozempic leaves your bloodstream over time.”

On the other hand, if you are using Ozempic for weight loss and you aren’t experiencing side effects that require you to immediately stop taking the medication, Dr. Mittal suggests a slower tapering off. It’s best not to stop suddenly because doing so often leads to an increase in hunger and appetite, Dr. Mittal explains.

How does Dr. Mittal recommend stopping Ozempic in this case? “Typically, if my patients wish to taper off Ozempic, we will reduce the dose every 2-4 weeks, depending on side effects and appetite, until they are off the medication,” she says. At this point, they often discuss alternatives to Ozempic. “This is especially important in people with Type 2 diabetes, as they will need an alternative treatment for blood sugar control,” she emphasizes.

Again, every person is different, so it’s best to discuss a tapering off schedule with a healthcare professional or pharmacist.