What happens if you miss a dose of Ozempic?

In this article:

• What happens if you miss a dose of Ozempic?
• Ozempic missed dose side effects
• What to do about a missed dose
• How to stop taking Ozempic
• FAQs

In this article

• What happens if you miss a dose of Ozempic?
• Ozempic missed dose side effects
• What to do about a missed dose
• How to stop taking Ozempic
• FAQs

Ozempic (semaglutide) is available as a once-weekly injection and a daily tablet that is taken by mouth. Both the Ozempic injection and the oral tablets are FDA-approved for Type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular risk reduction, and are sometimes prescribed off-label (for a non-FDA-approved use) for weight loss. The Ozempic injection is also FDA-approved for use in certain patients with Type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease. Ozempic is typically prescribed for long-term use, so if you miss a dose, it’s important to know what to do.

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 from 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 it’s 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 a dose of the drug can stay in your body for about five weeks (if no further doses are taken), Dr. Mittal notes, which is partly why it takes a while to notice the impact of missing a dose. Both forms of Ozempic, oral and injectable, have the same half-life.

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 may 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 an impact.

Ozempic missed dose side effects

If you use injectable Ozempic, going too long between doses may increase the risk of side effects when you inject your next dose. “If people go longer than one-and-a-half to two weeks between injections, they can have more side effects like nausea and other GI side effects when getting back on the medication,” Dr. Mittal says. Likewise, missing doses of injectable or oral Ozempic may cause other consequences, 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 may 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 a dose of your weekly Ozempic injection, 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.

If you miss your daily dose of oral Ozempic, skip the missed dose and take your regularly scheduled dose on the following 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 you use injectable Ozempic and it’s been more than a week or so since your last injection, 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.” If you take oral Ozempic and you have missed several consecutive daily doses, check with your healthcare provider for guidance on restarting treatment.

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 medication, but it depends. “In certain situations, it may be best to stop the medication cold turkey if the side effects are serious,” Dr. Mittal says. It’s important to note that Ozempic tablets should be swallowed whole and should not be split in an attempt to adjust your dose.

Again, a dose of Ozempic stays in your system for about five weeks after your last dose. 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. Stopping Ozempic may lead to an increase in hunger and appetite, Dr. Mittal explains. She notes that people with Type 2 diabetes may need an alternative treatment for blood sugar control.

Your healthcare provider can advise you on the best way to stop taking Ozempic and whether a different medication would be suitable.

Frequently asked questions

What should I do if I miss a dose of oral Ozempic?

If you miss a dose of oral Ozempic tablets, skip the missed dose and take your next dose at the regularly scheduled time the following day. Do not take two doses to make up for a missed dose.

Can I take my Ozempic injection a day late?

Yes. The manufacturer recommends taking a missed injection within five days of the scheduled dose. If more than five days have passed, skip the missed dose and resume your regular weekly schedule.

Can you take two Ozempic injections to make up for a missed dose?

No. You should never take two Ozempic injections to make up for a missed dose. Taking extra medication can increase the risk of side effects.