{"id":632629,"date":"2025-06-24T15:25:12","date_gmt":"2025-06-24T19:25:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=632629"},"modified":"2025-10-20T16:23:25","modified_gmt":"2025-10-20T20:23:25","slug":"who-can-take-ozempic","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/who-can-take-ozempic\/","title":{"rendered":"Who can take Ozempic, and who shouldn\u2019t"},"content":{"rendered":"

Ozempic<\/span><\/a> (semaglutide) has become very popular, not only for its initial indication for treating Type 2 diabetes, but also for recently approved and off-label uses like weight loss. While it has skyrocketed in popularity, it\u2019s not necessarily for everyone. So, who can take Ozempic, and who shouldn\u2019t? Here are all the important details.<\/span><\/p>\n

What is Ozempic approved to treat?<\/span><\/h2>\n

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) initially approved Ozempic for managing high blood sugar in people with Type 2 diabetes. Since then, it\u2019s also gained approval for <\/span>reducing cardiovascular risk<\/span><\/a> in adults with heart disease and Type 2 diabetes, as well as for preventing worsening kidney disease and cardiovascular death in adults with Type 2 diabetes and chronic <\/span>kidney disease<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIts primary mechanism of action is to regulate insulin release in the body, which makes sense for managing blood sugar,\u201d says Logan G. Galbraith, MD, a physician at Invigor Medical. \u201cHowever, another natural function of semaglutide in the body is to influence satiety and appetite effects that are predictable based on how the peptide works.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Off-label uses for Ozempic<\/span><\/h3>\n

Because it helps people lose body weight, some healthcare professionals will also prescribe Ozempic for weight management. This is considered an off-label use, since it\u2019s for a condition that doesn\u2019t fall under the drug\u2019s official FDA approvals. According to <\/span>a study of over 17,000 people<\/span><\/a>, patients taking semaglutide experienced an average weight loss of 10.2% and a reduction in waist circumference of 7.7 cm.<\/span><\/p>\n

Yet the benefits don\u2019t stop at weight management. \u201cBy addressing weight loss with medications like semaglutide, we are in fact addressing and protecting overall patient health,\u201d Dr. Galbraith says. He says these benefits can include improved cholesterol and blood pressure levels, plus a reduced risk of cardiovascular events like heart attack and stroke.<\/span><\/p>\n

The other primary off-label use for Ozempic is to treat <\/span>polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS)<\/span><\/a>. A study from the <\/span>Journal of Diabetes and Its Complications<\/span><\/i><\/a> found that GLP-1 medications (Ozempic\u2019s drug class) reduced body mass index (BMI), triglycerides, waist circumference, and total testosterone in people with PCOS.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Who can take Ozempic for weight loss?<\/span><\/h2>\n

If we\u2019re sticking strictly to its FDA-approved purpose, Ozempic should treat obesity in adults over 18 who also have Type 2 diabetes. <\/span>The two often go hand in hand<\/span><\/a>, so it\u2019s a fairly common diagnosis. \u201c\u200b\u200bMany patients are great candidates for Ozempic treatment, particularly those who would benefit from weight loss, and heart\/kidney protection in addition to glycemic control,\u201d says <\/span>Diana Roman, <\/span><\/a>Pharm.D., assistant professor at the <\/span>Marshall B. Ketchum University<\/span><\/a> College of Pharmacy.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

But seeing the demand for Ozempic as an obesity drug, manufacturer Novo Nordisk produced another drug with the same active ingredient that\u2019s specifically for weight loss. It\u2019s called <\/span>Wegovy,<\/span><\/a> which also has the active ingredient semaglutide but in <\/span>different doses<\/span><\/a> than Ozempic.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

So while healthcare providers can still prescribe <\/span>Ozempic for weight loss<\/span><\/a>, there is a separate, officially FDA-approved option from the same manufacturer.<\/span><\/p>\n

RELATED: When is the best time to inject Ozempic?<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Who should not take Ozempic?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Having Type 2 diabetes (and potentially obesity) doesn\u2019t automatically make someone a good candidate for Ozempic treatment. Certain medical conditions and other medications might make it an unsafe option for some.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Ozempic contraindications<\/span><\/h3>\n

\u201cPatients with a personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma or multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN2), Type 1 diabetes, or diabetic retinopathy should absolutely NOT take semaglutide,\u201d says <\/span>Kathryn Horton, MD<\/span><\/a>, Internal Medicine Physician at <\/span>Drugwatch.com<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Semaglutide research has shown that it <\/span>increases the risk of thyroid tumors<\/span><\/a> in laboratory animals. It\u2019s unclear whether this risk of thyroid cancer applies to humans as well, and <\/span>other studies<\/span><\/a> have suggested that it might not. That\u2019s why the FDA still issued a boxed warning on Ozempic for people who have a personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma or Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2\u2014a condition that causes endocrine gland tumors.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSimilarly, patients with a history of pancreatitis, cholecystitis, gallstones, kidney stones, or gastroparesis should carefully weigh the risks and benefits of taking semaglutide before starting it,\u201d Dr. Horton says. It\u2019s also contraindicated for anyone who has a known hypersensitivity to semaglutide or any of Ozempic\u2019s other ingredients.<\/span><\/p>\n

Drug interactions<\/span><\/h3>\n

Taking certain medications might also preclude someone from Ozempic treatment, since there are some <\/span>interactions<\/span><\/a> to be aware of. Ozempic lowers blood sugar, so taking it with other medications that also lower blood sugar can lead to hypoglycemia (symptomatically low blood sugar). This includes sulfonylureas, insulin, and other diabetes drugs.<\/span><\/p>\n

Other precautions<\/span><\/h3>\n

Some medical conditions might make a healthcare provider hesitant to prescribe Ozempic, or possibly just require additional monitoring during treatment. These conditions include:<\/span><\/p>\n