What are the side effects of Ozempic? My doctor wants to prescribe it to me.

Hello,

To answer the first part of your question, the price of Semaglutide (Ozempic®) is approximately $230 for one month of treatment. Please note that the price may vary slightly depending on several factors, including the dose prescribed and your pharmacy. This is an approximation to give you an idea. You may want to check with your insurance company to see if the product is covered or not.

As for the treatment, Ozempic®, it was first studied in diabetic patients and showed a decrease in blood sugar and several other very interesting cardiovascular benefits.

The active ingredient, Semaglutide, mimics the effect of an intestinal hormone that helps control satiety signals. In other words, it allows the brain to send the signal to the digestive system to mention to stop eating. So you can see why weight loss is associated with taking Ozempic®. One study reported a weight loss of 14.9% after 68 weeks of use in overweight or obese people (in combination with lifestyle management).

Like any treatment, Ozempic® may have some side effects. Most of the time, when a patient experiences side effects with this treatment, they are digestive problems, such as nausea, abdominal pain or diarrhea. These effects tend to improve and disappear during treatment (close follow-up with your doctor or pharmacist can help adjust the dose if necessary). Other much rarer side effects have been reported, such as pancreatitis.

In conclusion, your doctor knows your current condition best. I recommend that you have a good discussion with him/her to better understand the reasons why he/she wants to prescribe you this medication. By better understanding the benefits that you can get from it and by comparing it with the cost of the treatment and the side effects, you will be able to make the best possible decision for you. You may also want to discuss this with your pharmacist.

I hope that I have answered your question correctly,

Pierre-Luc Tremblay, pharmacist