What Ozempic is
Semaglutide copies GLP-1, a hormone the gut releases after a meal, which reduces appetite and slows how quickly the stomach empties. Ozempic is centrally authorised by the European Commission on the basis of an EMA assessment, so a single authorisation covers all 27 member states. It is authorised for type 2 diabetes only; weight management with the same active substance is covered by a separate authorisation under the name Wegovy. Ozempic is prescription-only throughout the EU.Before you start
Three things happen before the pen comes out of the box, in this order.1
Read the leaflet that came with your pen
Do this before the first injection, not after. It shows your pen’s own dose
selector, the needle it takes, and how it should be stored.
2
Check the pen and the liquid
Look at the label, the expiry date, and the solution itself. If anything
looks unlike what the leaflet describes, do not use that pen.
3
Wash your hands
Plain soap and water. Let them dry.
Injecting
The injection itself is a fixed sequence. Work through it in this order every week, and check each step against your own leaflet the first few times.1
Attach a new needle
A fresh needle every single time. Needles are single-use.
2
Choose a site
Ozempic is a once-weekly self-injection in the thigh, abdomen or upper
arm. Move to a different spot each week — see
injection sites and rotation.
3
Clean the skin and let it dry
Wipe the spot and give it a moment to dry before the needle goes in.
4
Inject under the skin
The injection goes into the fatty layer just under the skin — not into a
vein and not into muscle. Pinching the skin gently can help if you have
little fat at the site.
5
Hold the pen in place
Keep it still until the dose has finished being delivered. Your leaflet says
how long that takes for your pen.
6
Remove the needle and bin it
Take the needle off, drop it straight into a sharps container, and never
reuse it. The pen itself stays as your leaflet directs.
The dose is not yours to change
The reviewing doctor sets the starting dose and decides when — or whether — it goes up. The published schedule escalates gradually (0.25 mg → 0.5 → 1.0 → 1.7 → 2.4 mg) over 16 weeks to limit gastrointestinal side effects, and treatment is combined with diet and physical activity; semaglutide is not a substitute for lifestyle change.Your doctor’s schedule is the one that applies to you. Do not step up early
because you feel fine, and do not step up to catch up after a gap. Ask in your
account chat instead.
Storage, timing and a missed dose
Storage conditions and the missed-dose rule are printed in your leaflet and differ between products. See what to do about a missed or late dose for how this works across treatments, and message the medical team if you are unsure.Who it is not for
The consultation screens for, among other things:- personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma or multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2 (MEN 2)
- pregnancy, planned pregnancy in the next 2 months, or breastfeeding
- history of pancreatitis or active pancreatic disease
- type 1 diabetes or diabetic ketoacidosis — semaglutide is not approved here
- severe gastroparesis or chronic severe gastrointestinal disease
When to seek urgent care
For severe, sudden or unexpected symptoms, call your local emergency number or go to the nearest emergency department. Then let your doctor know through your account chat. Read more in Safety. Related: semaglutide · side effects of weight-loss medicines · how Hi-Doctor worksStart a consultation
Weight-loss consultation
Answer the weight-loss questionnaire and a registered doctor reviews it.
They decide whether treatment is appropriate, which one, and at what dose —
and declining is a normal outcome. See what it costs
and how the review works.