Medication reference

Ozempic: FDA-sourced dosing, safety, and storage facts

What the FDA-approved Ozempic label actually says: the 0.25 mg to 2 mg ladder, the 5-day missed-dose window, and how long a pen keeps once it leaves the fridge. Every number here is cited.

Dosley showing Ozempic pen details

Ozempic is the brand name for semaglutide, a once-weekly injectable medicine prescribed alongside diet and exercise to improve blood sugar in adults with type 2 diabetes. This page summarises the publicly available FDA-approved label as educational reference material. It does not give medical advice. If anything here differs from what your clinician has told you, follow your clinician.

At a glance

Active ingredient
Semaglutide 1
Drug class
GLP-1 receptor agonist 1
Manufacturer
Novo Nordisk 2
FDA approval
December 2017 (NDA 209637) 3
Indication
Adjunct to diet and exercise for type 2 diabetes in adults; reduces risk of major cardiovascular events in adults with established cardiovascular disease 1
Schedule
Once weekly, subcutaneous injection 1
Starting dose
0.25 mg once weekly 1
Maximum adult dose
2 mg once weekly 1
Missed-dose window
Within 5 days of the scheduled day 1
Storage
Refrigerated at 2–8°C until first use; the pen then keeps up to 56 days at 15–30°C or back in the fridge 1

Important safety information

Boxed warning

In rodents, semaglutide causes dose-dependent and treatment-duration-dependent thyroid C-cell tumors at clinically relevant exposures. It is unknown whether Ozempic causes thyroid C-cell tumors, including medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC), in humans. Ozempic is contraindicated in patients with a personal or family history of MTC and in patients with Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2. 1

Contraindications

  • Personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) or Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2). 1
  • Known serious hypersensitivity to semaglutide or any of the excipients in Ozempic. 1

Common side effects

  • Nausea ≈20% at 1 mg vs 6% placebo 1
  • Vomiting ≈9% at 1 mg vs 2% placebo 1
  • Diarrhea ≈9% at 1 mg vs 2% placebo 1
  • Abdominal pain ≈6% at 1 mg vs 5% placebo 1
  • Constipation ≈3% at 1 mg vs 2% placebo 1

Discuss benefits and risks with your healthcare provider before starting or continuing this medication.

Dosing and titration

Your prescriber decides every step on the schedule below. The summary here is for orientation while you log treatments - it is not a recommendation.

Treatment begins at 0.25 mg once weekly for four weeks. After that the prescriber may increase to 0.5 mg, then to 1 mg, and if additional glycemic control is needed, to 2 mg, with at least four weeks on each step before any further increase. 1

The 0.25 mg starting dose covers the first four weeks only. The label sets that step to reduce the risk of gastrointestinal adverse reactions during escalation, and gives the maintenance dosage as 0.5 mg, 1 mg, or 2 mg once weekly. 1

When you record a treatment in Dosley, you can attach the amount, the day, and any notes about how you tolerated it. The app does not change your schedule - it only records what your prescriber has set.

Injection sites and storage

Ozempic is given by subcutaneous injection in the abdomen, thigh, or upper arm. Rotating sites between treatments is recommended in the prescribing information. 1

Pens should be kept refrigerated between 2°C and 8°C until first use. After first use, the prescribing information allows the pen to be stored for 56 days at 15°C to 30°C or in the refrigerator at 2°C to 8°C. 1

Site tagging is optional. Turn it on and the entry screen shows which sites you used in the last few weeks.

Ozempic and Wegovy

Ozempic and Wegovy contain the same active ingredient. They are different brand names with different FDA-approved indications.

Semaglutide is sold as Ozempic for type 2 diabetes in adults, and as Wegovy for chronic weight management in adults and certain adolescents who meet the BMI criteria. Each brand has its own FDA-approved labeling, packaging, patient leaflet, and dosing schedule. 1 3

Whether you have been prescribed one or the other is a question for your clinician. Dosley supports tracking either brand and treats them as separate treatments.

Missed dose

If an Ozempic injection is missed, the FDA label allows it to be taken as soon as possible within 5 days of the scheduled day. After that window, skip the missed amount and resume on the next regular day. 1

Questions

About this medication and Dosley

How often is Ozempic injected?

Ozempic is a once-weekly subcutaneous injection. Your prescriber sets the day of the week and the amount; Dosley records what they have set so you can see your history. 1

What if I forget my Ozempic on the scheduled day?

The FDA-approved label states a missed dose may be taken within 5 days of the scheduled day. Past that window, the label says to skip it and resume on the next regularly scheduled day. If you are unsure, contact your clinician. 1

What are the most common Ozempic side effects?

In the FDA label's adverse-reaction tables, the most common side effects at the 1 mg dose were nausea (about 20%), vomiting (about 9%), diarrhea (about 9%), abdominal pain (about 6%), and constipation (about 3%). 1

Is Ozempic the same molecule as Wegovy?

Yes. Both Ozempic and Wegovy contain semaglutide, but each has its own FDA approval, indication, and maintenance amount: Ozempic is approved for type 2 diabetes and Wegovy is approved for chronic weight management. Speak to your clinician about which is appropriate for your situation. 3

Where is Ozempic injected?

The label specifies subcutaneous injection in the abdomen, thigh, or upper arm, with site rotation. Dosley lets you tag the site for each entry so you can see at a glance where you have already injected. 1

How should Ozempic be stored?

The FDA label says Ozempic should be kept refrigerated between 2°C and 8°C until first use. After first use the pen can be kept for 56 days, either at 15°C to 30°C or back in the refrigerator. 1

On Dosley

How Dosley supports an Ozempic routine

The home screen shows the next scheduled day, so you stop counting weeks off the calendar. Logging takes about five seconds - the day, the amount you were prescribed, the site. Most weeks that is the whole interaction.

Side-effect notes live next to each entry: pick from a list or type your own, and rate the severity. At your next appointment the log shows which weeks the symptoms clustered in, instead of asking you to remember.

Weight is tracked in the same place. Manual entry is two taps; a chart shows the trend rather than the daily noise, so a single bad-scale day does not break your week. If you use Apple Health, weight syncs automatically.

Pen tracking helps with the practical side. Dosley remembers which pen is open and how many uses are left, so you know when to fetch a new one from the fridge. Storage windows are reminders, not rules - always follow the leaflet that came with your medication.

Guest Mode keeps entries on the device, so you can track without an account. Sign in and entries sync to your Dosley account, so a new phone does not start you over. Dosley does not automatically send your log to a clinic or anyone else, and there is no clinic dashboard or advertising. You control sharing: the free JSON export can be shared, and Premium adds a formatted PDF.

Dosley guides

Educational guides for Ozempic tracking

What to track during a GLP-1 routine

Which details to write down during a GLP-1 routine, from injection dates and body region to pen supply, symptoms, and questions for your next appointment.

Track your treatment with Dosley

Log an injection with the day, dose, and site. Track weight and side effects separately.

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References

  1. 1. FDA-approved Ozempic (semaglutide) prescribing information (DailyMed)
  2. 2. Ozempic USPI (Novo Nordisk A/S)
  3. 3. Drugs@FDA: Ozempic (NDA 209637)

Last reviewed:

Ozempic is a registered trademark of Novo Nordisk A/S. Dosley is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Novo Nordisk A/S.