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weight lossA possible treatment for opioid use disorderand reducing risks heart disease, paralysisand a number of other diseases; these are just a few of its benefits. Ozempiktype 2 diabetes medication one eighth Americans tried. But not everything is positive: Last year, poison control centers reported ONE increase In people taking too much semaglutide (the main ingredient of the drug), Ozempic increases the fear of overdose.

Considering how many people take Ozempic, it’s understandable that there are questions. So is it possible to overdose on Ozempic? Here’s what the doctor who prescribed the medication wants you to know.

Meet the expert: Alexandra Sowa, MDis an internal medicine physician specializing in preventive health, nutrition, and obesity medicine and the author of a forthcoming book. Ozempic Revolution.

Can you overdose on Ozempic?

Yes, it’s technically possible to overdose on Ozempic, but it’s unlikely, he says Alexandra Sowa, MDinternal medicine physician specializing in preventive health, nutrition, and obesity medicine and author of the upcoming book Ozempic Revolution.

“With the right instruction, the likelihood of this happening is very low,” he says.

Here’s why: Ozempic comes with a pen that you can replace to dispense the appropriate dose of the medication. “It’s pretty simple,” says Sowa. However, there is a margin of error.

Because Ozempic is so expensive and not all health insurance covers it, Sowa says some doctors will prescribe higher doses of medication for patients than they need to make the medication more affordable. Patients are then given the following instructions: “microdose” He says using higher doses to spread the drug over time saves money in the process.

“But if you start hacking the pen without clear instructions, it can get confusing,” says Sowa. “A patient may have to self-administer the full dose, which must be done over weeks or months.”

Additionally, some patients can obtain GLP-1 from pharmacies that sell custom-made drugs and some FDA-cleared drugs. drug shortage list (like Ozempic). However, the FDA does not approve compounded drugs like traditional prescription drugs, according to the organization.

Because these compounded medications typically involve measuring the medication yourself and giving yourself your own injections (rather than using an auto-injector pen), there is more room for error. In fact, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reported There were a number of dosing errors with these drugs earlier this year.

“With compounded drugs, you become a scientist at home,” says Sowa. “People may not realize that eight units is not eight milligrams,” Sowa says. “That’s where you run the risk of taking too much.”

What happens if you overdose on Ozempic?

Sowa says “overdose” isn’t the right word to use here. “‘Overdose’ means catastrophic consequences,” he says. “But you can give yourself too much, which can lead to significant side effects.”

According to the FDA, these side effects may include:

• Nausea

• Vomiting

• stomach ache

• Fainting

• Headache

• Migraine

• dehydration

• acute pancreatitis

• gallstones

What happens if you take two doses of Ozempic?

This can and has happened. Sowa talked to people who were unsure if they had given the first injection correctly and given themselves another dose.

If this happens to you, you may experience hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) along with the side effects listed above.

“If you think you’ve taken an overdose of medication, you should contact your prescriber,” says Sowa. They can guide you through the next steps and tell you how to reduce the chances of this happening again.

To help you get through this condition, your doctor may recommend staying well hydrated, eating very small meals, and replacing electrolytes with medication. bone broth or electrolyte drinksays Sowa. “If you feel nauseous, your doctor may also prescribe anti-nausea medications,” he adds.

How can I prevent myself from overdosing on Ozempic?

The best way to reduce the chance of an Ozempic overdose is to talk to your prescribing doctor and ask questions if you don’t understand something, Sowa says. Also, if you’re not sure if you’ve given yourself a dose or if it’s working, contact your doctor instead of doubling the dose.

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