Poison control centers are seeing a surge in ‘Ozempic overdoses’. Doctors share the side effects to watch out for

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Weight lossa possible treatment for opioid use disorderand reduced risks for heart disease, myocardial infarctionand a whole host of other diseases – these are just some of the benefits of Ozempicthe type 2 diabetes drug that one in eight Americans have tried. But it’s not all positive: last year there were poison control centers reported An increase in people who take too much semaglutide (the drug’s main ingredient), fueling fears of an Ozempic overdose.

Considering the number of people using Ozempic, it’s understandable that you have questions. So, is it possible to overdose on Ozempic? Here’s what a doctor prescribing the drug wants you to know.

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

Can you overdose on Ozempic?

Yes, it is technically possible to overdose on Ozempic, but that is unlikely, he says Alexandra Sowa, MDan internal medicine physician specializing in preventive health care, nutrition and obesity medicine and author of the forthcoming book The Ozempic Revolution.

“With proper instruction, the chance of this happening is very small,” she says.

Here’s why: Ozempic comes in a pen that you can switch to deliver the correct dose of the drug. “It’s quite simple,” says Sowa. However, there is some room for error.

Because Ozempic is so expensive and not all health insurers cover it, Sowa says some doctors will prescribe a higher dose of the drug for patients than necessary to make it more affordable. Patients are then instructed to do this “microdose” the higher doses to spread out the medication over time, saving money, she says.

“But if you start hacking the pen without clear instructions, things can get confusing,” says Sowa. “A patient may be giving themselves a full dose that was intended to last for weeks or months.”

In addition, some patients can obtain GLP-1s from compounding pharmacies, which sell custom medications and some medications through the FDA. list of drug shortages (like Ozempic). But the FDA does not approve compounded drugs like traditional prescription drugs, the organization said.

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

“With compounded medicines you are a scientist in house,” says Sowa. “People may not understand that eight units is not eight milligrams,” says Sowa. “Then you run the risk of taking too much.”

What happens if you overdose on Ozempic?

Sowa says “overdose” isn’t necessarily the right word to use here. “An ‘overdose’ implies catastrophic consequences,” she says. “You could, however, give yourself too much, which would lead to significant side effects.”

According to the FDA, these side effects may include:

• Nausea

• Vomiting

• Stomach pain

• Fainting

• Headache

• Migraine

• Dehydration

• Acute pancreatitis

• Gallstones

What happens if you take two doses of Ozempic?

This can happen – and has happened. Sowa has talked to people who weren’t sure if they got the first shot right, so they gave themselves another dose.

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

“If you think you have taken too much, you should contact the prescribing provider,” says Sowa. They can guide you through the next steps, including how to reduce the chance of this happening again.

To help you get through it, your doctor may recommend ‘lots of hydration’, very small meals and getting electrolytes through a bone broth or electrolyte drinksays Sowa. “Your doctor may also prescribe anti-nausea medications if you’re feeling nauseous,” she adds.

How can I avoid overdosing on Ozempic?

The best way to reduce the chance of an Ozempic overdose is to talk to your prescriber and ask questions if you don’t understand something, Sowa says. If you are not sure whether you have given yourself a dose and whether it is working, talk to your doctor instead of doubling the dose.

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