Ozempic for Weight Loss

Ozempic is a weekly injection that contains the active ingredient, semaglutide. Although it shares the same active ingredient as the popular weight loss injection, Wegovy, Ozempic has only been approved by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) as a treatment for type 2 diabetes.

However, Ozempic has been gaining popularity online through various social media outlets, thanks to influencers and high-profile celebrity users endorsing it or sharing their weight loss stories. Yet, Ozempic is not approved for weight loss in the UK.

Here, we explore what Ozempic is, how to take it, and the approved weight loss alternatives that are available, so you can make the right choice for your health needs.

Ozempic contains the active ingredient, semaglutide, a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist. It works by mimicking the actions of GLP-1, a naturally occurring hormone. It does this by helping your body to produce more insulin to lower your blood glucose (sugar) levels.

Ozempic also suppresses the release of glucagon (a type of sugar) from the liver and increases the time food remains in your stomach to help keep you feeling fuller for longer.

By promoting feelings of fullness and mimicking the effects of GLP-1, Ozempic can lower your appetite, making you less likely to snack, and help you lose weight.

How effective is Ozempic?

For diabetes

In a 30-week trial involving 388 people who had uncontrolled diabetes, the 1mg weekly dose of Ozempic lowered their long-term blood sugar (HbA1c) levels by 1.6%.

For weight loss

At the same time, the average weight loss on Ozempic after 30 weeks was 4.5kg. After 1 year at Ozempic’s 1mg dose, between 52 and 62% of people lost at least 5% of their starting body weight compared to those given alternative type 2 diabetes medications, sitagliptin (18%) and exenatide ER (17%).

Ozempic is a self-injectable medication that is taken once per week. You will start on a low dose of 0.25mg, which increases every 4 weeks until you reach the highest 2mg dose, or your blood sugar levels are under control.

To take Ozempic, you will need to:

1. Check the name and coloured label on the pen to make sure you have the correct dose. Then, inspect the solution to ensure it is clear and colourless.
2. Take a new needle and attach it correctly to the pen by pushing it straight onto the pen.
3. Remove both caps from the needle, keeping the outer needle cap for later. Throw away the inner cap.
4. Check the flow of your pen if it is a new pen.
5. Select your dose by turning the dose counter until it stops and shows the correct dose.
6. Inject your dose by inserting the needle into your skin and making sure you can see the dose counter.
7. Press and hold the dose button and watch as the dose counter returns to ‘0’. The ‘0’ must line up with the dose pointer, and you may feel or hear a click.
8. Count slowly to 6, keeping the dose button pressed.
9. Remove the needle from your skin.
10. Dispose of the needle after each injection in a sharps bin.
11. Put the pen cap back on to protect the solution from light.

Your doctor or nurse will show you how to use the Ozempic pen before you use it for the first time.

Where is the best place to inject Ozempic?

The best places to give the injection are:

• the front of your thighs
• the front of your waist
• your upper arm

Ozempic injections are given just under the skin, also known as a subcutaneous injection. It is not injected into a vein or muscle.

What are the doses of Ozempic?

There are 4 doses of Ozempic available. They are:

• 0.25mg
• 0.5mg
• 1mg
• 2mg

You’ll start with the lowest 0.25mg dose, injecting it once per week for 4 weeks. If you respond well and are not getting any severe side effects, your doctor may increase your dose for 4 weeks to the 0.5mg dose and so on.

Not everyone will need the 2mg dose, with most people controlling their blood sugar with the 0.5mg or 1mg maintenance doses. You should only increase your dose if your doctor tells you to.

What should I do if I miss a dose?

If you forget to inject a dose of Ozempic and it has been:

• 5 days or less since you should have injected it, use it as soon as you remember and then inject your next dose on your usual scheduled day
• more than 5 days since you should have taken your dose, skip the missed one and then inject your next dose as usual on your usual scheduled day

Never take a double dose to make up for a missed dose.

Ozempic is not available for weight loss in the UK. It was previously being prescribed ‘off-label’ for weight loss, but due to a high demand, it meant that people who needed it for their diabetes could not access it. Instead, Wegovy is available as an alternative to Ozempic, which also contains semaglutide, but is licensed for weight loss.

Before buying Wegovy or Ozempic online, there are a few things you should do to make sure you are buying genuine medication from a reputable source. They are:

1. Check that the pharmacy or online doctor service you are requesting your medication from is regulated or licensed with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) and the MHRA. Look for a regulation page, like ours, or registration details.
2. Weight loss medications require a prescription – if the medication is sold without one, it’s likely to be fake or dangerous.
3. You need to have a consultation with a registered healthcare professional before you can buy weight loss medications. If you can buy the medication without one, it is unlikely to be safe.

How much does Ozempic cost in the UK?

The cost of Ozempic can vary depending on where you purchase it from, and because it’s prescribed off-label, you could be paying a lot more than the medication is worth.

At Superdrug Online Doctor, the prices for approved weight loss injections start from:

Mounjaro prices have been increased by the manufacturer as of September 2025, making Wegovy the most affordable weekly weight loss injection.

Is Ozempic available on the NHS?

Yes, Ozempic is available on the NHS, but only for the treatment of type 2 diabetes, not for weight loss. For weight loss, Wegovy is licensed and available on the NHS, but access is limited and requires referral to a specialist weight management service.

Although Ozempic and Wegovy are talked about as though they are interchangeable, they are licensed for different uses in the UK, despite containing the same active ingredient, semaglutide. Both medications belong to a group of medications called GLP-1 receptor agonists, which regulate your blood sugar levels and appetite. Ozempic is approved for the treatment of type 2 diabetes, and Wegovy is licensed for weight loss.

There are also some other differences between Ozempic and Wegovy. For example, they are available in different doses, and Wegovy is available in higher strengths, which have been shown to be more effective for weight loss.

Is Ozempic or Wegovy more effective for weight loss?

Wegovy is more effective for weight loss than Ozempic. This is possible because Wegovy is available in a higher maximum dose that has been formulated for weight loss.

Clinical trial data shows that on the 1mg dose of Ozempic after 1 year:

• up to 62% of people lost at least 5% of their initial body weight
• up to 24% lost an average of 10% of their starting body weight

This is compared to 68 weeks on the 2.4mg weekly dose of Wegovy, which resulted in:

• 86.4% of people losing at least 5% of their starting body weight
• 69.1% losing at least 10% of their initial body weight
• 50.5% losing an average of 15% of their starting body weight

Can you switch from Ozempic to Wegovy?

Yes, you can switch from Ozempic to Wegovy if you have been taking Ozempic ‘off-label’ for weight loss. However, switching weight loss medications must be done under the guidance of a doctor or healthcare professional to ensure the dosage is increased safely and any side effects are properly managed. If you’re taking Ozempic for diabetes, you would need to discuss switching medications with your diabetes specialist, as Wegovy is not a diabetes treatment.

If you are currently taking Ozempic and are interested in Wegovy for weight management, you can request Wegovy from Superdrug Online Doctor, where our doctors can help you switch safely.

Even though Ozempic is not licensed for weight loss, there are several other alternative weight loss medications available to help you manage your weight, including injections and pills. At Superdrug Online Doctor, we can provide the following medications after a short online health consultation with one of our doctors, and they have approved your request.

Weight loss injections

If you think weight loss injections will be suitable for you, the following have been approved for weight loss in the UK.

Wegovy

Wegovy is an alternative to Ozempic because it contains the same active ingredient, but is available in higher doses that are more effective for weight loss. It is a prescription-only medication and can help people lose an average of 21% of their starting body weight over 72 weeks.

Mounjaro

Mounjaro is a weekly weight loss injection that contains the active ingredient tirzepatide. It acts on 2 receptors, GLP-1 and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP), helping people lose up to 22.5% of their starting body weight on the 15mg maintenance dose in 72 weeks.

Nevolat

Nevolat is a generic version of liraglutide, which used to be available under the brand name Saxenda. It is a GLP-1 receptor agonist, but unlike Mounjaro and Wegovy, it is injected daily. Research shows that the average weight loss after 56 weeks is 8%.

Weight loss pills

If weight loss injections are not suitable for you or you have a fear of needles, weight loss pills may be a more suitable option.

Orlistat – a prescription-only weight loss pill that helps you lose weight by reducing the amount of fat your body absorbs from your meals. It can help you lose at least 5% of your body weight in 3 months and is also available under the brand name Xenical.

alli – alli is an over-the-counter version of orlistat. Each pill contains 60mg of the active ingredient and works in the same way as the prescription-only type. You will need to have a consultation with a pharmacist before you can buy alli, so they can make sure it is safe for you to take.

Mysimba – a prescription-only weight loss pill that is available ‘off-label’. It contains the active ingredients naltrexone and bupropion, which reduce your appetite and act on the reward centre of the brain to reduce cravings. Mysimba can help people lose an average of 8.1% of their starting body weight after 56 weeks of treatment.

Is Ozempic available as a tablet?

No, Ozempic is not available as a tablet. However, semaglutide is available in tablet form under the brand name Rybelsus, but it is only licensed for managing type 2 diabetes and not weight loss.

How much weight can I lose in a month on Ozempic?

Ozempic is not approved for weight loss, but after a month on Wegovy, the average weight loss is around 2%. However, this can vary from person to person and will depend on several things, including what dose you are taking, what lifestyle changes you have made, and if you are getting any side effects.

Is Ozempic legal in the UK?

Yes, Ozempic is legal and licensed in the UK for managing type 2 diabetes. It is not licensed for weight loss. However, it has previously been prescribed off-label for this purpose in the past. Although it is legal to prescribe medication in this way, the demand led to an Ozempic NHS availability shortage and left people who needed it for their diabetes unable to access it for a short while.

Is Wegovy the same as Ozempic?

No, Wegovy and Ozempic contain the same active ingredient, but they are not the same. Wegovy is licensed for weight loss, while Ozempic is not. They are also available in different dosages to reflect their use.

Is Ozempic safe for weight loss?

Ozempic is not licensed for weight loss in the UK. Although it can lead to significant weight changes, there are potential risks if it is prescribed off-label for this purpose. Wegovy is a safe alternative for weight loss.

Is Ozempic used long-term?

Yes, Ozempic is intended for long-term use to effectively manage high blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes. However, your doctor will monitor your progress and discuss how long you may need to receive treatment.

Can you drink alcohol while taking Ozempic?

There are no known interactions between Ozempic and alcohol, but alcohol may make side effects, like feeling sick or stomach upset, worse. There is also an increased chance of low blood sugar or hypoglycaemia if you have diabetes and drink alcohol. You should speak to your doctor for more advice about drinking alcohol while taking Ozempic.

What is Ozempic face?

‘Ozempic face’ is a term used to describe the facial changes that can take place when you lose weight quickly, especially when using medications like Ozempic or Wegovy. Some of the common features of Ozempic face may include sunken or dark circles around the eyes, increased appearance of wrinkles, sagging skin, and changes to the size and shape of some of your features, like lips, chin, and cheeks.