What Happens if You Take Too Much Ozempic®?

Yes, you can overdose on Ozempic. Taking any amount over what your doctor has prescribed is considered an overdose. You can overdose on Ozempic with only a small amount more than prescribed. Symptoms may include weakness, blurry vision, confusion and clumsiness.

Common ways of overdosing on Ozempic include taking doses too close together or taking a higher dose than your doctor prescribed at one time. Some patients may accidentally take too much of the drug because they don't understand how to correctly measure the dose or use the injection pen. 

Calls to poison control for drugs like Ozempic have increased dramatically. Since 2019, Poison Centers have had an almost 1,500% increase in calls related to GLP-1 weight loss drugs. 

What is Ozempic?

Ozempic is a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RA) drug developed by pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk. In 2017, the FDA approved Ozempic to treat Type 2 diabetes.  In June 2021, Novo Nordisk received FDA approval for Wegovy® for weight loss. Ozempic and Wegovy are different brand names for the same active ingredient, semaglutide.

GLP-1 RA drugs signal the release of insulin and result in decrease of hunger. They also cause your stomach to empty more slowly.

Ozempic and Wegovy differ in dosage and the condition being treated. Ozempic is approved for the treatment of Type 2 diabetes. Wegovy is approved for the treatment of obesity through weight loss. Both are to be used in conjunction with healthy diet and exercise regimens.

Both drugs have been used for “off-label” use. Any unapproved use of an FDA-approved drug is considered “off-label”. For example, a patient taking Ozempic for weight loss instead of Type 2 diabetes management is using the drug for off-label reasons. Any variation from FDA-approved dosages is also considered off-label use.

What happens if you take too much semaglutide?

Overdose on Ozempic (semaglutide) may result in symptoms like dizziness and digestive issues. However, semaglutide overdose has also resulted in death, according to the FDA’s adverse event reporting system (FAERS).

FAERS data shows: 

• Semaglutide overdoses: 157 total cases, 114 serious cases, 26 deaths
• Ozempic overdoses: 104 total cases, 63 serious cases, 3 deaths
• Wegovy overdoses: 6 total cases, 4 serious cases, 1 death

An easy way to avoid a semaglutide overdose is to only take the drug if it is prescribed to you by a doctor for its intended purpose in the amount directed by the label.

Compounded versions of Semaglutide may come with higher risks

Compounding pharmacies prepare medications that are not readily available in commercially manufactured forms. They may also alter existing medications to meet specific requirements. For example, they may adjust dosage strengths or change the form of the medication from a pill to a liquid. 

These pharmacies may get permission to create and sell medication if there’s a shortage. Novo Nordisk has two other forms of Ozempic available, Wegovy and Rybelsus® (an oral tablet version). But Ozempic is in short supply. Compounding pharmacies make their own versions to fill this shortage. However, the compounded versions of semaglutide are not approved by the FDA.

Patients may choose to take a compounded, unapproved version of Ozempic because it’s more accessible during a shortage. Compounded drugs are often cheaper, too. Many people don’t know the differences in risk between taking the official approved drugs and the compounded versions.

The FDA strongly advises patients to not use the compounded versions of semaglutide because of certain dangers. The drugs haven’t undergone the same level of testing as Ozempic. This lack of regulation makes these versions notably more dangerous.

Compounded drugs serve an important purpose, but they can also be a risky option. Compounded versions may have different active ingredients and unregulated dosage methods. These unknowns raise the risk of overdose or other severe side effects. 

Ozempic is approved to improve glucose levels and reduce the risk of heart disease in Type 2 diabetes. A side effect of this diabetes medication is weight loss. Taking the drug as prescribed is critical to reducing the risks of an Ozempic overdose. 

The FDA approved dosages are a starting point. Your healthcare provider may prescribe different dosages based on your medical situation. You should follow your prescription exactly, even if it differs from the FDA dosages. Do not change your Ozempic dose without speaking to your prescribing healthcare professional. 

FDA dosage guidelines: 

●    Inject once a week at any time of day, with or without food
●    Start at 0.25 milligrams (mg) once weekly, increasing to 0.5 mg once weekly after 4 weeks
●    If additional glycemic control is needed, increase the dosage to 1 mg once weekly after at least 4 weeks on the 0.5 mg dose 
●    If a higher dose is still needed for glycemic control, increase the dosage to 2 mg once weekly after at least 4 weeks on the 1 mg dosage
●    In case of a missed dose, inject within 5 days of the scheduled dose
●    Inject subcutaneously (under the skin) in the abdomen, thigh or upper arm 

Taking Ozempic at recommended doses has also been connected to side effects, leading to lawsuits. Side effects are more likely to occur during dose increases. Drastically increasing your dose could lead to very severe side effects. However, only patients who followed the proper Ozempic dosages may be eligible to file a lawsuit.

Symptoms of too much Ozempic may immediately include severe side effects like abdominal pain, dizziness and nausea. These are the symptoms that patients usually call poison control centers about. Overdose symptoms can include other common side effects over an extended period of time. Ozempic side effects are more likely to happen when healthcare providers increase dosages anyway. 

Some Ozempic overdose symptoms are: 

• Abdominal pain: Stomach pain is one of the most common side effects of taking Ozempic. It may stem from an upset stomach caused by dose escalation. But it may also be a symptom of a more serious condition like gastroenteritis or gastroparesis.
• Allergic reactions: Ozempic can cause hypersensitive reactions” like anaphylaxis and angioedema (swelling under the skin). Patients who have had a reaction to other GLP-1 RA drugs should not take Ozempic without seeking medical advice from their doctor first.
• Diarrhea: Another common Ozempic side effect that can also come from an stomach upset or indicate a more serious condition.
• Hypoglycemia: This means low blood sugar, which can be debilitating or even fatal. Symptoms include shakiness, chills, dizziness, weakness and seizures. 
• Nausea or vomiting: Both can be from an upset stomach or from potentially severe conditions, such as an intestinal blockage.

If you are experiencing a medical emergency, call 911. If you suspect an Ozempic overdose with less severe symptoms, call the Poison Control Center.

You can reach your local Poison Center by calling the Poison Help line: 1-800-222-1222. To save the number in your mobile phone, text POISON to 301-597-7137. 

Once you’re safe, call your doctor to seek additional medical advice. They can discuss possible long-term side effects of taking Ozempic.

Ongoing potential side effects of taking Ozempic

While some symptoms may appear quickly in case of an Ozempic overdose, others may present over time, even when taking Ozempic as prescribed by a medical professional. How long you can take Ozempic before experiencing side effects varies from patient to patient. These symptoms may be more common when a patient has recently increased in dosage as directed by a medical professional. 

Potential ongoing conditions include:

• Acute kidney injury (AKI):  Also known as acute renal failure, this can be fatal and happen quickly. When this develops, the kidneys stop filtering waste products from your blood. Symptoms include swelling in the lower body, high blood pressure and chest pain.
• Acute gallbladder disease:  The gallbladder is a smaller sac under the liver. It stores the bile made in the liver, which is used to digest fat in the small intestine. The main symptom of gallbladder disease is severe pain near the ribcage on the right side of the body.
• Constipation: A common side effect of taking Ozempic. Constipation can occur because the drug signals the body to delay digestive processes.
• Diabetic retinopathy: This is an eye condition found in diabetic patients. The condition can damage vision and cause blindness. 
• Gastroparesis: Also called stomach paralysis or delayed gastric emptying. Symptoms include acid reflux and stomach pain.
• Pancreatitis: Inflammation of the pancreas, which is responsible for the production of insulin. Patients may have severe pain in their torso that doesn’t go away.
• Thyroid tumors: Tumors may be benign (noncancerous) or malignant (cancerous). Both interfere with hormone regulation.

Treatment for Ozempic overdose symptoms depends on the situation. Seek medical attention if you have concerns about your health.

If you suspect you or someone else has overdosed on Ozempic or any other semaglutide, stay calm but seek immediate medical attention. Like all prescription drugs, taking more than is prescribed is considered an overdose. You do not need to experience symptoms to seek help. 

Patients should dial 911 if the situation is potentially-life threatening. Other options include calling a Poison Control Center (1-800-222-1222) or contacting a doctor. Tell them details like the drug name, dosage, when it was taken and any other relevant information. Avoid treating yourself and follow the medical advice you’re given.

Doctors will treat the individual symptoms you’re experiencing. For example, treatments for severe nausea, vomiting and dehydration may require a hospital stay. Many patients are given anti-nausea medication and IV fluids.

Can I sue for an Ozempic overdose?

The current lawsuit is not for patients who experienced an Ozempic overdose. An overdose occurs when a patient takes medication but doesn’t follow the prescribed directions. Motley Rice is not taking cases involving patients who didn’t follow prescribed directions or took compounded versions of semaglutide drugs that weren’t manufactured by Novo Nordisk. 

Ozempic and Wegovy lawsuits are filed by patients who properly follow their prescriptions and still develop unlisted adverse health effects. This includes patients who suffered side effects after their healthcare provider recently increased their dose. If this describes your situation, you may be eligible to file an Ozempic lawsuit.

Attorneys at Motley Rice have fought for thousands of patients seriously hurt by prescription drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy. We understand the impact and pain the side effects of these drugs may have on you and your loved ones. 

If you believe taking a prescribed drug like Ozempic has made you sick, we have the resources to:

●    Assess the drug manufacturer’s compliance with FDA regulations
●    Review the adequacy of the manufacturer's warning to you about potential side effects
●    Identify factors that could affect your potential claim

Read more about our medical drug litigation experience here.

If you are currently taking Ozempic or another GLP-1 RA drug, speak to your doctor before you stop taking the prescription medication or change your dose. Discontinuing these medications without proper medical care could result in worsening illness, injury or death. Ozempic, Wegovy and Rybelsus remain approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.