What Happens if You Take Too Much Ozempic®?

Ozempic is a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1 RA) drug developed by pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk. In 2017, the FDA approved Ozempic to treat type 2 diabetes. GLP-1 RA drugs signal the release of insulin and result in decreased hunger. They also cause your stomach to empty more slowly.

Ozempic has been used “off-label” to treat conditions like PCOS. 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.

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. From 2019 to 2025, Poison Centers have received almost 23,000 calls related to GLP-1 weight loss drugs.

Overdose risks with compounded versions of semaglutide

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. However, the compounded versions of semaglutide are not approved by the FDA.

The FDA strongly advises patients to not use the compounded versions of semaglutide as they haven’t undergone the same level of testing as Ozempic. This lack of regulation makes these versions notably more dangerous. Compounded versions may also have different active ingredients and unregulated dosage methods. These unknowns raise the risk of overdose or other severe side effects.

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 four weeks
• If additional glycemic control is needed, increase the dosage to one mg once weekly after at least four weeks on the 0.5 mg dose
• If a higher dose is still needed for glycemic control, increase the dosage to two mg once weekly after at least four weeks on the one mg dosage
• In case of a missed dose, inject within five days of the missed 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 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. 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 result from an upset stomach, digestive issues or 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 nausea and vomiting 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 1-800-222-1222 or texting 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 medical professional increases the dosage of a patient.

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. Gastroparesis symptoms include acid reflux and stomach pain.
• Pancreatitis: Inflammation of the pancreas, which is responsible for the production of insulin. Patients with pancreatitis 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 the drug name, dosage, when it was taken and any other relevant information. Avoid treating yourself and follow the medical advice you’re given.

Attorneys at Motley Rice have fought for thousands of patients seriously hurt by prescription drugs like Ozempic. 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, Rybelsus, Saxenda, Victoza, Wegovy, Mounjaro, Trulicity, Zepbound and Foundayo remain approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.