Poison control centers are recording a wave of “Ozempic overdoses.” Doctors share side effects to watch for

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Weight lossa possible treatment for opioid use disorderand reduced risks for heart disease, cerebrovascular accidentand a lot of other diseases – these are just some of the benefits Ozempicthe drug for type 2 diabetes that one in eight The Americans tried. But not everything is positive: Last year, poison control centers reported a grow in people who take too much semaglutide (the drug’s key ingredient), raising fears of Ozempic overdose.

Considering how many people take Ozempic, it’s understandable to have questions. So is it possible to overdose on Ozempic? Here’s what a prescribing doctor 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 the forthcoming book The Ozempic Revolution.

Can you overdose on Ozempic?

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

“With proper training, the chances of this happening are very low,” she says.

Here’s why: Ozempic comes in a pen that you switch to dispense the proper dose of medication. “It’s pretty simple,” says Sowa. However, there is room for error.

Because Ozempic is so expensive and not all health insurance covers it, Sowa says some doctors will prescribe patients a higher dose of the drug than they need to make it more affordable. Patients are then instructed to “microdose” larger doses to distribute the drug over time, which saves them money in the process, she says.

“But if you start breaking the pen without clear instructions, it can get confusing,” says Sowa. “A patient can end up giving themselves a full dose that was supposed to be done in weeks or months.”

In addition, some patients may obtain GLP-1 from compounding pharmacies, which sell custom drugs and some drugs to the FDA. drug shortage list (as Ozempic). But the FDA doesn’t approve combination drugs like they do traditional prescription drugs, according to the organization.

Because these combination medications typically involve measuring 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 series of dosing errors in these drugs earlier this year.

“With combination drugs, you’re a scientist at home,” says Sowa. “People may not understand that eight units is not eight milligrams,” says Sowa. “That’s where you risk taking too much.”

What happens if you overdose on Ozempic?

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

According to the FDA, these side effects can include:

• Nausea

• vomiting

• stomach ache

• Faint

• Headache

• Migraine

• Dehydration

• Acute pancreatitis

• Gallstones

What happens if you take two doses of Ozempic?

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

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

“If you think you’ve taken too much, you should contact your prescribing provider,” says Sowa. They can guide you through next steps, as well as how to reduce the chances of this happening again.

To help you get through this, your doctor may recommend “hydrating a lot”, eating very small meals and getting electrolytes through a bone broth or electrolyte drinksays Sowa. “Your doctor may also prescribe anti-nausea medication if you feel nauseous,” she adds.

How can I prevent myself from overdosing on Ozempic?

The best way to reduce your chances of overdosing on Ozempic is to talk to your prescriber and ask questions if you don’t understand anything, Sowa says. Also, if you’re not sure if you’ve taken a dose or if it’s working, ask your doctor instead of doubling up.

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