Ozempic for Weight Loss in Canada: Your Ultimate Guide

Spending on Ozempic in Canada increased from $434 million in 2022 to $662 million in 2023, according to a report by the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI).

Ozempic was initially developed as a treatment for Type 2 Diabetes. However, a study by the Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health (CADTH) found that 36 percent to 74 percent of non-public drug plan claims were from people who likely didn’t have diabetes. This suggests that many people are using Ozempic for weight loss in Canada.

Interestingly enough, the company that manufactures Ozempic, Novo Nordisk, also created Wegovy, which is meant for weight loss (the same medication with a different dose). But, due to high demand in the United States, there have been shortages of this medication.

If you’re struggling with weight gain and want to learn more about Ozempic Canada, then you’re in the right place. Keep reading to find out more about what is Ozempic and how to use it for your weight loss goals.

What Is Ozempic?

Both Ozempic and Wegovy are brand names of the drug Semaglutide. This is a long-acting GLP-1 receptor agonist, which can be administered subcutaneously (via injection) once weekly.

Semaglutide has been effective for weight loss in trials involving patients with or without Type 2 Diabetes.

Ozempic was actually developed to treat Type 2 Diabetes, as it helps lower blood glucose levels. But it ended up having a side benefit of weight loss, which was then perpetuated as folks without Type 2 Diabetes started ordering Ozempic to help lose weight.

Keep in mind that only the injectable forms of Ozempic and Wegovy are approved for the treatment of obesity (not the oral versions).

Semglutide has been shown to reduce cardiovascular (CV) risk factors in patients with established CV disorders. It’s also currently being studied for potential benefits on kidney health, liver health, and potential applications for cognitive and mental disorders and addiction treatment.

How Does Ozempic Work for Weight Loss?

Once considered overweight or obese, the treatment goes as follows: Ozempic injections at the maximum dose (2.4 mg weekly) to help achieve maximum weight loss.

But patients shouldn’t start with the maximum dose right away, as some can’t tolerate the dose and might have side effects, like nausea or vomiting. That’s why a gradual increase in the dose is recommended.

How Semaglutide (Ozempic and Wegovy) works for weight loss is quite interesting. GLP-1 is a major incretin hormone in humans. That is, it increases insulin secretion, inhibits glucagon release, and suppresses hepatic gluconeogenesis.

Ozempic and Hunger

Semaglutide causes delayed gastric emptying, reduced appetite, and energy intake, which is why it has beneficial effects on weight loss. It reduces the rate at which your stomach empties food after a meal (gastric emptying). The longer it takes for gastric emptying, the more time food stays in your stomach, making you feel fuller for longer.

This results in reduced hunger and appetite. Overall, patients on Ozempic or Wegovy end up eating less food and thus losing weight.

Not only does Ozempic affect gastric emptying, but it also affects GLP-1 receptors found in the hypothalamus, which are responsible for regulating food intake in the nervous system. This reduces feelings of hunger and appetite in obese individuals.

Furthermore, GLP-1 also affects those receptors responsible for satiety (feelings of fullness) in the brain. It stimulates these specific neurons, thus increasing satiety in patients who are administered Ozempic.

Now that you know what is Ozempic used for, let’s look further into dosage and other intake instructions.

Where Do I Inject Ozempic?

A study showed that taking Ozempic in a fasting state has the optimal effect on achieving therapeutic concentration. Fasting for another half an hour after the dose intake is beneficial.

Additionally, Ozempic must be administered under the skin, in the subcutaneous or fatty layer, on your lower abdomen (near the waist), front of the thighs, or upper arm. Do not inject Ozempic into a muscle or vein.

Make sure to rotate (change) your injection site with each injection. Do not use the same injection site with each injection, or if you do choose the same area, do not use the exact same location each time.

Will the Dose Stay the Same?

Dose titration is necessary with Ozempic. That is, patients should start therapy with 0.25 mg, then raise it to 0.5 mg, and then to 1 mg, keeping a 4-week interval between dose increases. Ozempic pen (red and blue) is available in a strength of 1.34 mg/ml.

The red pen delivers a 0.25 mg initiation dose and 0.5 mg for maintenance purposes. On the other hand, the blue pen is meant for 1.0 mg (maximum maintenance dose) of Semaglutide.

Which Foods Should I Avoid While on Ozempic?

When patients first start taking Ozempic, some side effects like diarrhea, nausea, or vomiting can ensue. But these may disappear over time as the patient gets used to the medication.

To help the body adjust to the medication and dosing, avoiding fried foods and fatty foods, such as fast food, and foods high in sugar is recommended. Ozempic and fatty foods are not friends – high-fat foods can exacerbate the side effects.

Tips for Meals While Taking Ozempic

Patients who experience nausea or other side effects from Ozempic should consider the following tips:

• Eat slowly
• Eat smaller meals
• Eat foods that contain water, like soups
• Don’t lie down after you eat
• Bland light foods are more easily digested
• Drink ice-cold or clear drinks
• Avoid fried, greasy, and sweet foods
• Go outdoors for fresh air after eating if you feel nauseous

As time passes, the patient will become used to the medication dosage, and the side effects should gradually dissipate (usually after 2 weeks of treatment initiation). Even so, keep in mind the need to avoid greasy, fried, and heavy foods.

What Are the Side Effects of Ozempic?

These are the gastrointestinal adverse effects of Ozempic:

• Indigestion
• Inflamed stomach (gastritis) – stomach ache, nausea, vomiting
• Reflux or heartburn (GERD)
• Gall stones
• Dizziness
• Tiredness
• Stomach pain
• Bloating of the stomach
• Intermittent constipation
• Burping
• Gas (flatulence)
• Increase in pancreatic enzymes (such as lipase and amylase)

Ozempic Side Effects vs. Other Weight Loss Medications

Newer studies indicate that the side effects of Ozempic may be more common than we realize. When compared to another popular weight loss medication, Contrave, patients on Ozempic were shown to have a:

• 9.09 times higher risk of pancreatitis, or inflammation of the pancreas, which can cause severe abdominal pain and, in some cases, require hospitalization and surgery.
• 4.22 times higher risk of bowel obstruction, whereby food is prevented from passing through the small or large intestine, resulting in symptoms like cramping, bloating, nausea, and vomiting. Depending on the severity, surgery may be required.
• 3.67 times higher risk of gastroparesis, or stomach paralysis, which limits the passage of food from the stomach to the small intestine and results in symptoms like vomiting, nausea, and abdominal pain.

Uncommon Ozempic Side Effects

There are some other infrequent side effects from Ozempic to be aware of, including:

• Nasopharyngitis
• Headache
• Increased pancreatic enzyme (amylase and lipase) levels
• Infections in the urinary tract and upper respiratory tract

People Who Should Not Take Semaglutide Medication

Patients with some medical conditions should avoid taking Semaglutide (Ozempic) medication.

Anyone who is pregnant or who thinks they might be pregnant should avoid taking Semaglutide medication.

Additionally, anyone with a personal history of pancreatitis, a personal or family history of medullary thyroid cancer (MTC), or multiple endocrine neoplasias should avoid using Ozempic.

If patients have diabetic retinopathy, they should be monitored for complications.

All in all, if you are considering taking Ozempic or Wegovy and have any other chronic condition, speak to a medical professional before starting treatment.

Does Ozempic Need To Be Refrigerated?

Yes, Ozempic needs to be refrigerated. Store your new, unused Ozempic pens in the refrigerator between 2°C to 8°C (36°F to 46°F) until the expiration date.

After use, store your pen for up to 56 days at room temperature between 15ºC to 30ºC (59ºF to 86ºF). Or you can keep it in a refrigerator between 2°C to 8°C (36°F to 46°F).

Do not freeze Ozempic and do not use it if it freezes. Also, keep it away from heat and out of the light. Do not store Ozempic near the cooling element in your refrigerator (or it may freeze).

Do not share your Ozempic pen with anyone and use a new needle every time you inject.

How Do I Know When My Ozempic Pen Is Empty?

Depending on what dosage your Ozempic pen is, it can deliver either 0.25 mg, 0.5 mg, or 1 mg per injection. It depends on your doctor’s prescription and what dose you are using.

Each of these pens is meant to last for a month, that is, for 4 weeks, if you take a dose each week (taken on the same day every week, if possible) at any time of day.

Instructions for Administering Ozempic

Before your first injection with each new Ozempic pen, you need to check the flow. Turn the dose selector until the dose counter shows the correct dosage – this may be 0.25mg, 0.5mg, or 1mg. Hold the pen with the needle pointing up.

Turn the dose selector to your prescribed dose – do not count the pen clicks. The dose counter must line up precisely with the dose pointer to ensure that you get the correct dose.

If you see that there is less than your prescribed dose in your pen dose counter, then discard the pen and use a new Ozempic pen. Also, if the liquid looks cloudy instead of clear, discard it and use a new pen.

Make sure to discard the Ozempic pen with care, since it is hazardous waste and has a sharp object (needle) on it.

What Should I Do if I Missed a Dose of Ozempic?

If you missed a dose of Ozempic, it’s important to take it as soon as you realize that you missed it (within 5 days of the last dose).

If more than 5 days have passed since your last dose, then skip the missed dose and take your next dose on the scheduled day as regular.

If you’ve missed more than 2 weeks, speak with your doctor before restarting.

Remember that if you ever decide to stop taking Ozempic, you need to speak to your doctor first, since it affects your blood sugar levels and you shouldn’t just stop taking it abruptly.

Also, Ozempic is not approved for use in children or adolescents under the age of 18.

Ozempic and Alcohol

Keep in mind that Ozempic lowers your blood sugar levels. And if you have alcohol while on Ozempic, that could lower your blood sugar levels even further and/or cause hypoglycemia. Additionally, excessive drinking while on Ozempic also increases the risk of pancreatitis.

It’s highly recommended to avoid drinking alcohol excessively while on Ozempic medication. But an occasional drink should be alright if your blood sugar levels are under control.

Limit your daily alcohol consumption to two drinks (if you’re a man) or one drink (if you’re a woman).

How Much Does Ozempic Cost in Canada?

Exactly how much is Ozempic in Canada depends on the individual’s situation.

If you are Canadian and have diabetes (or if you can get a doctor’s note for the medication), you could be covered by the provincial health insurance plan for this purchase.

Without coverage, the Ozempic price in Canada can be between $200 – $400. It can be as high as $950 at some US pharmacies. That’s why many US citizens order Ozempic and other medications from Canadian online pharmacies.

Is Ozempic Covered in BC and Other Provinces?

Ozempic is covered by British Columbia PharmCare and by Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP), but only with your doctor’s approval and in cases where you have treatment-resistant diabetes. Ozempic is not covered for weight loss yet. Similar coverage rules apply for all public formularies across Canada.

The B.C. Health Minister Adrian Dix even claimed that Ozempic is a “very good drug” that’s been approved and covered for Type 2 diabetes based on evidence from a “rigorous and independent process.”

The only problem is that a lot of folks who need Ozempic for diabetes aren’t able to access it because the medication is being claimed by folks using it for weight loss. The ministry said they are monitoring the situation to ensure folks who need it for diabetes can access the medication without issues.

Lots of influencers on TikTok and other social media channels have been recommending Ozempic as a weight loss aid, causing increased demand for the medication.

Will the Cost of Ozempic in Canada Go Down?

The Canadian patent on Semaglutide held by Novo Nordisk is due to expire in 2026. When this occurs, other manufacturers will be allowed to sell generic Semaglutide, which could significantly reduce the cost of Ozempic in Canada.

It’s impossible to know exactly how much Ozempic cost in Canada could reduce. However, the pan-Canadian Generic Tiered Pricing Framework allows us to guess.

According to the guidelines, when there are two generic Ozempics in the Canadian market, the price could be reduced by 50%. With three or more generic Semaglutide products, it could drop to 35% of the branded price.

What Happens If I Stop Ozempic?

Unfortunately, most people who stop Ozempic may put the lost weight back on.

The largest study on this topic showed that one year after withdrawal of once-weekly subcutaneous semaglutide 2.4 mg and lifestyle intervention, participants regained two-thirds of their prior weight loss, with similar changes in cardiometabolic variables.

Research from a smaller experiment suggests that with ongoing medical input and lifestyle intervention, weight loss can be maintained after stopping Ozempic. However, even in this case, participants regained around 30% of the weight they had lost while taking Ozempic.

This is why it is important to have a comprehensive and holistic weight loss plan that goes beyond Ozempic alone.

Ozempic Canada – Is It Right for You?

Speak to your medical professional about using Ozempic in Canada for weight loss if you think it’s right for you. Make sure to read through all the side effects and other medication information laid out in the article above.

Whenever there is a new drug that is on the market that shows promise, there’s always a lot of hype about it. That’s why it’s important to stay neutral in the face of all this media attention and keep your wits about you, as you decide whether to choose Ozempic for weight loss in Canada or not.

If you need additional help making this important decision, connect with Canadian licensed doctors from the comfort of your home using virtual care.

Speak With a Virtual Doctor about Ozempic