Does Ozempic lower blood pressure?

Ozempic (semaglutide) is usually prescribed to lower blood sugar, but it also has other effects, like weight loss and slowed progression of kidney disease. So, what about Ozempic and blood pressure (BP)? Can you take Ozempic with high blood pressure? Does Ozempic lower blood pressure? The short answer: Yes, Ozempic may actually improve your BP numbers. 

Keep reading for the details on Ozempic blood pressure benefits.

Yes, Ozempic can lower blood pressure, but the effect may be indirect. It’s not yet clear whether semaglutide directly lowers BP or if the improvement comes from other changes caused by Ozempic.

The weight loss and blood vessel-widening effects caused by semaglutide can absolutely result in “a modest drop in systolic blood pressure for some,” says Supriya Rao, MD, a quadruple board-certified physician in internal medicine, gastroenterology, obesity medicine, and lifestyle medicine.

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Research on Ozempic and blood pressure

Before we look at the science, it’s important to understand that normal BP for most healthy adults is below 120/80 mmHg. The top number refers to systolic pressure (pressure on the arteries when the heart squeezes), while the bottom number refers to diastolic pressure (pressure on the arteries between heartbeats, when the heart is relaxed). Systolic pressure above 129 or diastolic pressure above 79 indicates hypertension (aka, high BP).

So, does Ozempic help with high blood pressure? Here’s what the science shows:

• Semaglutide lowers systolic BP in people with hypertension. Research shows that it lowers systolic BP by about 5 mmHg in people with hypertension. While that’s not a major drop, it’s enough to reduce your risk of heart issues by about 10%.

• Semaglutide results in lower BP than placebo. A 68-week study had participants taking 2.4 milligrams (mg) of semaglutide — the maximum Wegovy dose, which is higher than the maximum Ozempic dose. By the end of the study, their systolic BP readings were, on average, about 5 mmHg lower than those in the placebo group. Researchers noted that the drop in BP was likely due to weight loss caused by semaglutide.

• Semaglutide lowers both systolic and diastolic BP. A 2023 review of six clinical trials found that semaglutide use resulted in systolic BP that was about 5 mmHg lower and diastolic BP that was about 2.5 mmHg lower than in placebo groups. 

• Semaglutide lowers blood pressure more in some people than others. A 2025 meta-analysis found that semaglutide injections “significantly” reduced systolic and diastolic BP readings. It’s important to note that the blood-pressure-lowering effects were most significant in patients without diabetes and in those who used semaglutide long-term (for at least 50 weeks).

It’s not yet understood whether Ozempic directly lowers blood pressure. But Ozempic does have several effects on the body that can contribute to better cardiovascular health, including BP. 

Potential reasons why Ozempic lowers blood pressure include:

• Weight loss

• Improved insulin sensitivity

• Blood vessel widening

Let’s dive into the details of how Ozempic may lower blood pressure.

Ozempic causes weight loss

Obesity and high blood pressure often go hand in hand. Up to 70% of hypertension cases may be linked to high body mass index (BMI). Ozempic can cause significant weight loss, which can lower BP in people with overweight or obesity.

Ozempic improves insulin sensitivity

The American Heart Association suggests that insulin resistance contributes to high BP. Ozempic, on the other hand, improves insulin sensitivity. Dr. Rao says this improvement “lightens the workload” on your blood vessels, reducing the force of blood as it pumps through your circulatory system (aka, your BP). 

Ozempic relaxes blood vessels 

Semaglutide is part of a drug class called glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1s for short). These drugs have “vasodilatory effects,” meaning they relax and widen blood vessels. Dr. Rao explains that when your blood vessels are relaxed instead of rigid, you get better blood flow, which equals lower BP.

Ozempic is not an approved treatment for high BP, and you’re unlikely to find a healthcare provider who would prescribe it off-label for hypertension. “The average BP drop from semaglutide is modest,” Dr. Rao says. If you have hypertension, your provider is likely to prescribe a medication (or more than one) that will be more effective at lowering BP.

Dr. Rao says there are situations in which someone on Ozempic might eventually be able to lower their dosage or wean off their BP medication, but only with the guidance of a healthcare provider.

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Does Ozempic lower blood pressure? It can, but those effects are possibly indirect, only happen over the course of several months, and only in modest amounts. So, how does Ozempic help with high blood pressure? Here’s the recap.

• Ozempic can lower systolic BP by about 5 mmHg. Results can vary from person to person and may depend on your baseline BP readings, your starting body weight, and how long you stay on Ozempic.

• Weight loss can lower BP. Ozempic can cause weight loss, which can help lower BP in people with hypertension plus obesity or overweight. 

• Better insulin sensitivity can lower BP. Ozempic helps the body release insulin, improving insulin sensitivity and potentially lowering BP.  

• More relaxed blood vessels can lower BP. GLP-1s like Ozempic can help relax and widen blood vessels, which can improve BP.

• Ozempic is not a cure for hypertension. “Treat Ozempic as a helper, not a replacement for lifestyle changes or prescribed BP drugs,” Dr. Rao says.