Ozempic reviews: what studies and users say

If you’re considering taking Ozempic (semaglutide), you’ll likely want to read Ozempic reviews first. And if you’ve done some reading online, you may already know that Ozempic can treat type 2 diabetes and reduce the risk of complications in people with heart or kidney disease. You may also know that it can cause weight loss: up to 15 pounds in less than a year, according to one study. 

But only Ozempic reviews can paint a picture of what taking the medication really feels like. To that end, we’ve gathered Ozempic reviews from real patients at Ro, the internet, and health providers who treat patients taking the drug. Read on to see their opinions on Ozempic and get more information about how Ozempic works and what it costs. 

By the end of this article, you’ll (hopefully) feel confident about taking the next steps on your health journey—and have a good idea of whether Ozempic should be a part of it.

Ozempic is a once-weekly injectable medication that is approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to manage type 2 diabetes, along with diet and exercise. It’s also approved to lower the risk of kidney failure or serious heart problems in people who have type 2 diabetes and kidney or heart disease. It belongs to a class of medications called glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists, which also includes Wegovy (semaglutide), Zepbound (tirzepatide), Mounjaro (tirzepatide), and Saxenda (liraglutide), among others. 

These medications work by mimicking the GLP-1 hormone produced naturally in your gut and binding to its receptors. GLP-1 has several mechanisms of action that improve blood sugar control and lead to weight loss:

1. After you eat, it helps boost insulin production while limiting glucagon, which helps keep blood sugar levels in check.

2. It slows down gastric emptying, so food sits in your stomach longer and you feel full sooner.

3. It acts on brain areas that influence appetite and food cravings.

Ozempic is available by prescription in four dosage strengths: 0.25 mg, 0.5 mg, 1 mg, and 2 mg. It comes in prefilled pens that contain multiple doses of Ozempic. You’ll attach a new needle for each injection, which you’ll administer subcutaneously (under the skin) of your upper arm, thigh, or abdomen on a once-weekly basis.

You can also find Ozempic reviews by way of clinical research since these studies show how well Ozempic works in a controlled environment. Here’s a quick look at some of the studies on Ozempic for type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular risk, kidney disease, and weight loss.

• Ozempic type 2 diabetes reviews: In a 40-week trial of people with type 2 diabetes, Ozempic reduced average blood sugar levels, measured as  HbA1c, by 1.9–2.2 percentage points. Participants also lost 13–15 pounds.

• Ozempic cardiovascular risk reviews: For people with type 2 diabetes and heart disease, clinical trials show that taking Ozempic can reduce the risk of experiencing a major cardiovascular event—including heart attack, stroke, or death—by 26%. 

• Ozempic kidney disease reviews: Clinical trials show that for people with type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease, taking Ozempic significantly slows the rate of decline in kidney function. Over a 3.4-year follow-up, those taking Ozempic were 24% less likely to experience kidney failure or death. Also, among people with type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease, clinical trials found that Ozempic significantly reduced their likelihood of experiencing heart failure or premature death by 27%. 

• Ozempic weight loss reviews: In a 12-week trial of people taking Ozempic to manage their type 2 diabetes, participants lost an average of 11 pounds. In a 30-week trial, participants lost 14 pounds.

You can get Ozempic online through Ro. After filling out a health questionnaire, you’ll be connected with a licensed healthcare provider who can prescribe you Ozempic or another GLP-1—that is, of course, if they determine it’s medically appropriate. Below are Ozempic reviews from real patients at Ro. These reviews were collected from real Ro members through our usual feedback process. Some may have received compensation for their authentic opinions.

“So far I have been on the Body Program for five months now and have lost about 10% of my body weight and definitely seen a difference in travel. I have not had to even cross my mind of asking for a seat belt extender. I feel like I'm not crowding other people on the plane nearly as much.” — Evan C.

“My kids reacting to me losing weight has been probably the best thing for my heart. My daughter…came and hugged me because we always hug when they leave. And she's like, ‘Wow, mom, I can hug all the way around you now.’ And that was, to me, just icing on the cake on this journey that I've been on.” — Selina C.

“I would say for somebody who is on the fence about wanting to try these medications, I would say to just go for it. I know that people think it's cheating or embarrassing to be on these medications for weight loss, but honestly, everybody, everyone's bodies are different. And I know for me personally, I have PCOS, so my insulin resistance has been maintained with this medication. But all bodies are different and it's not as easy as it seems to lose weight. It's not all about calories in, calories out. Sometimes it is more than that, and I think it shouldn't be embarrassing to be on a medication to help your weight loss goals.” — Marissa H.

At the time of writing, Ozempic has an average rating of 6.7 out of 10 on Drugs.com, based on 1,276 reviews from real people. Over half (53%) reported a positive experience, while 23% reported a negative experience. Highlights often include weight loss, reduced cravings, and improved energy. Downsides tend to focus on side effects and cost.

Here’s what some reviewers had to say after taking the medication for at least one month or longer:

"My lack of interest in food is liberating! For the first time in 30 years, I don't go to bed kicking myself for what I've eaten or making promises to myself to make amends for overeating. Zero sugar cravings...food isn't a reward or pleasure anymore. I'm never ravenous, so I make good, calm choices about what I eat. This has been life-changing and a complete shift in perspective. Obviously, some people have terrible side effects, but I've had none (not even a headache!)." 

"I saw a new doctor who prescribed Ozempic. What a miracle! 9 months later, and I’m down 40 lbs, my A1C dropped from 8.1 to 5.6, and I have virtually no symptoms from the drug other than fullness. The symptoms in the beginning did not last long either. Nausea, headache, fatigue...all cleared up within a week or 2 each time my dose was increased. It can cause what feels like constipation, but for me, it’s just that I simply haven’t eaten enough. This drug feels too good to be true. I’m so pleased with my experience so far!

"My GP mentioned Ozempic, even though I was only pre-diabetic she still felt it would help. After the usual low-dose start - 6 weeks later up to 1mg. I have been injecting weekly and 6 months later, I am not only 30 lbs down, I feel so brilliant. More energy, better sleep, and no sugar cravings at all. It has been great. No side effects, maybe a little constipation at the start (mainly due to a change in eating habits). Superb med, wish more people could be offered the chance to use it. It is still expensive in the insurance world, however, hopefully like many other meds in this country, the costs will lessen." — a reviewer who took Ozempic to reduce their cardiovascular risk

You can find plenty of Ozempic reviews on Reddit. On the r/Ozempic subreddit, people share their experiences taking Ozempic off-label for weight loss and type 2 diabetes.

“I am 42, 5’3” tall, female, started at 195 lbs. Have been a crash dieter and re-gainer my whole life. I titrated up slowly on Ozempic but was lucky to have very minimal negative side effects (more on that in a minute), even at the highest dose. I lost 32 lbs in about 10 months. I went from being obsessed with food and chronically overeating to having little interest in food and almost no appetite. Plus, I could have whatever I wanted because I could only eat a few bites. That did make weight loss easy; I didn’t have to do anything special or hard like exercise or track calories/macros.” — Various-Cookies

“Overall, I have lost 65 pounds in the last year. My mind is blown, and it has gone above and beyond my expectations. Not only do my joints feel better and I no longer have knee pain. But I finally feel comfortable in my skin. I used to feel insecure just walking around my office, as if everyone was staring and judging me. That thought doesn’t even cross my mind. It is truly the best thing I have ever done, and I feel so grateful that my NP was willing to prescribe it and give me a new chance at life.” — Sweetiemua12

“My loss has been very slow compared to what many here seem to report, averaging 0.8 of a pound per week, however I've lost 15lbs in almost 4 months (SW of 221, CW of 206) which is nothing short of miraculous. I have literally never had weight loss without having to do extreme things and even then it wasn't a guarantee.” — Spiritual_S0ftware

“So, after 8 weeks on Ozempic my A1C dropped from 7.4 to 6.5. I generally range from 6.9 to 7.5 which my endocrinologist says ‘is perfect’. My BMI ranges between 23 and 23.5. I don't really need to lose weight but, as I expected, it is happening. Lost 6 pounds in 10 weeks. I fight to keep muscle at my age as hard as I work out.” — SnivelMom23

“It wasn’t until May of this year that I began taking Ozempic. Since then, my blood sugar levels have stabilized and now fall within a healthy range. My A1C has dropped dramatically, from 10.5 to 5.2. Cutting out soda was a game-changer—my biggest hurdle in managing diabetes. Now, I limit myself to one soda a month as a reward for staying disciplined. I still enjoy coffee with a non-sugar creamer and a bit of sugar in the mornings, but it doesn’t seem to spike my glucose anymore.” — BuddhaBootUp

We asked healthcare providers for their thoughts on Ozempic and how the medication has improved health outcomes for their patients. 

Chhaya Makhija, MD, DipABLM, CEO and founder of Unified Endocrine and Diabetes Care, said, “As an endocrinologist, Ozempic has helped my patients wean off insulin, improve their glycemic control to normal levels and normal A1C, lose weight, and improve other metabolic parameters while they are more motivated to stay consistent with lifestyle interventions. There are cardiovascular (heart) and renal (kidney) benefits, and Ozempic also helps with improving blood pressure and lipids —a small effect but relevant while the patient is under multispecialty care.”

Ozan Toy, MD, MPH, chief medical officer at PsychTMS, said, “It has been a really useful medication. It helps patients maintain a healthy weight. I have also seen additional benefits with reduction in alcohol intake and other impulsive behaviors as well.”

Gabby Zeagler, MS, RD, CDN, CDCES, a certified diabetes care and education specialist and registered dietitian who works in a private endocrinology clinic, said, “I’ve seen firsthand the transformative impact of medications like Ozempic. For example, I had a patient who once weighed over 300 pounds, had a hemoglobin A1C above 7% (a measure of average blood sugar over the past three months), and was on blood pressure and cholesterol medications. With the support of Ozempic, not only did their A1C drop below diabetic levels, but they were also able to discontinue their blood pressure and cholesterol medications. They’ve lost over 100 pounds, exercise daily, and have all their blood tests within normal ranges. They’ve never felt better.”

Before you take Ozempic, it’s helpful to be aware of the side effects, contraindications, and cost.

Ozempic side effects 

The most common side effects of Ozempic include:

• Nausea

• Vomiting

• Diarrhea

• Abdominal pain

• Constipation 

While rare, Ozempic can also cause serious side effects, such as:

• Acute pancreatitis

• Acute gallbladder disease

• Acute kidney injury

• Allergic reactions

• Diabetic retinopathy complications

• Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), especially if taken with insulin

• Pulmonary aspiration during general anesthesia or surgical procedures

• Severe gastrointestinal side effects

Who shouldn’t take Ozempic? 

Some people should not take Ozempic, including anyone who:

• Is pregnant or planning to become pregnant in the next two months

• Has severe gastroparesis

• Has multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2)

• Has a personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC). 

You should also not take Ozempic if you have a known allergy to semaglutide or any of the drug’s inactive ingredients, which may include disodium phosphate dihydrate, propylene glycol, phenol, hydrochloric acid, or sodium hydroxide. 

It isn’t known whether it’s safe to use Ozempic while breastfeeding, so let your prescriber know if you’re breastfeeding before starting the medication. They can recommend safe ways to feed your child while taking Ozempic. 

Prior to taking Ozempic, it’s important to share a full list of all medications and supplements with your healthcare provider. Because Ozempic slows down digestion, it can affect the absorption of other oral medications. If you take insulin or sulfonylureas (such as glipizide), you may be more likely to experience hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) when taking Ozempic. Your healthcare provider may lower the dosage of your other diabetes meds to reduce this risk. 

Ozempic cost 

The list price of Ozempic is $997.58 for a 4-week supply. That’s the price at which Novo Nordisk, the maker of Ozempic, sells Ozempic to manufacturers. In practice, the cost of Ozempic can be higher or lower, with prices ranging from $845–$1,030, depending on the pharmacy, according to SingleCare.

If you have insurance, your monthly refill of Ozempic may be much lower—assuming you are taking Ozempic for a FDA-approved indication and your insurance covers it. If you are taking Ozempic for an off-label condition, such as weight loss or PCOS, insurers are less likely to cover it. 

If your insurance covers Ozempic, you may also be eligible for the Ozempic Savings Card, which lowers the cost of a one-, two-, or three-month supply of Ozempic to as low as $25 for up to 48 months. Restrictions apply, including for people with government-funded insurance plans like Medicare or Medicaid, who are not eligible for the offer. 

If you pay cash for your prescriptions, you may still be able to save on your Ozempic refill with a drug discount card. Offered by sites like GoodRx, SingleCare, drugs.com, and others, these Ozempic coupon cards are free to download and use. You’ll just need to check you have the right card for your pharmacy and your dosage of Ozempic.

 If you're considering taking Ozempic, brushing up on the clinical research and reading firsthand patient experiences can help you make an informed decision. 

• Studies show that Ozempic effectively lowers blood sugar and promotes weight loss (up to 15 pounds in less than a year) in people with type 2 diabetes. Among those who have type 2 diabetes as well as heart or kidney disease, Ozempic significantly lowers their risk of death and serious health events by around 25%.

• Patient reviews of Ozempic, from real patients at Ro as well as users on Reddit and Drugs.com, usually discuss weight loss success, reduced cravings, and improvements in their overall health and blood sugar levels, although some struggle with the drug’s side effects and affordability.

• Provider reviews of Ozempic highlight the drug’s effectiveness in reducing body weight and improving control. They also mention additional benefits, such as being able to reduce alcohol intake or discontinue other medications. As always, check with a healthcare provider before stopping any prescription medications to make sure it’s a good choice for your health.