General information for healthcare staff, not medical advice.
Ozempic is semaglutide given as a once-weekly injection, made by Novo Nordisk. In the UK Ozempic is licensed only for adults with type 2 diabetes, not for weight loss. The weight-management brand of semaglutide is Wegovy, which has a separate licence.
Key facts
- Active ingredient
- Semaglutide, a GLP-1 receptor agonist
- Manufacturer
- Novo Nordisk
- Form
- Once-weekly injection under the skin from a pre-filled pen
- UK licensed use
- Adults with type 2 diabetes not controlled well enough by diet and exercise, alone when metformin is unsuitable or added to other diabetes medicines
- Weight loss
- Not licensed for weight loss in the UK
- NHS availability
- Prescribed on the NHS for type 2 diabetes
- Legal status
- Prescription-only medicine (POM)
- Report side effects
- MHRA Yellow Card scheme
What Ozempic is licensed for
The Ozempic Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC) on the EMC lists one indication: adults with type 2 diabetes which is not controlled well enough, as an addition to diet and exercise. Ozempic can be used alone when metformin is unsuitable because of side effects or contraindications, or alongside other diabetes medicines.
The MHRA guidance on GLP-1 medicines states plainly: Ozempic and Rybelsus are licensed for diabetes only. Wegovy, which contains the same active ingredient, is licensed for weight management and cardiovascular risk reduction. The Wegovy page covers the weight-management product.
Brand confusion at the counter
"Ozempic" has become everyday shorthand for weight-loss injections in general. Patients ask for "Ozempic" when they mean Wegovy, Mounjaro or any GLP-1 injection. Some believe the products are the same thing under different names.
Clear language helps. Use the brand and the active ingredient together, confirm the indication, and check the prescription matches the licence. When a prescription for Ozempic arrives with no diabetes history, ask the prescriber for the indication before you supply. Off-label prescribing is a prescriber's decision and must be justified and recorded, and the 2023 shortage alert set a clear expectation against off-label use for weight loss.
The 2023 shortage and the patient safety alert
On 18 July 2023 the Department of Health and Social Care issued National Patient Safety Alert NatPSA/2023/008/DHSC on the shortage of GLP-1 receptor agonists. The alert told prescribers to:
- prescribe GLP-1 medicines only for their licensed indications, and strongly discouraged off-label use for weight loss
- not start new patients on GLP-1 medicines for diabetes while the shortage lasted
- review existing patients and avoid switching between brands or between injections and tablets
A further alert, NatPSA/2024/001/DHSC, replaced the first in 2024. The episode showed how weight-loss demand can take stock away from people with diabetes. The shortages and demand guide covers how a team can agree a fair approach when supply tightens.
Safety points
- Nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea and constipation are common. Severe fluid loss can cause dehydration.
- Low blood sugar is more likely when Ozempic is used with insulin or a sulfonylurea.
- The NHS lists worsening diabetic retinopathy as a rare serious side effect. Patients with existing eye disease need monitoring.
- Acute pancreatitis is rare. Severe stomach pain spreading to the back needs urgent help.
- The MHRA advises stopping semaglutide at least two months before trying to conceive, and not using semaglutide in pregnancy or while breastfeeding.
- Patients should tell the anaesthetist before surgery or deep sedation, because of the risk of aspiration.
The GLP-1 safety guide sets these points out across all medicines in the class.
Counterfeit pens
The MHRA warns counterfeit GLP-1 pens can closely resemble genuine products, and products sold without a prescription through social media or unregulated websites may not contain what the label says. Supply only through legitimate wholesale channels. If a patient brings in a pen from an unknown source, advise against using the pen and report the product to the MHRA.
Pressure from patients and employers
Say a patient without diabetes asks for Ozempic because a friend bought some online. You can explain the licence, explain why off-label supply for weight loss is not appropriate, and point to the licensed options a prescriber can assess. Record the conversation. If a manager pushes for supply against your judgement, the guide to pressure to prescribe and the commercial pressure guide set out your position.
Reporting side effects and concerns
Report suspected side effects and suspected fake pens to the MHRA Yellow Card scheme (opens another website), online or through the Yellow Card app. Concerns about how a service supplies GLP-1 medicines go through the steps in the guide to raising patient-safety concerns.
Common questions
Is Ozempic licensed for weight loss in the UK?
No. Ozempic is licensed in the UK only for adults with type 2 diabetes. The weight-management brand of semaglutide is Wegovy.
Are Ozempic and Wegovy the same drug?
Both contain semaglutide and both are made by Novo Nordisk, but they are separate products with different licences. Ozempic treats type 2 diabetes, while Wegovy is licensed for weight management.
Is Ozempic still in short supply?
The Department of Health and Social Care issued shortage alerts in 2023 and 2024. Check the current position through your wholesaler and the NHS medicines supply tools, as stock levels change.
How do I spot a fake Ozempic pen?
The MHRA warns fake pens can closely resemble genuine ones. Supply only through legitimate wholesalers, treat pens from social media or unregulated websites as suspect, and report concerns to the MHRA Yellow Card scheme.
All medicine pages · Wegovy · Rybelsus · Shortages and demand