I Don't Want To Waste My Ozempic: How To Dose 1mg With The 0.25mg/0.5mg Pen

In our latest question and answer, our pharmacist discusses how to avoid wasting Ozempic with the lower-dose pen.

Question

If I have an Ozempic pen set to 0.5 mg, and my doctor wants me to move to 1.0 mg, can I take 2 X 0.5 mg doses? Or do I have to throw out my entire supply? Thank you.

Asked by colette On Jun 01, 2023

Answered by
Medical Content Reviewed By HelloPharmacist Staff

Published Jun 05, 2023
Last updated Mar 28, 2024

Key points

  • The Ozempic 0.25mg/0.5mg per dose pen does not offer a 1mg dose option, which can be problematic if the doctor has increased the dose to 1mg per dose.
  • Patients can utilize two consecutive 0.5mg doses to attain a 1mg total dose and avoid wasting any remaining medication in the pen, although it is important to consult healthcare professionals for guidance for your specific medical situation.

Answer

Thanks so much for reaching out and great question!

This is a common problem that comes up for many individuals due to how Ozempic pens are manufactured, which are available in three different versions that allow for different dosages:

  • Ozempic 0.25mg/0.5mg per dose pen
  • Ozempic 1mg per dose pen
  • Ozempic 2mg per dose pen

The Ozempic pens are manufactured this way to help patients with the recommended titration schedule, which starts at the low 0.25mg dose and increases from there.

You mentioned you have the 0.25mg/0.5mg dose pen, which only delivers those two doses (0.25mg or 0.5mg per dose). It does not provide an option to dose 1mg at one time.

Ozempic is expensive, and I completely understand not wanting to waste what is left in your 0.25mg/0.5mg pen if your doctor has increased you to 1mg per dose (which, again, can't be delivered at one time with the pen you have) and you still have medication left in the pen (the 0.25mg/0.5mg per contains 2mg total).

I know that many individuals are paying out of pocket for the drug for use as a weight loss aid, with a month's supply coming in near or above $1,000. You certainly don't want to waste medication with a price tag like that.

Although the 0.25mg/0.5mg pen doesn't have the option to dial a dose higher than 0.5mg, you can still utilize what is left in the pen so you aren't just throwing away unused medication.

How To Get A 1mg Dose Out Of The Ozempic 0.25mg/0.5mg Per Dose Pen

As mentioned, the Ozempic 0.25mg/0.5mg per dose pen contains a total of 2mg of active drug (semaglutide).

The Ozempic 0.25mg/0.5mg per dose pen may limit the amount you can inject at one time, but it doesn't limit the number of doses you can give with it (as long as there is medication remaining in the pen of course). So, theoretically, you could take 0.25mg once weekly for 8 doses (even though this isn't the recommended titration schedule and the drug box only contains 6 pen needles).

Now, as long as you have at least 1mg remaining in this pen, you can attain a 1mg total dose by simply injecting two 0.5mg doses.

While the prescribing information may not explicitly mention this method, there have been no reported issues or known concerns with patients using two 0.5mg doses back-to-back to avoid wasting any remaining medication in the pen. Afterward, be sure your doctor prescribes you the correct dosage pen of Ozempic (which would be the 1mg per dose pen).

If you are injecting two doses back to back, please remember to use a new pen needle for each dose. Don't reuse pen needles.

I do want to emphasize that it's important to consult your healthcare provider or pharmacist to ensure that this approach is appropriate for your specific situation. In most cases, this is perfectly fine and safe to do.

Final Words

I hope you found this helpful! Reach out again anytime.

References

  • Ozempic Prescribing Information, Novo

About the Pharmacist

Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD

Dr. Brian has been practicing pharmacy for over 13 years and has wide-ranging experiences in many different areas of the profession. From retail, clinical, program development, and administrative responsibilities, he's your knowledgeable and go-to source for all your pharmacy and medication-related questions! Dr. Brian Staiger also has herbalist training and educational certificates in the field of medical ethnobotany. Feel free to send him an email at [email protected]! You can also connect with Dr. Brian Staiger on LinkedIn.

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