How Long Does Ozempic Stay in Your System?

Virta member Dan says Ozempic helped his weight-loss and diabetes journey, but it wasn’t a “magic bullet.”

“I needed to change my diet,” he says.

That’s where Virta came in, giving him new tools to support better nutrition and weight loss. Now, he’s 110 pounds lighter, has sky-high energy levels, walks six to eight miles a day and enjoys life more than ever before.

So, where do weight-loss drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy fit into diabetes treatment?

What are semaglutides?

Glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists (GLP-1s) are a class of drugs that include semaglutide medications like Ozempic and Wegovy. Semaglutide can support weight loss for people with obesity and/or type 2 diabetes. It works in your brain to reduce feelings of hunger and in your stomach to slow digestion

Currently, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved three semaglutide products:

• Ozempic injection
• Wegovy® injection
• Rybelsus tablets

While these medications can be highly effective for weight loss, they can cause undesirable side effects, including issues with nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, diarrhea, and other gastrointestinal issues. These side effects are the most common reasons people stop using semaglutide. If you experience these side effects, you may wonder how to flush Ozempic out of your system or how to get Wegovy out of your system faster. Read on to learn what you need to know.

How long does semaglutide stay in your system?

So how long does it take for Ozempic to get out of your system? The half-life of semaglutide is seven days, and it can take five to seven weeks for the medication to completely clear your system. This means you may still experience side effects for these five weeks  until the last dose has cleared your system, although the side effects should gradually decline.

It’s important to note that when you stop taking a semaglutide, your appetite will return and your food intake will likely increase. This can lead to weight regain and, if you have diabetes, your blood sugars may increase. . However, Virta has been shown to be a safe and effective off ramp to Ozempic and other GLP-1s.

How to flush Ozempic out of your system 

It’s not possible to get Ozempic or Wegovy out of your system faster than between five and seven weeks. If you want to stop taking semaglutide, talk to your healthcare provider first so they can help you safely make the transition and minimize your side effects. Expect the process for Ozempic and other GLP-1s to completely leave your system to take five to seven weeks. 

The takeaway

If you’d like to stop taking Ozempic, Wegovy or other weight loss drugs, new research shows that Virta’s personalized nutrition guidance can support a safe, healthy transition from semaglutide medications. By making healthy lifestyle changes in a medical setting with supportive resources like 1:1 virtual coaching, you can regain control of your health and feel like yourself again. See if you’re eligible for Virta Health here.