Ozempic for Teens: Evidence, Eligibility, Coverage
No. Ozempic is not approved for anyone under 18. It is approved for adults only: type 2 diabetes, heart risk and kidney disease in type 2 diabetes. In STEP TEENS, BMI fell 16.1% on average for people on Wegovy, vs 0.6% on placebo.
- For teens
- Adults only
- Active ingredient
- semaglutide
- How it is taken
- weekly injection
- Best result (STEP TEENS)
- 16.1% drop in BMI
Ozempic: quick facts
Its half-life is about 1 week: after 7 d, half is gone; five half-lives (35 d) leave about 3%.
The 30-week SUSTAIN 1 trial found that people with type 2 diabetes lost 4.7 kg, while those on placebo lost 1.2 kg.
Monthly costs in US dollars include the list price and self-pay offers, with each figure taken from the maker's price page.
Sources: FDA label (DailyMed), healthsystemtracker.org, prnewswire.com 1 2.
Who qualifies?
| Source | Who qualifies |
|---|---|
| FDA label | It lowers blood sugar in adults with type 2 diabetes when used with diet and exercise. |
| FDA label | In adults with type 2 diabetes and heart disease, it lowers the risk of heart attack, stroke, or death related to the heart. |
| FDA label | It lowers the risk of worsening kidney disease, kidney failure, or heart-related death in adults with type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease. |
Sources: FDA label (DailyMed).
Trial results for teens
Ozempic does not have its own trial in this group. These trials test other brands that use the same ingredient.
| Trial | Medicine | Who took part | Length | People | Main result | Comparison |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| STEP TEENS |  Wegovy | Teens aged 12 to 17 with obesity | 68 weeks | 201 | 16.1% drop in BMI | 0.6% on placebo |
See STEP TEENS (PubMed) for the trial sources.
What is different for teens?
| What changes | What the label says |
|---|---|
| Acute Pancreatitis | Can cause inflammation of the pancreas. If severe stomach pain will not go away, stop taking it and get care. Sometimes the pain spreads to the back. |
| Acute Gallbladder Disease | Gallstones and gallbladder inflammation can happen. Report fever, upper right belly pain, or yellowing of the skin or eyes. |
Source: FDA labels from FDA DailyMed.
These warnings come from the label: DailyMed FDA label.
Coverage for teens
- Ozempic Coupon
- Ozempic Cost
- Ozempic Cost Without Insurance
- Ozempic Cost With Insurance
- Is Ozempic Covered by Insurance? Criteria, Copay, Appeal
- Does Medicare Cover Ozempic? Part D Rules and the GLP-1 Bridge
- Ozempic Patient Assistance
- Cheapest Way to Get Ozempic
- Does Medicaid Cover Ozempic? Criteria, Copay, How to Appeal
Alternatives for teens
| Medicine | For teens | How it is taken | Trial result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wegovy | From age 12, for weight loss | weekly injection or daily tablet | 16.1% drop in BMI |
 Mounjaro | From age 10, for type 2 diabetes | weekly injection | Not listed |
 Trulicity | From age 10, for type 2 diabetes | weekly injection | Not listed |
 Saxenda | From age 12, for weight loss | daily injection | Not listed |
 Victoza | From age 10, for type 2 diabetes | daily injection | Not listed |
| Ozempic | Adults only | weekly injection | Not listed |
 Rybelsus | Adults only | daily tablet | Not listed |
 Zepbound | Adults only | weekly injection | Not listed |
 Foundayo | Adults only | daily tablet | Not listed |
| Byetta | Adults only | twice-daily injection | Not listed |
Sources: FDA label (DailyMed), PubMed.
Questions to ask your prescriber
- Does my child meet the age requirement on this medicine's label?
- How will growth and eating be tracked?
- If my child wants to stop taking it, what happens?