Ozempic for Thyroid Conditions: Evidence, Eligibility
Ozempic is not for anyone with a personal or family history of medullary thyroid cancer (MTC) or MEN 2. Other thyroid conditions are not on its list of reasons not to take it.
- For thyroid conditions
- Not for MTC or MEN 2 history
- Active ingredient
- semaglutide
- How it is taken
- weekly injection
Ozempic in brief
The half-life is about 1 week: by 7 d only half remains, and by five half-lives (35 d) just about 3% is left.
In SUSTAIN 1, people with type 2 diabetes lost 4.7 kg over 30 weeks, compared with 1.2 kg on placebo.
Monthly prices in US dollars include the list price and self-pay offers, each taken from the maker's price page.
Sources: FDA label (DailyMed), healthsystemtracker.org, prnewswire.com 1 2.
Who qualifies?
| Source | Who qualifies |
|---|---|
| FDA label | When used with diet and exercise, it lowers blood sugar in adults with type 2 diabetes. |
| FDA label | In adults with type 2 diabetes and heart disease, it lowers the risk of heart attack, stroke and heart-related death. |
| FDA label | Among adults with both chronic kidney disease and type 2 diabetes, it lowers the risk of worsening kidney disease, kidney failure and heart-related death. |
Sources: FDA label (DailyMed).
What is different when thyroid conditions are involved?
| What changes | What the label says |
|---|---|
| Risk of Thyroid C-Cell Tumors | In rodents it caused thyroid C-cell tumors, and whether people get them from it is unknown. If medullary thyroid cancer (MTC) is in your personal or family history, or you have MEN 2, you should not take it. |
Source: DailyMed FDA label.
Label warnings source: DailyMed FDA label.
Coverage for thyroid conditions
- 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
Other options for thyroid conditions
| Medicine | For thyroid conditions | How it is taken |
|---|---|---|
| Byetta | No thyroid warning | twice-daily injection |
| Ozempic | Not for MTC or MEN 2 history | weekly injection |
 Wegovy | Not for MTC or MEN 2 history | weekly injection or daily tablet |
 Rybelsus | Not for MTC or MEN 2 history | daily tablet |
 Mounjaro | Not for MTC or MEN 2 history | weekly injection |
 Zepbound | Not for MTC or MEN 2 history | weekly injection |
 Foundayo | Not for MTC or MEN 2 history | daily tablet |
 Trulicity | Not for MTC or MEN 2 history | weekly injection |
 Saxenda | Not for MTC or MEN 2 history | daily injection |
 Victoza | Not for MTC or MEN 2 history | daily injection |
Sources: FDA label (DailyMed).
Ask your prescriber these questions
- Does any relative have MEN 2 or medullary thyroid cancer?
- Should my levothyroxine levels be checked, in your view?
Read the complete prescribing details for Ozempic on DailyMed.