Ozempic vs Keto: Weight Loss, Side Effects, Price, Coverage
Ozempic is a GLP-1 medicine (weekly injection); keto is a very low-carb eating pattern, not a medicine. Ozempic is FDA approved for type 2 diabetes; kidney disease and heart-related risk for people with type 2 diabetes.
Ozempic in brief
Its half-life is about 1 week. After 7 d, half is gone, and about 3% remains after five half-lives (35 d).
In the 30-week SUSTAIN 1 trial of type 2 diabetes, people lost 4.7 kg, compared with 1.2 kg for those on placebo.
In US dollars, monthly figures cover the list price and self-pay offers. Each figure comes from the maker's price page.
Sources: FDA label (DailyMed), healthsystemtracker.org, prnewswire.com 1 2.
Keto beside Ozempic
| Ozempic | Keto | |
|---|---|---|
| Medicine | Ozempic | Keto |
| Active ingredient | semaglutide | Not listed |
| Manufacturer | Novo Nordisk | Not listed |
| How it is taken | Weekly injection | Not listed |
| Approved for | Type 2 diabetes; kidney disease and heart-related risk for people with type 2 diabetes | Not listed |
| First FDA approval | 2017 | Not listed |
| Most common side effect | Nausea 20.3% vs 6.1% on placebo | Not listed |
| List price | $1,027.51 per pen | Not listed |
| Self-pay from | $199 per month | Not listed |
| FDA shortage | Resolved February 21, 2025 | Not listed |
| What it is | Not listed | A very low-carb eating pattern, not a medicine |
Sources: FDA label, FDA label (DailyMed), Novo Nordisk pricing, TrumpRx.
Cost and coverage compared
| Medicine | How you pay | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Ozempic | List price before insurance | $1,027.51 per pen |
| Ozempic | Ozempic Savings Offer (insured) | starting at $25 a month, for up to 3 months |
| Ozempic | Self-pay: Ozempic pill (from 1.5 mg) | $149 per month |
| Ozempic | Self-pay: for the first 2 fills, the Ozempic pen intro offer covers 0.25 mg and 0.5 mg doses | $199 per month |
| Ozempic | Self-pay: Ozempic pen doses of 1 mg, 0.5 mg and 0.25 mg | $349 per month |
| Ozempic | Self-pay: Ozempic pen 2 mg | $499 per month |
| Ozempic | Self-pay via TrumpRx | $199 per month |
Price checks took place in November 2026: Novo Nordisk pricing, NovoCare, TrumpRx.