Ozempic Overdose Signs, Emergency Treatment, and Prevention Tips

Understanding Ozempic Overdoses

Ozempic, a popular injectable weight loss medication, has been growing in popularity over the past few years. However, with this increased use, accidental overdoses have also been rising rapidly. In fact, calls to poison control centers about ozempic overdose cases have doubled for two years straight.

What is Ozempic?

Ozempic contains semaglutide, an ingredient that helps people feel more full and ultimately eat less. It is prescribed to patients struggling with chronic weight issues and works by suppressing appetite. When taken as prescribed, it is generally considered safe and effective.

However, Ozempic is dispensed in prefilled pens or syringes that patients inject themselves on a weekly basis. This increases the risk of patients accidentally injecting too large a dose and overdosing on the medication.

Signs and Symptoms of an Ozempic Overdose

The most common early ozempic overdose symptoms include:

• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Stomach pain
• Diarrhea
• Dizziness
• Fast heartbeat

As the overdose progresses untreated, more serious reactions may develop such as:

• Dehydration
• Electrolyte abnormalities
• Kidney problems
• Severe drops in blood pressure
• Loss of consciousness

Who is at Risk for an Accidental Overdose?

Those at highest risk of an accidental Ozempic overdose error include:

• Elderly patients who may be confused about medication dosages
• Those who have vision problems and difficulty reading dosing instructions
• Patients who are prescribed multiple injectable medications
• Those struggling with substance abuse disorders involving injected drugs
• Individuals who intentionally misuse Ozempic hoping to lose more weight

Getting Emergency Help for an Ozempic Overdose

If you believe someone has overdosed on Ozempic, it is vital to get medical assistance right away by calling 911 or poison control at 800-222-1222. An ozempic overdose can quickly become life-threatening through severe dehydration, electrolyte disturbances causing arrhythmias, and very low blood pressure.

Information to Provide the Poison Control Representative

When you call poison control regarding an ozempic overdose, be prepared to provide:

• The patient's age and weight
• The timeframe when the overdose occurred
• The exact dose injected if known
• Any current symptoms being experienced
• Other medical conditions and medications taken

The representative helping you may also ask questions about the events leading up to the overdose. Be honest about any accidental dosing errors or intentional misuse of the medication.

Recommendations from Poison Control

After evaluating all provided details about the Ozempic overdose accident, poison control will offer recommendations such as:

• Inducing vomiting at home
• Drinking large amounts of water to prevent dehydration
• Taking medications to control vomiting or diarrhea
• Going to the Emergency Room to receive IV fluids and electrolytes
• Hospital monitoring for arrhythmias, kidney injury, or other complications

Be sure to carefully follow any home treatment instructions provided by poison control while organizing urgent medical care if advised.

Emergency Department Care for an Ozempic Overdose

Many Ozempic overdose cases require emergency hospitalization for life-saving treatment. This often includes:

IV Fluid Rehydration

Powerful intravenous fluids help restore fluid volume and blood pressure. This also corrects electrolyte disturbances and kidney dysfunction.

Anti-Nausea Medications

Injections of anti-nausea drugs allow the body to properly absorb and utilize IV rehydration therapy. This also reduces violent vomiting.

Heart Monitoring

Heart rhythm and blood pressure monitoring via machines detect any ozempic overdose induced cardiac arrhythmias. If present, urgent treatment prevents progression to cardiac arrest.

Kidney Function Testing

Blood and urine laboratory tests assess kidney injury severity. Based on results, additional IV medication therapy may be ordered to support kidney function.

If discharged from the hospital, close outpatient follow-up monitoring is arranged to ensure full recovery from the Ozempic overdose.

Preventing Ozempic Overdose Accidents

While accidental overdoses unfortunately occur, several precautions can reduce this risk:

Carefully Follow Prescribed Dosing

Always inject your exact prescribed Ozempic dose on schedule. Never double up doses hoping for quicker weight loss.

Have Vision Check-Ups

Ensure your vision prescription is up to date so dosage instructions on the Ozempic pen can be clearly read before injecting.

Store Ozempic Separately

Keep your Ozempic pen or syringe in a different location than other injectable medications you take to avoid accidental confusion leading to an ozempic overdose.

Seek Help for Substance Abuse

Patients with intravenous substance abuse problems have higher risks for medication overdoses. Speak to your doctor about addiction treatment program options.

Request Home Health Assistance

If you have trouble measuring out and administering your Ozempic properly due to medical conditions, ask your physician for in-home nursing assistance for your injections.

While Ozempic offers weight loss benefits to patients, accidental ozempic overdose risks need to be respected. However, by utilizing recommended safe injection techniques and monitoring for overdose symptoms, severe reactions can hopefully be avoided.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.