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19/07/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 20/07/2024 02:16

Is It Safe to Take Ozempic During Pregnancy

Key takeaways:

  • It's probably not safe to take Ozempic during pregnancy. It's not clear how Ozempic affects pregnancy and developing babies.

  • Animal studies suggest that Ozempic raises the risk of pregnancy loss and birth defects.

  • Experts recommend stopping Ozempic at least 2 months before trying to become pregnant.

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Ozempic (semaglutide) is an injectable medication that can treat Type 2 diabetes. While it's not FDA-approved for weight loss, Ozempic can cause weight loss as a side effect. Ozempic can help people control their diabetes and achieve a comfortable weight, both of which may boost fertility.

But semaglutide hasn't been proven to be safe to use during pregnancy. Here's what you should know about Ozempic if you're pregnant or planning to become pregnant.

How does Ozempic work?

Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) agonists like Ozempic work like the natural gut hormone, glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1).

EXPERT PICKS: WHAT TO READ NEXT

  • "Ozempic babies" are an emerging phenomenon. Here's what the research shows about how Ozempic can affect fertility.

  • You can have a healthy pregnancy if you get pregnant while taking Ozempic. Read one person's story navigating this experience.

  • Have more pregnancy questions? Our pregnancy guide has all the information you need for a healthy pregnancy.

This hormone tells your body to release insulin after you've eaten a meal, which lowers your blood sugar levels. It also keeps your liver from releasing more sugar and slows down how fast your stomach empties. It can also affect the part of your brain that controls hunger. These actions help you feel full after you've eaten, or they make you want to eat less.

GLP-1 agonists can help people with Type 2 diabetes overcome insulin resistance so they're able to keep their blood sugar under control. But as a side effect, these medications can also cause weight loss.

Is it safe to take Ozempic during pregnancy?

It's probably not safe to take Ozempic during pregnancy.

There's data showing that Ozempic and similar medications can cause pregnancy complications in animals.

Makers of Ozempic say it should only be used during pregnancy when benefits clearly outweigh the risks to the developing fetus. They point out that even though Ozempic can lead to serious side effects, so can poorly controlled diabetes. When it's not properly treated, diabetes during pregnancy can lead to birth defects, preterm delivery, and pregnancy loss.

So, in some very specific cases, people may be able to take Ozempic during pregnancy. But these cases will be few and far between. In fact, most experts recommend taking birth control while you're taking Ozempic so you don't unexpectedly become pregnant.

What are the risks of taking Ozempic during pregnancy?

There's very little data available on how injectable weight loss medications affect human pregnancy. Clinical trials that evaluated Ozempic safety didn't include people who were pregnant. All the information that's currently available comes from animal studies.

Pregnant rats, rabbits, and monkeys who got Ozempic had higher rates of pregnancy loss. Their babies were smaller and had higher rates of major birth defects, too. Smaller babies are more likely to develop other health conditions, like lung problems and low blood sugar.

Animal data can predict how humans will respond to a medication. But the correlation isn't always perfect. The FDA has asked the makers of Wegovy (which is a higher dose form of Ozempic) to keep a registry of people who've been unintentionally exposed to Wegovy during pregnancy. This will help researchers understand how semaglutide affects pregnant humans. But this data won't be available until after 2027.

When to stop taking Ozempic before trying to get pregnant

You should stop taking Ozempic at least 2 months before trying to become pregnant. It can take Ozempic this long to completely leave the body.

Most people need to gradually lower their Ozempic dose and start a new medication that's safer during pregnancy to keep their diabetes under control. You may need to add this transition timeline into your timeframe if you're planning to become pregnant.

What should you do if you become pregnant while taking Ozempic?

Don't panic if you become pregnant while taking Ozempic.

The animal data can be scary. But you can have a healthy pregnancy if you stop taking the medication as soon as you find out you're pregnant. There's evidence that most people who were exposed to GLP-1 agonists early in pregnancy go on to have healthy pregnancies and healthy babies.

Tell your diabetes team right away if you become pregnant while taking Ozempic. They can help you transition to another medication that's safe to use during pregnancy. This will ensure that your diabetes remains under good control so you can have a safe and healthy pregnancy.

Can you breastfeed while taking Ozempic?

There's no data available on whether it's safe to nurse while taking Ozempic.

In animal studies, a small amount of Ozempic did pass to rat's milk. Researchers weren't sure if Ozempic would also pass to human milk since lactation works differently in rats than in humans. But researchers also point out that if a medication passes into rat milk, it usually passes to human milk, too.

Frequently asked questions

What are Ozempic babies?
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"Ozempic babies" is a term coined by the media to describe a situation where a person becomes unexpectedly pregnant while taking Ozempic. Ozempic may improve fertility through weight loss. But it may also make birth control pills less effective. Both of these things can result in surprise pregnancies.

Can Ozempic cause false positive pregnancy tests?
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There's no evidence that Ozempic can cause a false positive pregnancy test. Pregnancy tests measure the amount of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) in blood or urine. Ozempic doesn't affect this hormone.

Does Ozempic prevent pregnancy?
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Ozempic doesn't prevent pregnancy. It may increase fertility and make it more likely that a person will become pregnant. It may also interfere with how well you absorb oral medications which can make birth control pills less effective.

How soon after pregnancy can you start Ozempic?
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You may be able to restart Ozempic as soon as you've recovered from your delivery, unless you're planning to nurse. You shouldn't take Ozempic if you're nursing because it may pass to your milk. You can restart Ozempic once you've stopped nursing. You may need to restart with a lower dose and gradually work your way back to your pre-pregnancy dose.

The bottom line

Ozempic (semaglutide) is a powerful medication that can help control Type 2 diabetes. There's very little data on how Ozempic can affect human pregnancy. In pregnant animals, Ozempic was linked to pregnancy loss and birth defects. In most cases, you shouldn't take Ozempic if you're pregnant. If you're planning to become pregnant, you should plan to stop taking Ozempic at least 2 months before pregnancy. Talk to your healthcare professional about how to stop taking Ozempic safely if you're planning to become pregnant.

References

Cabou, C., et al. (2011). GLP-1, the gut-brain, and brain-periphery axes. Journal of the Society of Biomedical Diabetes Research.

Cesta, C. E., et al. (2023). Safety of GLP-1 receptor agonists and other second-line antidiabetics in early pregnancy. Journal of the American Medical Association Internal Medicine.

GoodRx Health has strict sourcing policies and relies on primary sources such as medical organizations, governmental agencies, academic institutions, and peer-reviewed scientific journals. Learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate, thorough, and unbiased by reading our editorial guidelines.

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