Poison control calls rise after Ozempic and Wegovy dosing errors

Poison‑control centers across the United States have reported a sharp rise in calls related to semaglutide, the active ingredient in the weight‑loss medications Ozempic and Wegovy, since the drug received approval for chronic weight‑management use. The uptick, observed by public‑health researchers, coincides with the broader availability of the medication for patients without diabetes and reflects a growing number of accidental exposures rather than intentional misuse.

Analysts attribute most of the incidents to dosing errors, such as taking the weekly injection more frequently than prescribed or miscalculating the gradual dose escalation required for safe use. They suggest that straightforward educational initiatives—emphasizing the importance of adhering to the weekly schedule and following the recommended titration plan—could substantially reduce the number of preventable poison‑control calls.