Ozempic is an injectable medication used to help manage blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes. You and your doctor may monitor your blood sugar levels regularly during treatment with Ozempic.

Ozempic (semaglutide) can be prescribed for adults with type 2 diabetes to:

Checking your blood sugar levels while using Ozempic can be helpful in making sure the medication is working.

In this article, we explain whether Ozempic shows up in standard drug tests and how bloodwork can help with monitoring your health during treatment.

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Ozempic belongs to the group of drugs called glucagon-like peptide-1 agonists (GLP-1s). These medications work by mimicking the action of the GLP-1 hormone that your body naturally produces after you eat. This triggers insulin production and helps regulate your blood sugar.

The active ingredient in Ozempic, semaglutide, is not a controlled substance and typically not part of a drug screening test.

Sometimes your place of work may request standard drug testing. These tests look for certain drugs that can affect your daily functioning or may be illegal substances. Your workplace may request a drug test because your job is safety-sensitive, such as an airline pilot.

Drug tests typically involve urine, hair, or blood sample tests, which the tester sends to a lab for analysis.

While Ozempic may not show up from standard drug test bloodwork, it may be detectable through specialist testing methods. For example, a test called a high resolution/high accuracy mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS) detects peptide hormones. GLP-1s contain these hormones, which some competitive sports organizations ban.

One study from 2018 looked into how the body processes semaglutide. Researchers found that even in participants with kidney damage (which can affect how well your body cleans your blood), there was no evidence of semaglutide in their urine except for one person.

This suggests that if you have healthy kidney function, there is a low chance that a healthcare professional will detect semaglutide in your urine. Up to 3% of your Ozempic dose may be excreted in your urine as intact semaglutide.

But a standard urine drug test may not be screening for semaglutide since it is looking for drugs that can affect your daily functioning or illegal substances.

Regular monitoring of your health will allow your doctor to keep an eye on whether Ozempic is working for you. It also can help your doctor monitor for any signs of complications of the drug, such as pancreatitis or gallstones.

Your doctor will likely monitor the following:

  • Blood glucose levels: If you have type 2 diabetes, your doctor will check your average blood sugar levels through a test called an A1C. Typically, they will recommend testing at least twice per year. Your doctor will also recommend having you monitor your blood sugar levels at home while using Ozempic. Talk with your doctor to see how frequently they recommend you checking those levels.
  • Eye health: If you have a history of diabetic retinopathy, your doctor may monitor your eye health throughout your treatment with Ozempic. This is because, for some people, sudden reductions in blood sugar levels can make symptoms of retinopathy worse.
  • Kidney function: While taking Ozempic, a doctor may request blood or urine tests to monitor the health of your kidneys. This is because semaglutide, the active ingredient in Ozempic may increase your risk of kidney injury.

Ozempic’s half-life is about 1 week. A half-life of a drug is the time it takes for your body to get rid of half of each dose of the drug. It can take up to 5 weeks for your body to completely get rid of Ozempic from your system.

According to research from 2019, the time it takes for your body to eliminate Ozempic may differ depending on why you take the medication. For example, if you’re using Ozempic off-label for weight loss, it may take your body longer to clear Ozempic than someone with type 2 diabetes who is using the drug to help manage blood sugar levels.

Ozempic is an injectable medication that doctors may prescribe to help manage blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes. While it doesn’t come up on standard drug tests, it may show up on blood tests that look for medications that replicate hormones in your bloodstream.

While using Ozempic, your doctor may monitor certain health markers by taking blood or urine samples for lab testing. These tests are to make sure the medication works effectively and to check for signs of complications.

If you have questions about Ozempic and blood or urine tests, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Disclaimer: Healthline has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.