Yes, there's an Ozempic pill. Ozempic tablets are Novo Nordisk's once-a-day semaglutide pill for adults with type 2 diabetes. The FDA approved the Ozempic name for them in February 2026, and they went on sale in the US on May 4, 2026, in strengths of 1.5 mg, 4 mg and 9 mg, replacing Rybelsus. The Ozempic pill isn't approved for weight loss: the semaglutide pill for weight management is the Wegovy pill, which goes up to 25 mg. If you took Rybelsus, you need a new prescription, and the doses don't match mg for mg: Rybelsus 7 mg matches the 4 mg Ozempic pill, and 14 mg matches 9 mg.
If you've searched for the "Ozempic pill", you've probably seen it called brand new, and seen it mixed up with the Wegovy pill. Here's the short version. The Ozempic pill is the type 2 diabetes tablet many people knew as Rybelsus, with a new name and new strengths. It isn't the Wegovy pill, which is for weight management. Below is what changed, and what it means for you.
What changed: Rybelsus became the Ozempic pill
Novo Nordisk has sold a semaglutide tablet for type 2 diabetes in the US since 2019, as Rybelsus. In February 2026, the FDA approved the Ozempic name for a newer version of that tablet, with lower-numbered strengths. On May 4, 2026, it went on sale, and Rybelsus started to disappear from US pharmacies.
From Novo Nordisk, Illinois Medicaid and Prime Therapeutics
From Rybelsus to the Ozempic pill
- 2019
Rybelsus, a daily semaglutide tablet for type 2 diabetes, goes on sale in the US.
- February 4, 2026
Novo Nordisk announces the FDA's approval of Ozempic tablets: 1.5 mg, 4 mg and 9 mg strengths of the same medicine.
- May 4, 2026
Ozempic tablets go on sale in the US, in more than 70,000 pharmacies.
- May to July 2026
Rybelsus shipments to wholesalers stop, and the stock left becomes limited.
- By the end of 2026
Novo Nordisk expects an FDA decision on a 25 mg Ozempic tablet.
Why rename it? Novo Nordisk wanted one name for its type 2 diabetes medicine, whether you inject it weekly or swallow it daily. "The medicine and how it works remain the same; this simply makes the choices clearer to understand," said Ed Cinca, Senior Vice President of Marketing and Patient Solutions at Novo Nordisk Inc., when the FDA approved it.
The numbers went down because the new tablet gets more of the semaglutide into your body. Novo Nordisk says a study showed the 1.5 mg, 4 mg and 9 mg tablets put the same amount of semaglutide into your blood as Rybelsus 3 mg, 7 mg and 14 mg. The FDA approved them on that study and the Rybelsus trials, and Novo says they work as well and are as safe.
Who the Ozempic pill is for
The FDA label approves the Ozempic pill for adults with type 2 diabetes:
- with diet and exercise, to improve blood sugar
- to lower the risk of a heart attack, stroke or death from heart disease in adults with type 2 diabetes who are at high risk of them
It isn't approved for children, and it isn't approved for weight loss. More on that below.
Ozempic pill doses
You take one tablet a day, and the dose goes up in steps so your stomach can get used to it. Your prescriber decides when you move up and where you stay.
From the FDA label
The Ozempic pill steps, to scale
One tablet a day
- A maintenance dose on the label (dot underneath)
- A step on the way up
| Dose | How long | Maintenance dose on the label |
|---|---|---|
| 1.5 mg | days 1 to 30 | No |
| 4 mg | from day 31 | Yes |
| 9 mg | day 61 on, if needed | Yes |
1.5 mg is only for the first 30 days. From day 31 it's 4 mg. From day 61, you either stay on 4 mg or, if your blood sugar needs more help, move up to 9 mg. Never take more than one tablet a day.
How to take the Ozempic pill
The routine matters more than with most pills. In the label's studies, how much water people took and how long they waited before eating both changed how much of the medicine their bodies absorbed. So the label is strict about it:
From the FDA label
Taking the Ozempic pill each morning
- On waking
Take it first thing, on an empty stomach.
- With a little water
Swallow one tablet whole with up to 4 ounces (half a cup) of plain water.
- Wait 30 minutes
No food, other drinks or other pills for at least 30 minutes.
- Then breakfast
After 30 minutes you can eat, drink and take your other medicines.
- Don't split, crush, chew or dissolve the tablet.
- Missed a day? Skip it, and take your next tablet the following morning.
- Took too much? Call your healthcare provider or Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222, or go to the nearest emergency room.
- Keep the tablets at room temperature (68°F to 77°F), somewhere dry, in their original closed bottle until you take one. The label says not to store them in any other container, so a weekly pill organizer is out.
Ozempic pill vs Wegovy pill
This is where most of the confusion sits. Both are semaglutide tablets from Novo Nordisk, taken the same way each morning, and their first three strengths even share the same numbers. But they're separate medicines, for different jobs.
| What | Ozempic pill | Wegovy pill |
|---|---|---|
| FDA-approved for | Adults with type 2 diabetes: blood sugar, and heart risk in those at high risk | Weight loss and keeping it off in adults with obesity, or overweight with a weight-related condition, and heart risk in adults with heart disease and obesity or overweight |
| Strengths | 1.5 mg, 4 mg and 9 mg (25 mg awaiting an FDA decision) | 1.5 mg, 4 mg, 9 mg and 25 mg |
| Long-term dose | 4 mg or 9 mg | 25 mg |
| How you take it | Each morning, empty stomach, up to 4 oz of water, wait 30 minutes | The same |
| Self-pay price a month | $149 at 1.5 mg, $199 at 4 mg, $299 at 9 mg | $149 at 1.5 mg, $199 at 4 mg, $299 at 9 mg or 25 mg |
| Medicare GLP-1 Bridge | Not covered. Your Part D plan decides | $50 a month for weight management only, if you qualify. Not for people with type 2 diabetes |
The Wegovy label says not to take it with any other semaglutide product, so don't take the two together. And don't swap one for the other on your own: they have different labels, different prescriptions and different top doses. Our Wegovy pill guide covers its doses and routine.
On Rybelsus? What changes for you
Novo Nordisk's advice is to keep taking Rybelsus as prescribed and talk to your healthcare professional about moving to the Ozempic pill. Don't stop on your own. Here's what to expect.
From the FDA label, Novo Nordisk and Illinois Medicaid
Moving from Rybelsus to the Ozempic pill
You need a new prescription
Rybelsus is being discontinued in the US, so your prescriber writes one for the Ozempic pill. It isn't swapped automatically.
New numbers, not a new dose
Rybelsus 7 mg matches the 4 mg Ozempic pill, and 14 mg matches 9 mg. They aren't swapped mg for mg.
In your first 30 days on 3 mg? Wait
The label says not to switch in the first 30 days. After that, the next step is 4 mg.
Switch day
Start the Ozempic pill the day after your last Rybelsus tablet.
Check your coverage
Some plans carry your prior authorization over and some ask for a new one. Ask your plan before you fill it.
| If you take Rybelsus | The matching Ozempic pill |
|---|---|
| 3 mg | Don't switch in your first 30 days. After that, the next step is 4 mg. |
| 7 mg | 4 mg |
| 14 mg | 9 mg |
The new tablets look different too: round, where Rybelsus tablets were oval, with "1.5", "4" or "9" on one side and "novo" on the other. But the Wegovy pill's 1.5 mg, 4 mg and 9 mg tablets are described exactly the same way in its label, so check that your bottle says Ozempic. If what's in your bottle doesn't match your prescription, ask your pharmacist before you take it.
The Ozempic pill vs the Ozempic injection
Same medicine, different routine. The Ozempic injection is a weekly shot, from 0.25 mg up to 2 mg. It's approved for adults with type 2 diabetes: for blood sugar, for heart risk in those with heart disease, and to lower the risk of kidney disease getting worse in those with chronic kidney disease. The pill is one tablet every morning, with the 30-minute wait.
The label gives one way to switch: from the 0.5 mg injection. One week after your last 0.5 mg injection, you start the 4 mg or 9 mg pill. Your prescriber decides whether that suits you and which strength.
Is the Ozempic pill for weight loss?
No. The FDA approved it for type 2 diabetes, not weight loss. The pills approved for weight management are the Wegovy pill and Foundayo, and which one suits you, if any, is your prescriber's call. Our Foundayo vs Wegovy pill guide compares them.
Be wary of anyone selling a "semaglutide pill" without a prescription. The FDA says unapproved versions don't go through its review for safety, effectiveness and quality, and it urges people to buy medicines only from state-licensed pharmacies.
Ozempic pill side effects and safety
The most common side effects are nausea, stomach pain, diarrhea, less appetite, vomiting and constipation. The Medication Guide says nausea, vomiting and diarrhea are most common when you first start. In the label's trials, nausea affected 11% of people on the dose that matches today's 4 mg pill and 20% on the dose that matches 9 mg, against 6% on placebo.
Published data
Side effects reported with semaglutide tablets
Share of people in the type 2 diabetes trials who reported each one
- Placebo (no medicine)
- Rybelsus 7 mg (matches the 4 mg pill)
- Rybelsus 14 mg (matches the 9 mg pill)
| Side effect | Placebo | Rybelsus 7 mg (matches the 4 mg pill) | Rybelsus 14 mg (matches the 9 mg pill) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nausea | 6% | 11% | 20% |
| Stomach pain | 4% | 10% | 11% |
| Diarrhea | 4% | 9% | 10% |
| Less appetite | 1% | 6% | 9% |
| Vomiting | 3% | 6% | 8% |
| Constipation | 2% | 6% | 5% |
Before you take the Ozempic pill
- Don't take it if you or anyone in your family has had medullary thyroid cancer, or if you have multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2).
- Don't take it if you've had a serious allergic reaction to semaglutide or any of the tablet's ingredients.
- Tell your healthcare provider about a lump or swelling in your neck, hoarseness, trouble swallowing or shortness of breath.
- If you also take insulin or a sulfonylurea, ask whether those doses need lowering, because low blood sugar is more likely.
- Tell your provider if you've had vision problems from diabetes, and about any change in your vision while you take it.
- Stop it at least 2 months before a planned pregnancy, and ask your provider how to manage your blood sugar. Breastfeeding isn't recommended while you take it.
- It isn't recommended if you have severe gastroparesis (a stomach that empties very slowly).
From the RYBELSUS and OZEMPIC tablets prescribing information (boxed warning, sections 4, 5 and 8) and Medication Guide, revised January 2026.
From the Medication Guide
When to stop, call or get help
Severe stomach pain that won't go away
With or without nausea or vomiting, and it can spread to your back. Stop the Ozempic pill and call your healthcare provider right away. It can be a sign of pancreatitis.
Signs of a serious allergic reaction
Swelling of your face, lips, tongue or throat, trouble breathing or swallowing, severe rash or itching, fainting or feeling dizzy, or a very fast heartbeat. Stop the Ozempic pill and get medical help right away. Call 911 if you need to.
Nausea, vomiting or diarrhea that won't go away
Tell your healthcare provider right away. Losing fluids can lead to kidney problems.
Signs of low blood sugar
Such as dizziness, sweating, shakiness, confusion, hunger or a fast heartbeat. It's more likely if you also take a sulfonylurea or insulin. Ask your provider how to manage it.
Signs of gallbladder problems
Pain in your upper stomach, fever, yellowing of your skin or eyes, or clay-colored stools. Tell your healthcare provider right away.
Tell any doctor planning surgery or a procedure with anesthesia or deep sedation that you take the Ozempic pill. You can report a side effect to the FDA through MedWatch, at 1-800-FDA-1088 or fda.gov/medwatch, or to Novo Nordisk at 1-833-457-7455.
What the Ozempic pill costs, and coverage
Without insurance, NovoCare Pharmacy, Novo Nordisk's own pharmacy, sells a 30-tablet bottle for $149 at 1.5 mg, $199 at 4 mg and $299 at 9 mg (checked October 9, 2026). 12 bottles cover 360 days: 12 × $199 = $2,388 at 4 mg, and 12 × $299 = $3,588 at 9 mg.
With commercial insurance, Novo Nordisk's savings offer can bring the pill down to as little as $25 a month, for up to a 3-month prescription. It takes off up to $100 a month, and government plans are excluded. Novo can change or end either offer at any time.
On Medicare, Part D plans can cover the Ozempic pill for type 2 diabetes, but each plan has its own drug list and rules. Open enrollment, from October 15 to December 7, 2026, is the time to check yours for 2027. The Medicare GLP-1 Bridge doesn't cover it, because the Bridge is for weight management and leaves out people with type 2 diabetes. Our Medicare GLP-1 Bridge guide explains who it does cover.
What about a 25 mg Ozempic pill?
It's expected, not approved. Novo Nordisk has asked the FDA to approve a 25 mg Ozempic tablet for type 2 diabetes, and it says it expects a decision by the end of 2026. Until then, 9 mg is the highest Ozempic pill strength. We'll update this page when the FDA decides. (The 25 mg Wegovy pill is a different product, for weight management.)
Frequently asked questions
Is there an Ozempic pill?
Is the Ozempic pill the same as Rybelsus?
Is the Ozempic pill approved for weight loss?
What is the difference between the Ozempic pill and the Wegovy pill?
What strengths does the Ozempic pill come in?
How do you take the Ozempic pill?
How much is the Ozempic pill?
Is Rybelsus being discontinued?
How do I switch from Rybelsus to the Ozempic pill?
Can I switch from Ozempic injections to the Ozempic pill?
Does Medicare cover the Ozempic pill?
What are the side effects of the Ozempic pill?
General information from the FDA labels and Novo Nordisk, checked October 9, 2026. It isn't medical advice. Your prescriber decides which medicine you take and your dose, so never switch, swap or change either on your own.
View sources (14)
- FDA approves Ozempic tablets, Novo Nordisk press release, February 4, 2026
- Novo Nordisk's Ozempic pill soon to be available in the US, Novo Nordisk press release (PR Newswire), May 1, 2026
- RYBELSUS and OZEMPIC (semaglutide) tablets prescribing information and Medication Guide, Novo Nordisk, revised 1/2026 (PDF)
- WEGOVY (semaglutide) injection and tablets prescribing information, Novo Nordisk, revised 06/2026 (PDF)
- OZEMPIC (semaglutide) injection prescribing information, Novo Nordisk, revised 05/2026 (PDF)
- Ozempic self-pay prices, NovoCare Pharmacy, Novo Nordisk (read October 9, 2026)
- Ozempic savings offer and cost FAQs, NovoCare, Novo Nordisk (read October 9, 2026)
- Wegovy self-pay prices, NovoCare, Novo Nordisk (read October 9, 2026)
- GLP-1 pipeline update: August 2026, Prime Therapeutics, August 25, 2026
- Rybelsus tablets transition to Ozempic tablets, Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services provider notice, May 21, 2026
- Diabetes drug Rybelsus discontinued, to be replaced by Ozempic tablets, Priority Health, August 31, 2026
- FDA's concerns with unapproved GLP-1 drugs used for weight loss, US Food and Drug Administration (content current as of October 1, 2026)
- Medicare GLP-1 Bridge: weight loss drugs, Medicare.gov
- MedWatch: the FDA safety information and adverse event reporting program
