Semaglutide has an elimination half-life of approximately 7 days (about one week), meaning it takes about a week for the concentration of the drug in the bloodstream to reduce by half
. Due to this half-life, it generally takes around 4 to 5 weeks (about a month) for semaglutide to be fully eliminated from the body after the last dose
. This duration applies to both injectable forms (such as Ozempic and Wegovy) and oral semaglutide (Rybelsus), as both have similar half-lives
. The drug’s long half-life is attributed to its binding to albumin, which reduces renal clearance and protects it from metabolic breakdown
. Factors that can influence how long semaglutide stays in your system include dosage, frequency of administration, individual metabolic rate, kidney function, body weight, and concurrent medications
. In summary:
- Half-life: ~7 days
- Time to full elimination: Approximately 4 to 5 weeks after last dose
- Forms: Injectable and oral forms have similar elimination profiles
- Influencing factors: Dose, metabolism, kidney function, etc.
This means if you stop taking semaglutide, the drug will remain detectable and active in your system for about a month before it is cleared completely
