Key takeaways
- Your Ozempic pen may still look full because it has extra liquid for a one-time flow check.
- To check whether you have another dose, turn the dose selector. If it stops at your full dose, you have another dose. If not, switch pens.
- Never try to draw out leftover liquid with a syringe. The extra isn’t meant to be used.
If you administer Ozempic, you may notice your pen looks like it has extra medication inside, even after multiple injections. That’s on purpose.
Each pen has built-in extra medication called an overfill. Since you can’t fully empty the cartridge, this ensures you still get every official dose.
When opening a new pen, you should do a one‑time flow check (a test shot) to clear out air bubbles and confirm that the medication can flow through the needle. For step-by-step instructions on how to do this, check out this video on the drug manufacturer’s site.
So, while it looks like you’re leaving liquid behind, that’s just part of the design. It isn’t meant to be used, even if it looks like more is left.
The number of injections you get from your Ozempic pen depends on your prescribed dose (measured in milligrams [mg]) and your pen size.
Ozempic pens are available with the following doses:
- 0.25 mg or 0.5 mg: The pen contains 2 mg total. You can select either dose until it runs out.
- 1 mg: The pen contains 4 mg, allowing only 1 mg per injection.
- 2 mg: The pen contains 8 mg, allowing only 2 mg per injection.
The pens come preset this way, so you have a fixed number of doses matching your prescription plan.
The easiest way to check is with the dose counter. To do this:
- Turn the dose selector until it stops.
- Look at the number displayed:
- If it stops at your full dose (for example, 1 mg), you still have enough for 1 injection.
- If it stops at a smaller number, the pen doesn’t have enough medication, so it’s time to switch to a new pen.
Never try to “stretch” a pen by combining leftover liquid or using a syringe to pull the liquid from a pen. Switching to a new pen is the best way to guarantee you always get your full, accurate dose.
The following are common questions about Ozempic pens and their answers.
Why does my pen still look full?
Your pen still looks full because of the built‑in overfill. This overfill ensures consistent dosing, even though some liquid remains in the pen.
Do I need to do the flow check every time?
No, you only do the flow check once when starting a new pen.
How can I tell whether my pen is empty?
To check whether your pen is empty, turn the dose selector. If it dials to your full dose, you have at least 1 injection remaining. If it stops sooner, the pen is done.
Can I draw out the extra liquid with a syringe?
No, the overfill in the pen isn’t for use. Drawing out the extra liquid could lead to unsafe dosing.
Even if your Ozempic pen looks like it’s still full, that’s just the overfill doing its job. The manufacturer designed the pens to give the exact number of safe, accurate doses — no more, no less.
The dose counter can help you determine when the pen is truly empty and when to move on to a new one safely.
If you have additional questions about using Ozempic pens, 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.