SEMAGLUTIDE

If you’ve been having trouble sticking to a low calorie diet plan, weekly treatments with Semaglutide may be what you need under medical supervision.

WHAT IS SEMAGLUTIDE?

SEMAGLUTIDE is a peptide weight loss medication that is the first of its kind. Semaglutide increases insulin secretion from the pancreas. It also suppresses appetite by slowing down the movement of food through the gastrointestinal tract. It was initially FDA approved in 2017 for Type 2 diabetes management. Those using it to control their blood sugar began losing weight. Most recently, it was approved in Jan 2023 at a different dose for weight loss.

In clinical trials, Semaglutide helped most recipients lose 10% of their body weight. More than half of them reduced their weight by 15%. The FDA studied Semaglutide’s safety and efficacy in four 68-week trials. Common brand names for Semaglutide are Ozempic and and Wegovy

WHO IS A GOOD CANDIDATE FOR TREATMENT WITH SEMAGLUTIDE?

Those who have a BMI of 30 or more may benefit from treatment or those who need to lose weight because they have medical conditions such as diabetes or hypertension. A thorough history and physical must be done before starting on any weight loss program. There are people who should not be treated with it. Those include anyone with a history of:

Gallbladder, kidney or pancreas disease

Thyroid disease or endocrine tumors

Stomach or intestinal problems

A history of depression, mental health disease or suicidal thoughts.

Eye diseases

A known allergy to Semaglutide or one of its components

HOW IS THIS MEDICATION GIVEN?

This medication is injected subcutaneously (under the skin). It is given on a weekly basis (once every 7 days).

HOW DOES SEMAGLUTIDE WORK FOR WEIGHTLOSS?

Semaglutide mimics a hormone called glucagon-like peptide-1 (or GLP-1). This hormone targets areas in the brain that regulate appetite and food intake. After you eat a meal, glucagon is released in the GI tract which triggers insulin release from the pancreas, lowering your blood sugar. Doing so helps you eat less Semaglutide should be combined with lifestyle changes, including a healthy diet and exercise. However, these measures are not necessary to lose weight with Semaglutide injections.

WHAT ARE SOME HEALTH BENEFITS OF SEMAGLUTIDE?

Some of the health benefits associated with Semaglutide include the following:
A decrease in blood sugar without any increase in hypoglycemia
Suppressed appetite due to a sense of fullness in the brain and a slowing of the emptying of food from the GI tract
Reduced body weight, lipids, blood pressure, inflammatory markers, and oxidative stress
Better insulin synthesis and secretion
More significant improvement in cardiovascular risk factors associated with obesity

WHAT ARE SOME SIDE EFFECTS OF SEMAGLUTIDE?

Gastrointestinal (GI) side effects are the most common side effects reported especially if there is an abrupt increase in dosage. Some of the most common side effects are: headache, fatigue, dehydration, stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, burping, bloating, diarrhea and indigestion.

IS SEMAGLUTIDE SAFE?

The FDA studied Semaglutide’s safety and efficacy in four 68-week trials. Individuals who received the injections safely lost 6.2% of their initial body weight compared to those who received a placebo.

WHAT POSSIBLE DRUG INTERACTIONS ARE THERE?

Insulin and other diabetes medications as this medication can affect blood sugar. That is why it is important to tell the doctor all medications you are taking, including over the counter supplements.