Semaglutide
Help for those who are struggling with weight loss has finally arrived, but it has taken a while—2014, to be exact—for a new weight loss medication to hit the market. The use of semaglutide for weight loss was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the United States in June 2021.
Thousands of people have used this exciting new weight loss medication since it was approved, and now it’s your turn to experience incredible results.
Are you curious about how this new medication is affecting people’s approaches to weight management and whether it could be a good fit for you? Learn more about semaglutide and its role in weight loss and weight management plans by reading on.
What is Semaglutide?
Semaglutide may sound familiar to you because it was the active component of drugs used to treat Type 2 Diabetes before it was licensed for use in long-term weight management. The FDA approved Ozempic, an injectable drug containing semaglutide as its primary ingredient, in 2017 for the treatment of Type 2 Diabetes. The approval of Rybelus, an oral medication for Type 2 Diabetes containing semaglutide as its primary ingredient, came next in 2019.
People started to notice that while Rybelus and Ozempic stimulated the pancreas to produce more insulin, which helped to lower blood sugar levels, they also had an unexpected side effect: weight loss.
Novo Nordisk, the company that makes Rybelus and Ozempic, conducted a number of clinical studies before developing Wegovy, a new medication that uses semaglutide to help people lose weight. Following its FDA approval in 2021, this ground-breaking weight-loss drug has assisted thousands of people in losing weight.
How much weight has been lost by those taking semaglutide? According to clinical trials, semaglutide helped many patients lose 15% to 20% of their starting weight.
How Does Semaglutide Work for Weight Loss?
Semaglutide is an agnostic glucagon-like peptide 1. GLP-1 agonist is the much shorter name by which it is most commonly known. In addition to stimulating the pancreas to aid in the production of insulin, the natural hormone GLP-1 produced by the digestive system can also assist in communicating to the brain the sensation of fullness.
Semaglutide is made to resemble GLP-1’s natural hormone. The body responds to it as though it had produced the GLP-1 on its own when it is injected or consumed.
Semaglutide, when used for weight loss, binds to receptors in the stomach lining to slow down the stomach’s emptying process. The brain receives a signal of fullness when the stomach empties more slowly. You feel full and are less likely to want to eat, which helps reduce your food intake and decreases your appetite—two factors that are essential for weight loss.
Semaglutide causes dramatic weight loss by promoting the production of insulin, which helps the body break down food and fats more efficiently, along with the feeling of fullness that results from the stomach emptying more slowly.
How is Semaglutide Administered?
Semaglutide can only be injected when used as a weight loss or weight management tool. The weekly injection schedule is followed. Wegovy, or semaglutide for weight loss, comes in multiple dosage forms. There are dosages of 0.25, 0.5, 1.7, and 2.4 mg available. Our semaglutide program entails close monitoring from our practitioner, who can assist you in determining the appropriate dosage. As a result of your weekly close monitoring, our practitioner is able to modify your semaglutide dosage as needed. Because your program is customized to meet your specific needs, you can see the best results possible.
Are There Side Effects from Using Semaglutide for Weight Loss?
The majority of side effects are gastrointestinal in nature, which is not surprising given that semaglutide interacts directly with the gastrointestinal tract. When using semaglutide to lose weight, the following are some of the most typical side effects that users encounter:
- Nausea
- Heartburn
- Vomiting
- Constipation
- Stomach pain
- Gas
- Diarrhea
Semaglutide is still incredibly safe to use for weight loss, despite the fact that it has some side effects. In actuality, it has fewer adverse effects than other prescription weight-loss products on the market.
Although they are uncommon, semaglutide side effects are still possible. Because your comfort is important to us, our practitioner may prescribe oral Zofran (which can help with nausea) as part of the semaglutide program. We advise keeping Zofran on hand in case you do experience any side effects, even if you don’t think you need it.
Our weekly observation also aids in managing side effects. We begin with a low dosage and gradually increase it as needed. Your practitioner can modify the dosage if you encounter any side effects.
Who is a Good Candidate for Use of Semaglutide for Weight Loss?
People who have been diagnosed as obese or overweight are the intended users of semaglutide for weight loss. A BMI of 30 or higher is typically used to diagnose obesity, while a BMI of 27 or higher is used to diagnose overweight. There must be a diagnosis of obesity or overweight in addition to at least one medication condition related to weight. Medical conditions such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or Type 2 Diabetes are associated with weight.
- Family history of Medullary Thyroid Carcinoma (MTC) – a rare form of thyroid cancer
- Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome Type 2
- Known allergy to semaglutide
- Currently breastfeeding or have a plan to breastfeed
- Currently pregnant
Getting a consultation at our center is the best way to find out if you are a good candidate for using semaglutide for weight loss. We can help you decide whether utilizing our semaglutide program would be beneficial during our free initial consultation.
In the CSRA/Augusta area? Get started with an appointment today! (706) 288-3700