Semaglutide FAQs
What is semaglutide?
Semaglutide is a newly FDA-approved weight loss medication sold under the brand name Wegovy. It is a once-weekly injectable medication that is given as a minimal dose to start and gradually increased until a therapeutic dose is reached.
Semaglutide belongs to a class of medications called GLP-1. Patients with type II diabetes used this class of drugs when metformin, a common medication used to manage diabetes, failed. An effective medication for lowering blood sugar for many years, it has the added benefit of weight loss.
In response to the weight loss seen in patients with type II diabetes, Novo Nordisk sent semaglutide into FDA trials for approval as a weight loss medication. In 2021, semaglutide was approved, and Wegovy was available to patients as a once-weekly injectable to treat obesity.
Is Semaglutide FDA-approved?
Yes, Semaglutide injection is FDA-approved. So read more about what is Semaglutide Injection.
Wegovy (semaglutide) injection (2.4 mg every week) has been authorized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for weight reduction in adults with obesity or overweight with at least one weight-related condition (such as high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, or high cholesterol) in addition to a restricted calorie diet and increased physical activity.
This is the first drug approved for long-term weight management in people with general obesity or who are overweight since 2014. Patients with a body mass index (BMI) between 27 kg/m2 and 30 kg/m2 who have at least one weight-related illness are suitable for chronic weight reduction therapy. Read more about this weight loss program approved by FDA.
How does it work?
Though the exact way that semaglutide causes weight loss is unclear, it has some specific functions believed to be responsible for its weight loss effects.
A not-so-obvious but very beneficial effect of semaglutide includes its impact on the brain. Semaglutide acts on the hypothalamus, a part of the brain that you could think of as similar to a thermostat that controls more than just the body temperature. The hypothalamus also regulates our mood, blood pressure, sleep, and even sex drive. But an essential function related to weight loss is the sensation of hunger and fullness controlled by the hypothalamus.
Semaglutide alters the food-reward system and prolongs our sense of fullness. Patients taking this medication at our practice routinely tell us they no longer crave their favorite unhealthy foods. They have an easier time opting for lower-fat and healthier options.
Finally, semaglutide slows down the motility of the gastrointestinal tract. Put more simply, semaglutide keeps the food in your stomach for longer than usual, keeping you full longer.
Is it safe?
With all the changes semaglutide makes to the body, it would be natural to wonder – is semaglutide safe?
While no medication is without risks and side effects, semaglutide is relatively safe for most people. Semaglutide can be used in people with most heart, kidney, liver, and endocrine conditions.
Before obtaining a prescription, your provider will have a thorough conversation about your medical history to ensure you are safe to begin taking semaglutide.
How fast does semaglutide work?
The short answer is that many of our patients lose weight in the first week of taking semaglutide. The first dose is small (0.25 mg). It is primarily used to gently introduce the medication to the body without risking developing severe side effects. As your dosage increases, you should see increased weight loss over time. However, as with any weight loss medication, a healthy diet and exercise are recommended for optimal results.
How long do I need to take semaglutide to see results?
If you adopt the healthy lifestyle changes recommended, you could see results as early as the first week. Healthy sustainable weight loss is 0.5 – 2.0 pounds a week. We have patients who routinely surpass this rate of weight loss. While the medication certainly plays a role, we cannot ignore other factors. These factors may include high BMI at the start of the therapy, adherence to nutritional guidelines, presence or absence of exercise and the type of exercise used, and more.
It is essential to keep a realistic perspective about the rate of weight loss that you can achieve. The rate at which you reach your goal will most likely not be the same as someone else.
Our goal at Med 1 Aesthetics is to provide our patients with the tools and information to achieve a reduced weight and maintain the loss long term.
How much weight can I lose with semaglutide?
The average weight loss achieved in the STEP 1 study of semaglutide for weight loss was 14.9% of the initial body weight over 68 weeks. Individual loss varies and depends on how seriously a person commits to adjusting food intake to appropriate portions and choosing healthier options regularly.
In our practice, it is not unusual to see a patient lose roughly 20% of their starting body weight during treatment. This amount of weight loss is a testament to the commitment made by those patients to improve their relationship with food with sustained positive changes over time.
Semaglutide, or any other weight loss medication, is a tool to assist in weight loss while the patient makes other lifestyle changes. No magic pill or injection will change your relationship with food. The patients who lose the most make healthy choices most of the time.
What if I miss an Injection?
In case you neglect to take a dose, take it as soon as possible up to five days after the missed dose. Next dose, take it at the regular weekly time. If you’ve missed more than five days, do not take the missed dose. Double or extra doses are not recommended. If you are uncertain about a missed dose, contact your care team for advice.
What are the side effects?
More common
Diarrhea
Less common
Constipation
Hair loss
Rare
Bleeding, blistering, burning, coldness, discoloration of the skin, feeling of pressure, hives, infection, inflammation, itching, lumps, numbness, pain, rash, redness, scarring, soreness, stinging, swelling, tenderness, tingling, ulceration, or warmth at the injection site, change in taste or loss of taste
Where should I keep my medication?
Pens should be kept away from children because they could ingest them or injure themselves. When a pen is first used, store it at room temperature between 15 and 30 degrees C (59 and 86 degrees F) or in the refrigerator between 2 and 8 degrees C (36 and 46 degrees F) for 56 days. Throw away the pen after 56 days or after the expiration date, whichever occurs first. Store your pen away from light and heat. Do not store the needle attached to the pen. If the needle is left on, medication may leak from the pen.
What may interact with this medication?
Just like any medication, Semaglutide Injection can also have some kind of interaction. These are some of the medicines that may cause alterations in blood glucose levels: Some medications conceal the symptoms of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), therefore you may have to monitor your blood sugar more carefully if you are taking one of these medicines.
Your healthcare provider needs to know about any medicines, herbs, non-prescription drugs, or dietary supplements you are taking in addition to this list. Please inform them if you smoke, drink alcohol, or use illegal drugs. It is possible for some items to interact with your medication.