Semaglutide is an injectable prescription medication originally approved for treating type 2 diabetes. More recently, it has shown great promise as a weight loss aid when prescribed in higher doses than what is typically used for diabetes.
Semaglutide is a GLP-1 receptor agonist - it mimics the effects of a hormone called glucagon-like peptide-1 that is released naturally by the body. By acting like GLP-1, semaglutide:
All of these effects of semaglutide can aid in weight loss and management. When used specifically for weight control rather than diabetes, it is prescribed at a higher once-weekly dose to enhance these effects.
Many clinical studies have now clearly demonstrated that semaglutide injections can deliver significant weight loss along with other health benefits when used specifically for weight management. Some of the key benefits include:
By mimicking appetite-regulating hormones, semaglutide is very effective at reducing hunger and food cravings. Most patients notice a marked decrease in their appetite within a few doses. Eating less food is key for successful weight loss.
In addition to suppressing appetite, semaglutide also increases fat burning. By improving control of blood sugar and other mechanisms, the body is able to tap into fat stores more efficiently. This accelerated fat burn leads to enhanced weight loss beyond just eating less food.
Unlike many other weight loss medications that lose effectiveness over time, semaglutide has been shown to provide durable weight loss results for up to 2 years in clinical trials. This makes it a viable longer-term weight management solution.
Beyond weight loss itself, semaglutide improves several markers of health like waist circumference, blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and inflammation. This leads to considerable health benefits beyond just losing pounds.
Semaglutide has been extensively studied and approved for use in adults with certain health profiles:
Semaglutide should not be used in patients with certain medical histories:
Ideally, semaglutide is prescribed alongside increased physical activity and nutritional counseling for optimal health benefits.
If you fit the profile of an appropriate candidate, read below to learn about semaglutide treatment basics. Or you can
If prescribed semaglutide after thorough medical assessment, here is a high-level overview of what you can expect with treatment:
Semaglutide is administered as a simple subcutaneous injection (into fat layer under skin) using a prefilled autoinjector pen similar to an insulin pen. After proper training, most patients find it quick and easy to self-administer at home on their own schedule.
The semaglutide dose is ramped up slowly over 5-8 weeks to improve gastrointestinal tolerance. Common transient side effects like nausea and vomiting can be minimized with gradual titration to the full therapeutic dose.
The ultimate goal is achieving effective appetite suppression for weight loss, so your prescriber may periodically adjust your dose based on your response. This responsive dosing helps optimize weight loss results.
Expect regular follow-up visits for safety monitoring as well as evaluating weight loss progress to determine if dosage adjustments are beneficial. Monitoring typically includes weight, waist circumference, blood pressure, pulse, and addressing any side effects.
Semaglutide is a new type of injectable diabetes medication that not only helps control blood sugar levels, but also promotes modest weight loss in most patients, typically around 5-10% of body weight over 1-2 years. This unexpected beneficial side effect on weight makes semaglutide unique among diabetes drugs.
Here at Revive Hormone Clinic, we provide customized prescription weight loss programs anchored around semaglutide and other medications. With our responsive medical management, decades of obesity treatment expertise, and full-service hormone replacement therapies, we empower patients to achieve life-changing weight loss and metabolic health.
Some keys to our semaglutide weight loss clinic advantage:
Semaglutide is an injectable prescription medication used to improve blood sugar levels in adults with type 2 diabetes. It belongs to a class of drugs called GLP-1 receptor agonists that work by stimulating the release of insulin and lowering glucagon secretion when blood sugar is high. Semaglutide also slows stomach emptying to decrease appetite.
The mechanism behind semaglutide is quite nifty! By mimicking a hormone called GLP-1 that is released naturally after eating, semaglutide signals the pancreas to secrete insulin when blood glucose levels climb. Furthermore, it puts the brakes on stomach emptying and promotes feelings of fullness. So in a nutshell, semaglutide lowers blood sugar, curbs appetite, and aids weight loss to boot.
Common side effects of semaglutide injections include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, decreased appetite, indigestion, and constipation. These side effects are usually mild to moderate and tend to improve with continued treatment. Less common but serious side effects involve inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis), low blood sugar (hypoglycemia), kidney problems, changes in vision, and thyroid tumors.
Semaglutide is taken once weekly by injection under the skin using a prefilled pen device. The injection can be self-administered or given by another person after proper training from a healthcare provider. The usual starting dose is 0.25 mg injected once weekly, which is then increased gradually every 4 weeks up to a target maintenance dose of 1 mg once a week. Taking semaglutide at the same time each week helps maintain effective drug levels.
The retail price for semaglutide runs high at over $1000 per month. Fortunately, with insurance coverage, most patients can obtain semaglutide for an average copay of $50-100 per month. For qualifying uninsured patients, the semaglutide manufacturer Novo Nordisk offers a patient assistance program to provide the drug at reduced or zero cost based on income eligibility. So even on a tight budget, you can still likely access this extremely helpful diabetes medication.
