What Is Semaglutide?

Semaglutide is a prescription medication that was first approved by the FDA for weight loss in 2021. It belongs to a class of drugs called glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs). It and similar drugs started out as medications to treat type 2 Diabetes. In the course of using semaglutide for diabetes management, many patients found that it not only helped to better control their diabetes, but they also experienced weight loss.

Clinical trials were started to investigate semaglutide as a specific weight-loss drug. Those trials demonstrated that individuals using semaglutide in conjunction with a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity experienced significant weight loss. On average, participants in these trials achieved a weight loss of up to 15% of their body weight, which is considered a noteworthy result.

As a result of these trials, semaglutide became the first drug of its kind to be FDA-approved for obesity.

How Does Semaglutide Work?

Semaglutide belongs to a class of medications known as GLP-1 agonists. Such drugs mimic the action of the naturally occurring GLP-1 hormone in your body. It acts on specific receptors in the brain, leading to reduced appetite, increased feelings of fullness, and ultimately aiding in weight loss. Semaglutide also has a positive impact on blood glucose levels.

Semaglutide is a revolutionary prescription drug designed to help you achieve your weight loss goals safely and effectively. If you’ve been struggling with excess weight and are ready to take control of your health, semaglutide might just be the solution you’ve been waiting for.

For most patients, the many positive effects of semaglutide for weight loss far outweigh any of its potential risks of side effects or adverse events.

FDA Approval and Indications

In 2021 semaglutide, as the name brand drug, Wegovy made by Novo-Nordisk, became the first FDA-approved drug specifically for weight loss. Since then, it has become increasingly popular, so much so that you may have heard of shortages. However, semaglutide is in stock and available in the US. However, it is only available with a doctor’s prescription. Do not use semaglutide without a doctor’s prescription; it is not only illegal to do so, but using semaglutide without proper medical supervision could be hazardous.

How Effective is Semaglutide for Weight Loss?

In clinical trials, semaglutide has proven to be quite effective in weight loss. According to a 68-week medical study of nearly 2000 adults living with obesity or excess weight, patients on semaglutide – along with a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity – lost an average of approximately 35 pounds, with 1 in 3 adults losing as much as 45 pounds!

Clinical Trials and Studies on Semaglutide for Weight Loss

In the FDA-approval trial mentioned above:

• 30% of people taking semaglutide lost 20% or more weight, compared to 2% of people taking a placebo.
• 83% of adults taking semaglutide lost 5% or more weight, compared to 31% taking placebo.
• 66% of adults taking semaglutide® lost 10% or more weight, compared to 12% taking a placebo.
• 48% of adults taking semaglutide lost 15% or more weight, compared to 5% taking a placebo.

Effectiveness of Semaglutide in Weight Reduction

Semaglutide is most effective for weight reduction in patients with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher or a BMI of 27 or higher with at least one other obesity-related health risk, such as high blood pressure or diabetes.

Semaglutide is most effective for people:

• Who have struggled for a long time with their weight
• Who have tried other weight loss methods and failed
• Who are looking for a medical weight loss solution that lasts but is non-invasive and surgery-free.

Semaglutide for Diabetics

Since semaglutide started its life as the active ingredient in the diabetes medication Ozempic, it is not only OK for adults with type 2 diabetes to take semaglutide to manage weight, but it can also reduce the symptoms of type 2 diabetes.

Semaglutide has been found to have a positive impact on blood sugar levels not only in people with diabetes but also in anyone using semaglutide. By maintaining healthy blood sugar levels, semaglutide not only aids in weight loss, it can help reduce insulin resistance, which can lower the risk of heart disease, kidney disease and other comorbid conditions related to obesity. .

However, other medications for diabetes may interfere with semaglutide’s effectiveness, so please tell your care team if you are taking any such drugs.

Other Positive Benefits of Semaglutide

Diabetes is not the only complication that can be caused by obesity. Being overweight brings with it several other dangerous, even life-threatening conditions, such as metabolic syndrome, high blood pressure, and an increased risk of heart disease. According to the World Stroke Organization, a BMI in the “overweight” category increases your risk of stroke by 22%. If your BMI categorizes you as “obese,” that risk increases by 64%. This is because carrying too much weight increases your risk of high blood pressure, heart disease, high cholesterol, and type 2 diabetes, which all contribute to higher stroke risk.

The risk of heart attack increases as well. According to the Johns Hopkins Cardiology Center, “for every five-point increase in BMI, the risk of heart failure rises by 32 percent.”

By providing significant weight loss and a reduction of BMI, semaglutide therapy can also substantially reduce your risk of heart disease or death by cardiovascular events like stroke or sudden cardiac arrest. In fact, the ability of semaglutide to reduce these risks now have resulted in it being investigated as a prescription drug for heart disease.

Semaglutide Prescription and Administration

Semaglutide is administered via subcutaneous injection once a week, typically using a prefilled pen device. Your healthcare provider will guide you on the proper dosage and demonstrate the correct injection technique. It is important to follow the prescribed dosage and frequency as directed by your healthcare professional.

It is important to understand that semaglutide for weight loss is more than just a drug; using semaglutide is part of a comprehensive medical weight loss strategy. Comprehensive medical weight loss includes personalized guidance from our healthcare providers, including recommendations for a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity. By incorporating healthy lifestyle changes alongside Semaglutide, you’ll maximize your chances of long-term success.

How to Obtain a Prescription for Semaglutide

Semaglutide is a prescription medication. You cannot purchase semaglutide without a legitimate doctor’s prescription. Beware of any website that claims to be able to sell you semaglutide injections without a prescription — such sales are not only illegal, these are likely counterfeit and dangerous versions of semaglutide.

However, getting a legitimate prescription for semaglutide from one of our qualified weight loss professionals is not hard. It starts with contacting us for a pre-screening to determine your eligibility. During this initial consultation, which can be done virtually, you’ll discuss your medical history, current health status, any existing medical conditions, and medications you’re taking. We will assess your BMI and other contributing factors that could make you a candidate for semaglutide.

If our healthcare provider determines that semaglutide is appropriate for you, they will write a prescription for the medication. They will also provide you with instructions on how to properly use the medication, including dosing, injection technique, and potential side effects.

Dosage and Frequency of Semaglutide Injections

Your medical evaluation will determine your prescribed dose of semaglutide. Semaglutide therapy is designed to be titrated, which means you will start off at the lowest effective dose and slowly raise it to the maximum effective dose per the clinical trials. This allows your body to get used to the drug and reduces the chances of side effects.

Proper Administration of Semaglutide Injections

Semaglutide is generally available in five different strengths. You will likely start out at at a dose of 0.25 mg once a week and increase the dose every 4 weeks until you reach the full dose of 2.4 mg. Special care should be taken to follow the dosing schedule as recommended by your health care provider.

When injecting semaglutide, it is important to maintain sterile conditions and to rotate your injection sites. Always dispose of used needles in a proper sharps container.

Only use semaglutide as instructed by your care team. Do not take extra doses. Should you miss a dose, take the next injection at your regular time.

Consult your injection kit’s insert for complete, detailed instructions on how to give yourself semaglutide injections.

Potential Semaglutide Side Effects

Semaglutide has undergone rigorous testing to ensure its efficacy and safety profile. Semaglutide is FDA-approved for weight loss and is generally regarded as safe; however, like any drug or medical procedure, Semaglutide does have some potential side effects.

The most common side effects of semaglutide are gastrointestinal issues such as severe stomach pain.

• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Constipation
• Abdominal pain
• Gas and Feeling Bloated
• Heartburn

Other reported side effects include:

• Dizziness
• Fatigue
• Hair Loss
• Injection Site Reactions
• Other allergic reactions
• Dry mouth

In some rare occasions, there have been reports of an increased risk of pancreatic cancer or pancreatitis when using semaglutide. Gallbladder problems have also been reported. Also, to minimize any risk of side effects or contraindications, please tell your health care provider about any medications you may be taking, including non-prescription drugs. there has been an increased risk of

If you experience any side effects with semaglutide, particularly the mild ones, they usually go away within the first few weeks of use as your body adjusts to the medication. You can help mitigate any side effects by only using semaglutide as directed, drinking lots of water, and following any specific mitigation techniques suggested for particular issues by your prescriber.

Warnings and Contraindications

While Semaglutide is generally regarded as safe, there are some individuals who should not use semaglutide. Please inform your doctor if you or anyone in your family has ever suffered from:

• Thyroid eye disease.
• Had a history of pancreatitis.
• Kidney disease.
• Stomach problems.
• Thyroid cancer.

Please tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding, pregnant, or considering becoming pregnant. There could be risks to an unborn child. Also, to minimize any risk of side effects or contraindications, please tell your health care provider about any medications you may be taking, including non-prescription drugs. Health care provider about any medications you may be taking, including non-prescription drugs and dietary supplements.

Consulting a Healthcare Professional

If you have struggled with weight, if you are tired of diet and exercise programs that lead to rebound and fail to provide substantial or sustainable weight loss, then it is time to speak to your health care provider about prescription medical weight loss with semaglutide.

We cannot stress enough the importance of only using semaglutide without the supervision of qualified health care professionals. Not only is it illegal to use semaglutide without a prescription, but it could be dangerous to do so. Semaglutide, while generally regarded as safe, can have some severe side effects, and the chances of these are increased manyfold if you use it without proper medical supervision.

Due to the popularity of semaglutide, there have been some shortages of the drug which has lead FDA officials to warn consumers about counterfeit drug. Due to the popularity of semaglutide; there have been some shortages of the drug, which has led FDA officials to warn consumers about counterfeit drugs. You should only seek a prescription for semaglutide from a licensed and legitimate source like our health care team. This way, you can be sure of quality of drug manufacturing. Counterfeit semaglutide can contain the wrong ingredients or even harmful ingredients.

How to Maximize Your Success on Semaglutide

In clinical trials, semaglutide provided remarkable weight loss results. However, it is important to point out that the most substantial results were in patients who combined weekly semaglutide injections with reduced caloric intake, increased physical activity, and other lifestyle changes.

Diet and Lifestyle Modifications

It has been well-documented that eating a properly planned diet while taking semaglutide is required to support its weight loss benefits, minimize possible side effects, and promote overall health and well-being. In the semaglutide clinical trials, the participants who lost the most weight – as much as 16% of their total body weight – did so when combining the drug with calorie restriction and a balanced, well-planned diet.

While there is no specific “semaglutide diet plan,” heart-healthy diets that are high in lean protein and whole grains and low in fat and carbs, like the Mediterranean Diet, tend to work best to optimize semaglutide weigh loss results.

Other lifestyle changes that can increase semaglutide’s effectiveness include the following:

• Getting more exercise.
• Getting enough sleep.
• Avoid sugar
• Reducing the consumption of alcohol
• Do not use recreational or illegal drugs.
• Smoking cessation.
• Stress reduction.
• Drink plenty of fluids, and stay hydrated to maintain body fluid.

Regular Check-ins and Monitoring with a Healthcare Team

One of the other important aspects of medical weight loss with semaglutide is the ongoing support you will receive through regular checks and monitoring and check-ins with our healthcare team. During these check-ins, we will not only physically monitor your progress; we will provide you with resources and encouragement that will help keep you on track to hitting your weight loss goals.

Disclaimer: The information provided on these pages is for educational purposes only. It is not meant to be everything you need to know about semaglutide’s use, administration, or its potential side effects. Nor does it take the place of the instructions of your healthcare provider. It is your responsibility to review the full product information and discuss this information and any questions you have with your doctor or other healthcare provider.