Semaglutide injections are to be taken once in a week for weight loss in adults. It must be taken with a combination of a healthy diet and regular exercises. Also known as Wegovy, has FDA approval in 2021.
Before Semgalutide got FDA approval, It got in news due to its high efficiency in cutting weights, 15% to 18% of starting body weight during clinical trials. It has also been proven to treat cardiovascular issues for certain people.
Now, It is important to figure out if Semaglutide is right for you. It might work better than other weight loss medications, there are still some points to consider. Let’s dive deeper into the blog so you know everything about Semaglutide.
What is semaglutide?
Semaglutide is a type 2 diabetes as well as obesity treatment injection used for weight management. It is similar to the hormone glucagon like peptide-1. It is the first once-weekly GLP-1 agonist for weight loss.
Recently, Wegovy or Semaglutide has been accepted as a medication to treat cardiovascular diseases in adults who are seen as obese. If you are suffering from heart disease then Semaglutide will lower your risk of serious heart related problems. It is the only weight loss medication accepted to treat heart related diseases.
How does semaglutide work for weight loss?
Semaglutide mimics the role of GLP-1, an incretin hormone that helps in appetite and digestion. It’s considered to work in a few different ways to help in weight loss. These include:
Slows the motion of food out of your stomach
Satiety, that is makes you feel full
Reduces cravings for salty snacks, sweets and any other food items
Semaglutide effects such as reduced appetite lasts till you’re using medication and other effects will lessen over time.
Who should take semaglutide?
Before taking any medication, It is important to understand its potential risks and benefits that will impact your health. This is because Semaglutide doesn’t suit everyone. It also involves your long term dedication since rebound weight gain is highly possible.
For weight loss, semaglutide was studied in certain adults and adolescents who met established body mass index (BMI) criteria. As Wegovy, it’s currently approved for the following groups:
Adults and adolescents ages 12 and older who are considered to be obese
Adults who are considered to be overweight and have at least one weight-related health condition
What is the semaglutide dosage for weight loss?
Semaglutide injections are given once a week, on the same day. You will start off with low doses of 1.7 mg. However, your dose will increase to 2.4 mg once every week. This is the target dose. Your doctor will monitor you carefully if you can tolerate such a dose of Semaglutide, if not you may be given 1.7 mg weekly.
It is important to manage potential side effects. If you see any issues in your health or it causes irritation of some sort then your doctor might lower your dose or stop you from taking it.
How to inject semaglutide
Semaglutide injections approved for weight loss, are available as a single-use injection pen. Your dose is already pre-set for you and the needle is already attached to the pen. You have to throw it away after your injection.
You need to inject your semaglutide dose just under the skin on your upper arm, abdomen, or thigh. Injecting at the same place might cause injection site reactions that is why it is recommended to change your injection site.
To inject Semaglutide subcutaneously, remove the cap. Push the pen firmly against your skin to trigger the injection. As soon as you hear a click, the yellow bar starts moving. Keep holding the pen until the bar stops. Then throw away the pen used for injection.
Ozempic is another semaglutide injection, sometimes prescribed off-label for weight loss. However, the Ozempic injection pen works differently in comparison to Wegovy pen.
Semaglutide Side Effects
It is not common to have severe side effects from Semaglutide. However, minor side effects are common and it fades away as the treatment stops. You must stay alert if you seem to suffer from serious side effects such heart burns, gall bladder issues and kidney damage issues. You must immediately consult your doctor in case of emergency.
Nausea and vomiting
Diarrhea
Stomach pain
Constipation
Headache
Fatigue
How does semaglutide compare to other weight-loss medications?
On a clinical trial studying Semaglutide in adults showed an average weight loss of 15% over almost 16 months. And, in another study, adolescents lost over 15% of their initial body weight on average.
Tirzepatide vs. semaglutide
Tirzepatide is also a once-weekly injection for weight loss in adults. It’s also available to treat Type 2 diabetes in adults.
Just like semaglutide, Tirzepatide also mimics GLP-1. But it mimics another incretin called GIP. While Tirzepatide has similar effects as semaglutide, it’s the only medication in its class. However, it isn’t approved for cardiovascular benefits yet.
At the time, when clinical trials of Tirzepatide for weight loss were going on, people lost between 15% and 21% of their initial body weight on average. So, It is quite possible that you will be able to lose more weight with Tirzepatide than Semaglutide.
Precautions while taking Semaglutide
You must visit your healthcare professional regularly to monitor your health. However, It is more important to keep regular tabs in the early stages as it is easier to control any abnormality in the starting phase.
Drink plenty of liquid while taking medication. It is important to keep your body hydrated while you are on your medication to prevent signs of severity such as diarrhea, nausea and vomiting. The loss of too much body fluid will affect your recovery time.
A test called the HbA1C (A1C) will be monitored. This is a very simple blood test that measures blood sugar control over the last 2 to 3 months. You will regularly receive this test every 3 to 6 months.
It is important to learn to check your blood sugar level from time to time. Learn the symptoms and learn how to manage them.
There might be chances of experiencing low blood sugar levels hence, carry a quick source of sugar with you. Like hard sugar candy or glucose tablets. It is important to let others know of the severity in case of low blood sugar levels so others can help you at once in case of emergency.
You must inform your health care team if you are experiencing high blood sugar levels. Then you will have to change your medication dose. If you are occasionally sick then it is a sign to change the dosage of your medication.
Please do not skip your meals. However, clarify with your healthcare team if you need to avoid alcohol. This is because such drinks contain high sugar levels that might affect your blood sugar.
Injection Pens should never be shared. Even if the needle is changed, sharing may result in passing of viruses like hepatitis or HIV.
Wear a medical ID bracelet or chain, and carry a card that describes your disease and details of your medication and dosage times.
Do not become pregnant while taking this medication. Women should inform their care team if they wish to become pregnant or think they might be pregnant. There is a potential for serious side effects to an unborn child. Talk to your care team for more information.
Conclusion
Weight loss or weight management has become a serious issue in the US. The uncontrollable consumption of junk food over an unhealthy diet is leading to such an issue. On top of it, the beauty standards which expect a lean body to be the perfect example of beauty.
Obesity treatments like Semaglutide injections and Tirzepatide have gained popularity due to high efficiency in cutting fats nearly 15%-20% from the initial body weight. Semaglutide injections are easy to use and have fairly fast results on the body. It is also helpful in treating type 2 diabetes as well as some health related issues. It is advisable to use these injectables only after your doctor's prescription. With medication, It is essential to follow regular physical exercise and a healthy diet.
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