Semaglutide (Ozempic) for Weight Loss

Semaglutide is an injectable medication that can help control blood sugar in type 2 diabetics. Semaglutide belongs to a group of medication called glucagon-like peptide (GLP-1) agonists, which mimic the hormone GLP-1 in your body to lower blood sugar levels after you’ve eaten a meal.

Semaglutide (2.4mg/ml) injection is a treatment for obesity. Scientific literature provides empirical evidence that is highly effective in clinical trials. It is administered through a once-weekly subcutaneous injection. Patients on Semaglutide have reported losing as much as 100 lbs, with clinical trials for Semaglutide losing an average of 12-20% of their body weight in longer studies. Patients must start Semaglutide with a lower dose and gradually increase the dosage over 8-15 weeks in order to reduce the gastrointestinal side effects.
Studies:
New England Journal of Medicine Article/Study
FDA Approval for Weight Loss

• Because it is not a stimulant, Semaglutide is a great solution for those who may not be able to take stimulant-based appetite suppressants such as phentermine. Stimulants are often not prescribed for patients who have existing cardiovascular disease as they can complicate these conditions. Semaglutide can actually reduce the risk of a cardiovascular event while also causing weight loss.
• Semaglutide can be prescribed for adults with a BMI of 30, or adults with a BMI of 27 and at least one weight-related comorbidity. Semaglutide is for patients who want to lose weight, especially patients with type 2 diabetes or whose weight puts them at risk of a serious cardiovascular event (like heart attack or stroke).

Like most medications, Semaglutide can have side effects. The most common report of side effects from patients have been gastrointestinal upset and fatigue. Of those who continue the medication an improvement in side effects after four weeks has been reported.
You should be aware of all potential and expected side effects prior to taking Semaglutide. The incidence of side effects peaks during the first four weeks, after which side effects improve markedly. They include:

• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Stomach Pain
• Constipation

Overeating or eating junk food while taking semaglutide has been reported to increase the intensity of side effects. Eating smaller portions and low calories, low-sugar foods has been reported to reduce the side effects significantly.

• Semaglutide slows down the rate at which your stomach sends food to your large intestine. This results in slower digestion (which improves blood sugar) and a longer feeling of fullness. It also stimulates the pancreas to produce more insulin, removing sugar from the bloodstream.
• Patients on Semaglutide have reported reduced appetite and a reduced craving for sweets, both of which contribute to weight loss. Patients also report that over-eating while on Semaglutide results in unpleasant side effects, which discourages poor eating habits.

• First, you’ll want to limit how much alcohol you’re drinking while taking Semaglutide, especially if you are diabetic. Alcohol can have an effect on your blood sugar, and there is a risk that it may drop too low in combination with Semaglutide, especially if you are drinking on an empty stomach. Alcohol can irritate your stomach, too. This might make you feel worse in combination with some of the GI side effects from the medication.
• You’ll also want to exercise caution if you are taking any oral medications. Since Semaglutide slows down gastric emptying, this can potentially impact the amount of oral medication your body is absorbing. And while trials haven’t shown this to be significant with Semaglutide, you’ll want to make sure your provider is aware of any other medications you are taking before starting Semaglutide.

Semaglutide is a once-weekly subcutaneous injection into the fat tissue of your stomach.