Semaglutide is an injectable prescription medication used together with diet and exercise to improve blood sugar in adults with type 2 diabetes. It can also be used to reduce the risk of major cardiovascular events such as stroke or heart attack in adults with type 2 diabetes with known heart disease.
More recently, a higher dose of semaglutide (1mg) was approved by the FDA specifically for chronic weight management in adults with obesity or overweight with at least one weight-related condition.
Key points about using semaglutide for weight loss:
- Semaglutide helps reduce appetite and calorie intake to promote weight loss. Clinical trials have shown that it can lead to significant weight loss compared to placebo.
- The typical dosing for weight management is 1mg injected subcutaneously once weekly. The dose can be increased to 1.7mg if additional weight loss is desired.
- In clinical trials, people taking semaglutide lost an average of 12-15% of their body weight over 68 weeks compared to those taking placebo.
- Semaglutide used with diet and exercise may help some people lose up to 20 pounds or more. However, results can vary from person to person.
Side effects and safety considerations
Some common side effects of semaglutide include:
- Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea - tends to improve over time for most people
- Indigestion
- Decreased appetite
- Abdominal pain
- Constipation
- Dizziness
- Fatigue
There are some important safety issues to discuss with your doctor before using semaglutide:
- Should not be used in people with a personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma or in patients with Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2
- Can cause thyroid tumors in rodents - unclear if this poses a risk in humans
- Not recommended if you have severe kidney, liver, or gallbladder disease
Is semaglutide right for you?
Semaglutide may be an option for chronic weight management if:
- Your BMI is 30 or higher (or 27 with weight-related medical problems)
- Diet and exercise alone have not resulted in sufficient weight loss
- You do not have any conditions that make semaglutide unsafe
- You are willing to take semaglutide as prescribed and follow diet and exercise recommendations
Of course, the decision to use semaglutide requires a discussion with your doctor weighing potential benefits and risks based on your unique medical history.
What to expect if taking semaglutide
If you and your doctor decide semaglutide is appropriate, here is what you can expect:
- Take 1mg injected under skin once weekly on whatever day works best
- Should be used together with diet modifications and 150 minutes per week of exercise
- Expect nausea, vomiting, diarrhea initially - should improve over days to weeks
- You may start losing weight within weeks
- Goal is to lose at least 5% of body weight over first 3 months
- Most lose 10-15% of body weight over 9-12 months
- If weight loss stalls, dose can be increased to 1.7mg with doctor approval
Tips for success on semaglutide
- Start diet/exercise changes right away - do not wait until drug kicks in
- Make dietary changes that support weight loss - high protein, reduced carbs/fat, calorie deficit
- Stay adequately hydrated
- Take anti-nausea medication if needed in early weeks
- Be patient - dose adjustments or added medications may be needed over time
- Weigh yourself at least weekly to monitor progress
- Keep all provider appointments - lab work will be required
Overall,
semaglutide can promote clinically meaningful weight loss along with diet and lifestyle changes. However, it is not a quick fix and requires commitment to new long-term health habits. Success requires following prescribing guidance closely with the support of your healthcare team.
For those struggling with overweight/obesity,
Renewal Hormone Center has helped many patients achieve their weight loss goals through individualized planning that may include semaglutide. Our full service weight management program provides:
- Initial consultation and screening
- Lab work/testing as needed
- Prescription medications including semaglutide
- Diet/nutrition counseling
- Customized exercise recommendations
- Ongoing provider visits to monitor progress
- Medication/lifestyle adjustments as needed
We accept most major insurance plans.
Contact us today for a free weight loss assessment!