Weight Loss

What Is Semaglutide?

Semaglutide is an anti-diabetic medication that belongs to a class of drugs known as glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists.  These drugs work by mimicking the GLP-1 hormone that is naturally released in the gastrointestinal tract in response to eating. GLP-1 interacts with the brain, producing signals of satiety and reducing appetite.  These are two FDA-approved semaglutide injections available in the market:

• OZEMPIC®: It lowers blood sugar levels in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus. It is also known to reduce the risk of heart attack, stroke, or death in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus and known heart disease.
• WEGOVY®: It is approved to be used in adults and children aged 12 years and older with obesity.

How Effective Is Semaglutide for Weight Loss in Non-diabetics?

A study published in the Journal of the ASEAN Federation of Endocrine Societies looked at whether semaglutide could help people without diabetes who have obesity to lose weight safely. The researchers searched through a number of medical databases to find studies where semaglutide was used to treat obesity in people without diabetes. They looked at how much weight people lost on semaglutide compared to those who didn't take it. They also checked for any side effects. The researchers found four studies with a total of 3,613 people who were obese but didn't have diabetes. The results showed that people who took semaglutide lost about 11.85% more weight than those who didn't take it.  But, there were more side effects with semaglutide, especially related to the gastrointestinal tract. Some people had to stop taking semaglutide because of these side effects. The study concluded that semaglutide can help people without diabetes lose weight, but it comes with some risks of side effects, especially those related to the intestines and the liver. Another randomized controlled trial that aimed to assess the efficacy of semaglutide in non-diabetic adults got similar results. The percentage change in body weight from baseline to 68 weeks was calculated. The semaglutide 50 mg group saw a 15.1% reduction in body weight at 68 weeks compared to 2.4% in the placebo group. Both these studies show that semaglutide may be an effective weight-loss medication for those without diabetes.

Semaglutide Injections Administration Techniques

Semaglutide dosage and injection administration techniques differ based on the goal of the treatment—whether it’s chronic weight loss management or the treatment of type 2 diabetes.

Dosage for Chronic Weight Management in Adult Patients

The treatment begins by giving the patient a single dose of WEGOVY® FLEXTOUCH 0.25mg each week for four weeks. Here is how the dose is subsequently escalated:

• Weeks 1 - 4 - 0.25 mg
• Weeks 5 - 8 - 0.5 mg
• Weeks 9 - 12 - 1 mg
• Weeks 13 - 16 - 1.7 mg
• Weeks 17 and onward - 2.4 mg

The typical maintenance dosage is 2.4 mg administered once weekly. If dose escalation proves challenging, it may be helpful to delay the increase for a period of four weeks to allow the patient to adjust.  If the recommended maintenance dosage is not well tolerated, consider temporarily decreasing the dosage to 1.7 mg once weekly for up to 4 weeks. Following this period, the dosage can then be increased back to 2.4 mg once weekly.  However, if the patient remains unable to tolerate the 2.4-mg dose even after these adjustments, discontinuing therapy may be necessary. 

Administration Technique

WEGOVY® is administered through a simple subcutaneous (sub-Q) injection into the abdomen, thigh, or upper arm using a prefilled, single-use injection pen.  If a dose is missed and the next dose is more than 48 hours away, the missed dose should be given as soon as possible.  However, if the next dose is within 48 hours, it's best to skip the missed dose and resume the regular schedule.  It's important to maintain a consistent dosing schedule, administering WEGOVY® once weekly on the same day each week, regardless of meals. 

What Are the Side Effects of Semaglutide Injections?

Side effects of semaglutide injections include:

• Nausea
• Vomiting
• A strong feeling of satiety
• Pancreatitis
• Pancreatic cancer
• A risk of medullary thyroid cancer (this has been shown only in animal studies—further evaluation is ongoing)

Who Should Not Take Semaglutide for Weight Loss?

Semaglutide should not be given to patients with:

• Gastrointestinal motility disorders
• Chronic pancreatitis
• A family history of pancreatic cancer
• A personal or family history of multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2)

Where Can I Buy Semaglutide?

You can buy semaglutide fat-dissolving injections online but it’s important to source them from reliable suppliers to keep your patients safe.  That’s where we come in—you can contact our experts at Doctor Medica today if you’re looking for guidance on where to source semaglutide anti-obesity medication safely and at wholesale rates.