What Is Semaglutide?

What is Semaglutide?

Semaglutide is particularly effective for individuals seeking to lose weight. Reducing appetite and enhancing satiety help create a caloric deficit—the cornerstone of weight loss. Furthermore, its ability to regulate blood sugar and insulin levels minimizes energy crashes and reduces cravings for high-calorie, sugary foods.

Clinical studies have shown that Semaglutide can lead to significant weight loss when combined with lifestyle changes such as a balanced diet and regular physical activity. This makes it a powerful option for those struggling with obesity or weight-related health issues.

What is a Peptide?

As mentioned, Semaglutide is a peptide. However, what are peptides? Peptides are small versions of proteins that initiate signals to various body functions, including gut health, metabolism, muscle building, cell healing, and reducing inflammation. Several drug companies have leveraged the positive effects of natural peptides to create drugs with specific benefits to the body.

Understanding the Effects of Semaglutide

Semaglutide is a GLP-1 receptor agonist that has garnered attention for its significant benefits in weight management and overall health. This medication works on multiple systems within the body to help regulate appetite, improve metabolism, and support cardiovascular and metabolic health.

Key Benefits of Semaglutide

Research indicates that Semaglutide provides a wide range of benefits, including:

• Promoting Satiety and Fullness: Helps you feel satisfied after meals, reducing overeating.
• Suppressing Appetite: Reduces hunger signals, making it easier to adhere to a calorie deficit.
• Controlling Cravings: Reduces the urge for unhealthy snacks and sugar-laden foods.
• Slowing Gastric Emptying: Prolongs the time food stays in the stomach, enhancing fullness and minimizing rapid spikes in blood sugar.
• Improving Glycemic Control: Lowers blood sugar levels by stimulating insulin production and reducing glucose release.
• Enhancing Insulin Sensitivity: Supports better utilization of insulin, which is essential for maintaining stable blood sugar levels.

How Does Semaglutide Work?

Semaglutide delivers its effects by targeting multiple organs and systems within the body. Here’s how it operates:

1. Brain: Regulating Appetite and Hunger Signals

Semaglutide interacts with the hypothalamus, the brain’s control center for hunger and thirst. By mimicking the effects of the hormone GLP-1, it sends signals that reduce hunger and promote a sense of fullness. This helps individuals manage portion sizes and resist cravings. Since it can also dampen the sensation of thirst, staying adequately hydrated while using Semaglutide is crucial to avoid dehydration.

2. Pancreas: Enhancing Insulin Production

One of Semaglutide’s primary effects is on the pancreas, where it increases the secretion of insulin in response to rising blood sugar levels. Insulin helps transport glucose from the bloodstream into cells for energy. Simultaneously, Semaglutide decreases the production of glucagon, a hormone that raises blood sugar. This dual action ensures blood sugar remains balanced after meals, which is especially helpful for individuals with type 2 diabetes or insulin resistance.

3. Stomach: Slowing Digestion

Semaglutide slows gastric emptying, which means food remains in the stomach longer. This mechanism enhances the feeling of fullness, reducing the likelihood of overeating and aiding in weight loss efforts. Additionally, it decreases the secretion of stomach acids, further supporting digestive health.

4. Liver: Reducing Sugar Production

The liver plays a significant role in glucose production. Semaglutide suppresses hepatic gluconeogenesis, reducing the liver’s output of sugar into the bloodstream. This contributes to lower fasting blood sugar levels and better glycemic control.

5. Muscles: Energy Utilization

Semaglutide supports glucose uptake in muscle tissue, ensuring cells have sufficient energy while promoting the use of stored fats for fuel. This helps improve overall energy metabolism and supports weight loss.

Semaglutide Dosage

Semaglutide is available in injection form in a single-use injection pen. Therefore, patients can readily inject the preset dose and discard the syringe after use. The injection should be taken once every week, on the same day. Semaglutide injection should be given subcutaneously in the abdomen, thigh, or upper arm. Patients are encouraged to change the injection site.

Patients can experience nausea after the first injections because Semaglutide slows stomach emptying. However, your physician can adjust the dosage after the first few doses to minimize these side effects. While the target dose is 2.4mg per week, your healthcare provider can suggest this dosage schedule:

1st month – 0.25mg once weekly

2nd month – 0.5mg once weekly

3rd month – 1mg once weekly

4th month – 1.7mg once weekly

5th month and target maintenance dose – 2.4mg once weekly

Some patients can’t tolerate the target dose due to adverse side effects.

What are the Side Effects of Semaglutide?

As mentioned, nausea can be a common side effect of this medication. These effects typically increase with increased dosage. Other side effects include:

• Stomach pain
• Indigestion
• Constipation
• Headache
• Bloating
• Burping
• Fatigue
• Dizziness

Very few patients experience serious side effects, such as kidney damage, hypoglycemia, and pancreatitis.

Who Should Use or Avoid Semaglutide?

Healthy patients who are not allergic to Semaglutide ingredients and not pregnant or lactating can use this drug safely. However, you should discuss with your healthcare provider if you are using other medications. Similarly, Semaglutide isn’t recommended for patients with:

• A history of pancreatitis
• History of gastroparesis or paralysis of the stomach
• Are on dialysis
• Diagnosed with medullary thyroid cancer or a family history of this condition
• Impaired kidney function

How Long Should You Take Semaglutide to See Results?

While there’s no predetermined time, patients who adopt a healthy lifestyle and exercise regimen can see results after the first week. Most patients lose between 0.5 to 2 pounds weekly. However, some surpass this rate due to other contributing factors, such as high BMI when starting therapy, adherence to nutrition and exercise, and the type of exercise chosen.

How Much Weight Can You Lose with Semaglutide?

While this also varies, the average weight lost by most patients using Semaglutide averaged 14.9% of their initial weight. However, this varies depending on the patient’s commitment to weight loss, exercise, and diet. Even then, it isn’t unusual for patients to lose up to 20% of their body weight during treatment.

Should You Use Semaglutide?

Semaglutide is FDA-approved. Unlike other weight loss medications available on the market, Semaglutide is safe and very effective. Patients reach their target dose within four months, and very few experience serious side effects. However, you should consult your healthcare provider before using this medication. For more information or a consultation, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us.