Semaglutide For Weight Loss

Semaglutide is a tiny, simple and easy to administer injection that you give to yourself once per week subcutaneously (under the skin) in your abdomen, upper arm or thigh. 

Participants in trial do report side effects, although they are generally mild and decrease over time as their bodies become adjusted Semaglutide. You always have to consider nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation as potential side effects. However, these are very manageable and tend to come on early in the course of treatment and get better over time. Only infrequently are they serious enough that patients have to stop taking the drug.

Doctors can prescribe Semaglutide for adults who have obesity, with a body mass index (BMI) of greater than 30; or overweight, with a BMI greater than 27 accompanied by at least one weight-related medical problem such as high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, or high cholesterol.

Semaglutide is not recommended for those with a personal or family history of certain endocrine or thyroid tumors, specifically, medullary thyroid cancer.

A medical consult is performed with our nurse practitioner, Kim Jones.  She will review your present health situation and determine your eligibility for Semaglutide. From there she will prescribe Semaglutide, take key measurements and photos, as well as, coach you along your weight loss journey.   

Semaglutide is an injectable medication that belongs to a class of medications called glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) agonists. GLP-1 is a hormone that affects the regulation of blood sugar by stimulating glucose-dependent insulin secretion. Insulin is a hormone that promotes sugar uptake by the cells, stores sugar as glycogen, promotes the building of fat, and signals the body to build skeletal muscle.

GLP-1 inhibits the release of the hormone glucagon, which slows down the release of sugar into the blood so that you burn more fat, and slows down gastric emptying to make you feel full longer while reducing the desire for food intake

Semaglutide mimics the GLP-1 hormone in your body, which helps to control your blood sugar by blocking the liver from releasing sugar into your bloodstream, slows down how fast your stomach empties food, and causes your pancreas to release insulin.
Together, these functions can help you feel less hungry, causing you to eat less food and lose more weight.

• Your blood glucose (sugar) levels should start to fully decline within the first week after you start using semaglutide at your regular maintenance dose.
• However, the full effect can take 8 weeks or longer, as this is a long-acting medication that is injected only once per week. You will start with lower doses for the first 4 weeks of treatment to help lower side effects, but this is not an effective dose to lower blood sugar over the long-term.
• Semaglutide is administered once weekly, on the same day each week, and can be taken at any time of the day with or without meals.
• Your results may be different from other patients, so check with your doctor if you have a concern about your blood sugar levels.

It is important to keep in mind that weight loss can take time, and you’ll see the best results when you are using your medication in combination with a healthy diet and exercise. Sometimes the medication may not work for you, or you may not be able to tolerate the full dose due to side effects.

Yes, it is believed that semaglutide can help curb your appetite. In addition to slowing gastric emptying to make you feel full for longer, GLP-1 also plays a direct role in how your appetite is regulated.

No, semaglutide is not a type of insulin or a substitute for insulin. Semaglutide simply stimulates your pancreas to release insulin when glucose (sugar) is present. Because semaglutide relies on your body’s own insulin to be released from the pancreas, semaglutide isn’t used when your pancreas can’t make insulin, such as in patients in type 1 diabetes.

No, Semaglutide is not a stimulant. While other weight loss medications, like phentermine, have stimulating effects that help curb your appetite, Semaglutide works differently. This means that it is safe for more people, especially those with high blood pressure, sleep issues, anxiety and more.

Studies, as mentioned above, do not currently have data past 68 weeks. However, your program is designed to help you begin adopting healthy lifestyle changes that will promote lasting weight loss where medication is no longer needed. Being on semaglutide can help you learn to control your portion sizes. However, if you go back to how you were eating once off semaglutide, and do not adopt the necessary lifestyle changes to maintain the weight loss, it is likely that you will gain the weight back.

The Drip Lounge’s approach to semaglutide is very personalized. We help you find the precision dose that gets you the maximum weight loss with the minimum side effects. There isn’t one dose that fits all.

• Foods to Avoid: It is recommended to limit sugar, fast-digesting carbs, and processed foods. Fried foods and fatty foods, such as fast food, processed foods, carbonated and sugary drinks, and foods high in sugar and saturated fat are likely to make you nauseous while on semaglutide.
• Alcohol: 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.

• Yes. Semaglutide is considered to be safe and effective when used as indicated. “Safe” doesn’t mean that there aren’t risks. Semaglutide is FDA approved for weight loss in the branded version.

The common side effects of Semaglutide are:

• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Stomach pain
• Constipation
   

Semaglutide is not recommended for those with a history of thyroid cancer,  type-1 diabetes, history or pancreatitis, people who are pregnant, or if on other blood sugar lowering medications.

Studies show a clear benefit of adjunct treatment with semaglutide in post-bariatric patients. However, consultation with your healthcare provider is necessary to determine if it’s right for you.