GLP-1 Weight Management Program
Semaglutide and GLP-1 Medication:
These medications have proven effective to aid in weight loss in combination with exercise and healthy eating and living patterns. Semaglutide is a medication that belongs to a class of drugs known as GLP-1 receptor agonists. It is used to treat type 2 diabetes as well by regulating blood sugar levels.
What should I know about the GLP-1 medication class?
Overview
Semaglutide and other GLP 1 medications help to lower blood sugar levels by stimulating insulin secretion and inhibiting glucagon secretion. This leads to better blood sugar control and reduced risk of complications associated with diabetes. Additionally, Semaglutide has been shown to promote weight loss in people with type 2diabetes. This is because it reduces appetite, slows down the emptying of the stomach, and increases feelings of fullness. Semaglutide has been found to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, includingreducing the risk of heart attacks, strokes, and other cardiovascular events. Semaglutide has been shownto reduce the risk of kidney disease in people with type 2 diabetes. This is because it helps to lower bloodsugar levels, which can cause damage to the kidneys over time. Semaglutide is administered once a weekby injection, which makes it more convenient than other diabetes medications that need to be taken several times a day.
Dosage: Will be decided by your healthcare provider
Route of Administration: For SQ injection only
Storage: Varies discuss this with your health care provider.
Semaglutide ( and other GLP's) for Weight Loss:
Semaglutide should be used with a reduced-calorie meal plan and increased physical activity.
Semaglutide contains semaglutide and should not be used with other semaglutide-containing products or other GLP-1 receptor agonist medicines.
It is not known if Semaglutide is safe and effective when taken with other prescription, over-the-counter, or herbal weight loss products.
It is not known if Semaglutide can be used safely in people with a history of pancreatitis.
It is not known if Semaglutide is safe and effective for use in children under 18 years of age.
Semaglutide may cause serious side effects, including:
Possible thyroid tumors, including cancer. Tell your healthcare provider if you get a lump or swelling in your neck, hoarseness, trouble swallowing, or shortness of breath. These may be symptoms of thyroid cancer. In studies with rodents, Semaglutide and medicines that work like Semaglutide caused thyroid tumors, including thyroid cancer. It is not known if Semaglutide will cause thyroid tumors or a type of thyroid cancer called medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) in people.
Do not use Semaglutide if you or any of your family have ever had a type of thyroid cancer called medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) or if you have an endocrine system condition called Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2).
Do not use Semaglutide if:
you or any of your family have ever had a type of thyroid cancer called medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) or if you have an endocrine system condition called Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2).
you have had a serious allergic reaction to Semaglutide or any of the ingredients in Semaglutide.
Before using Semaglutide, tell your healthcare provider if you have any other medical conditions, including if you:
have or have had problems with your pancreas or kidneys.
have history of diabetic retinopathy.
have or have had depression, suicidal thoughts, or mental health issues.
are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Semaglutide may harm your unborn baby. You should stop using Semaglutide 2 months before you plan to become pregnant.
are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if Semaglutide passes into your breast milk.
Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Semaglutide may affect the way some medicines work and some medicines may affect the way Semaglutide works. Tell your healthcare provider if you are taking other medicines to treat diabetes, including Sulfonylureas or insulin. Semaglutide slows stomach emptying and can affect medicines that need to pass through the stomach quickly.
What are the possible side effects of Semaglutide?
Semaglutide may cause serious side effects, including:
Inflammation of your pancreas (pancreatitis). Stop using Semaglutide and call your healthcare provider right away if you have severe pain in your stomach area (abdomen) that will not go away, with or without vomiting. You may feel the pain from your abdomen to your back.
Gallbladder problems.Semaglutide may cause gallbladder problems, including gallstones. Some gallstones may need surgery. Call your healthcare provider if you have symptoms, such as pain in your upper stomach (abdomen), fever, yellowing of the skin or eyes (jaundice), or clay-colored stools.
Increased risk of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) in patients with type 2 diabetes, especially those who also take medicines for type 2 diabetes such as sulfonylureas or insulin. This can be both a serious and common side effect. Talk to your healthcare provider about how to recognize and treat low blood sugar and check your blood sugar before you start and while you take Semaglutide. Signs and symptoms of low blood sugar may include dizziness or light-headedness, blurred vision, anxiety, irritability or mood changes, sweating, slurred speech, hunger, confusion or drowsiness, shakiness, weakness, headache, fast heartbeat, or feeling jittery.
Kidney problems (kidney failure). In people who have kidney problems, diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting may cause a loss of fluids (dehydration) which may cause kidney problems to get worse. It is important for you to drink fluids to help reduce your chance of dehydration.
Serious allergic reactions. Stop using Semaglutide and get medical help right away, if you have any symptoms of a serious allergic reaction, including swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat; problems breathing or swallowing; severe rash or itching; fainting or feeling dizzy; or very rapid heartbeat.
Change in vision in patients with type 2 diabetes. Tell your healthcare provider if you have changes in vision during treatment with Semaglutide.
Increased heart rate. Semaglutide can increase your heart rate while you are at rest. Tell your healthcare provider if you feel your heart racing or pounding in your chest and it lasts for several minutes.
Depression or thoughts of suicide. You should pay attention to any mental changes, especially sudden changes in your mood, behaviors, thoughts, or feelings. Call your healthcare provider right away if you have any mental changes that are new, worse, or worry you.
The most common side effects of Semaglutide may include nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, constipation, stomach (abdomen) pain, headache, tiredness (fatigue), upset stomach, dizziness, feeling bloated, belching, gas, stomach flu, and heartburn.
It's better to take medication at night.
Do not share your Semaglutide or other GLP injections with other people, even if the needle has been changed. You may give other people a serious infection or get a serious infection from them.
