Semaglutide weight loss pills-

                                         

Semaglutide! Semaglutide! Semaglutide! Currently, we are hearing about this with our periphery. This little pill is making big news in weight management and diabetes treatment. Nowadays, many nations like the US, UK, and others are suffering from major problems of weight management, diabetes, and cardiovascular disorders. Therefore, I will be providing a comprehensive study about semaglutide with its many aspects, such as a case study about semaglutide, indication, doses, side effects, and contraindications.

What is Semaglutide?

Semaglutide is a drug that can be used for weight loss. Oral tablets and injections are both effective ways to ingest semaglutide. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), semaglutide, a weight loss medication, has gained significant popularity among individuals residing in the United States. Semaglutide is a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist. The most common side effects include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and constipation. It was approved for medical use in the US in 2017. In 2021, it was the 90th most commonly prescribed medication in the United States

Case study -

A 36-year-old woman presents to your office for assistance with weight loss. She usually weighs around 150 lb., but she had two pregnancies in the past 4 years and has gained 70 lb. Her current weight is 220 lb. with a body mass index (BMI) of 36.6, and she has been unable to lose any weight despite diet and exercise. She reports back pain and generalized fatigue but is primarily worried about developing type 2 diabetes, which runs in her family. Her insurance covers weight loss medications, but she is asking if she can take "Ozempic off-label" or "compounded semaglutide" instead because Wegovy isn't available at her local pharmacy.

More and more people are turning to "medical weight management" to drop pounds and improve their health. This is a strategy that adds pharmacotherapy to lifestyle modifications to treat the chronic disease of obesity, and it is analogous to the treatment of high blood pressure or high cholesterol with medications.

Pharmacology- Mechanism of action

The semaglutide works on the Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) agonist principle. GLP-1 receptor agonists function by replicating the effects of the hormone GLP-1, which plays a key role in controlling blood sugar and appetite. Through stimulating the GLP-1 receptors within the body, Semaglutide aids in decreasing blood sugar levels, boosting insulin secretion, and curbing appetite. The act mainly in the following two aspects-

Indication and doses-

The higher-dose version of semaglutide is prescribed as a supplement to diet and exercise for the purpose of long-term weight management in adults who have obesity (initial body mass index (BMI) ≥ 30 kg/m2) or are overweight (initial BMI ≥ 27 kg/m2) and also have at least one weight-related comorbidity.

Weight Management

 Wegovy

Indicated in combination with a reduced calorie diet and increased physical activity to reduce

Excess body weight and maintaining weight reduction long term in adults with obesity (BMI ≥30 kg/m²) or who are overweight (BMI ≥27 kg/m²) in the presence of at least 1 weight-related comorbid condition
Risk of major adverse cardiovascular (CV) events (CV death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, or nonfatal stroke) in adults with established CV disease and either obesity or overweight.

Dosage 

Initiate with a low dose and gradually escalate to the maintenance dose of 2.4 mg/week SC to minimize GI adverse reactions.
If unable to tolerate a dose during escalation, consider delaying dose escalation for 4 weeks.
If unable to tolerate a 2.4 mg/week maintenance dose, may temporarily decrease to 1.7 mg once weekly, for a maximum of 4 weeks; after 4 weeks, increase back to 2.4 mg once weekly; discontinue if not tolerated after second attempt.
In patients with type 2 diabetes, monitor blood glucose before initiating and during treatment.
Once weekly SC dose escalation schedule.

Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

SC (Ozempic)

Indications-

Indicated as an adjunct to diet and exercise to improve glycemic control in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

Also indicated to reduce the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) (eg, cardiovascular death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, nonfatal stroke) in adults with T2DM and established cardiovascular disease.

Dosage-

0.25 mg SC qWeek for 4 weeks initially; THEN increase to 0.5 mg qWeek.

If glycemic control is not achieved after at least 4 weeks on the 0.5-mg dose, it can be increased to 1 mg once a week.

If glycemic control is not achieved after at least 4 weeks on the 1-mg dose, it may be increased to 2 mg weekly, not to exceed 2 mg/week.

Note: The initial 0.25-mg dose is intended for treatment initiation and is ineffective for glycemic control.

Side effects-

Before starting semaglutide, patients should be counseled about potential gastrointestinal side effects, including nausea, upset stomach, diarrhea, constipation, and reflux.

• Eat slowly
• Eat a bland diet
• Avoid fatty or fried foods
• Avoid lying down immediately after eating
• Prioritize water and fiber intake to mitigate constipation
• Use over-the-counter treatments as needed (e.g., laxative for constipation).

Contraindication-

We don't prescribe GLP-1 receptor agonists, including semaglutide 2.4 mg, in patients with a personal or family history of medullary thyroid cancer. GLP-1 agonists are contraindicated in patients with a history of pancreatitis or gastroparesis. All FDA-approved antiobesity medications are contraindicated in women who are breastfeeding or trying for pregnancy. If this patient would like to pursue pregnancy again, semaglutide 2.4 mg should be stopped 2 months before conception.

Final Verdict- 

Semaglutide, a medication designed for weight loss, can be consumed through oral tablets or injections, both of which have proven to be effective methods. Research comparing the oral tablet and injection forms of semaglutide is still fairly new. While oral tablets offer an option without needles, they need to be taken in a very specific manner.

If your doctor believes you are a good candidate for semaglutide, they can help you determine the best semaglutide form for your lifestyle and health needs.

Disclaimer- Do not take any medicine without a healthcare professional's prescription  

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