Semaglutide: Your Guide To The Generic Form of Wegovy
Semaglutide is the “generic” form of Wegovy, Ozempic, and Rybelsus. All of which are medications for adults with weight-related conditions like high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes. Semaglutide should be taken alongside with a calorie restricted diet and exercise routine for best results.
Wegovy, Ozempic, and Rybelsus are simply different brand names for the same drug. Their dosage is increased gradually over time until the patient reaches a suitable maintenance dose. These are their key differences:
Semaglutide Injection: Prescription Drug Information
Semaglutide is a prescription drug for weight management. When you first start taking this drug, you may tend to overeat to compensate for your reduced appetite. For the first few weeks, we recommend that you eat from a smaller plate as your body adjusts to your new, smaller appetite. Gradual changes are easier to adjust to and adopt as new habits over time.
How Does Semaglutide Work?
Semaglutide differs from other weight loss treatments like Orlistat because of how it works, being a glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP 1) agonist. And so before we talk about the science behind semaglutide, we first need to understand what exactly a GLP 1 agonist is.
Naturally produced hormone GLP 1 is the hormone responsible for making us feel satisfied after eating. It doesn’t last very long, which is why we feel hungry a few hours after having a meal. GLP 1 agonists is a class of drugs that mimics the natural human GLP 1. This explains why weight loss is a common side effect of semaglutide as it suppresses your appetite, makes you feel full for a longer time, and thus reduces your calorie intake.
Since the active ingredient semaglutide is synthetic and structurally modified, it can last much longer than natural GLP 1. You feel satisfied after having a smaller food portion and are less likely to snack in between meals. Thanks to the mechanisms of the drug, the rate of gastric emptying slows down and it helps reduce the risk of cardiovascular events – such as heart attack – in adults with type 2 diabetes.
Benefits of Semaglutide
While weight loss medications have been around for ages, a lot of them are modestly effective at best – some manufacturers even add harmful substances to dramatically improve their product’s efficacy. Semaglutide is a game changer as it pioneers a new type of weight loss medication that is safe and highly effective. That said, here are some reasons why you should turn to semaglutide:
1. Easy-To-Use Injection
It’s easily done by firmly pressing the insulin needle straight into the skin like a dart. It can be taken at any time, and either with or without food. It is recommended to use the Semaglutide injection on the same day per week. However, the day of injection can be changed as long as the interval between the doses is at least two days.
2. Reduced Cravings
By releasing more insulin and less glucagon, semaglutide ends up suppressing your appetite so that you don’t feel hungry as often. You can have a full stomach after having smaller food portions and without feeling the urge to snack. Individuals taking semaglutide also experience improvements in their weight level, waist circumference, BMI, blood pressure, and high blood sugar levels.
3. Decreased Risk for Various Diseases
In 2021, the New England Journal of Medicine conducted a study on overweight and obese adults that took semaglutide once-weekly. The proponents found that most of the participants reduced their weight by at least 10%. In fact, this amount significantly reduces the risk for future chronic weight management illnesses.
Semaglutide is usually prescribed to type 2 diabetes patients in order to decrease their risk of further complications like nerve damage, eye problems, and gum issues. The drug also prevents patients from fatal cardiovascular diseases such as heart attack and stroke. Other benefits include enhanced mobility, less joint injuries, lower risk of erectile dysfunction, boosted libido, higher self-esteem, and better sleep quality.
Contraindications for Semaglutide
While semaglutide is safe for most, not everyone can benefit from it. Semaglutide is contraindicated in patients with the following conditions:
1. Kidney Problems
Although it is an extremely rare case – occurring in less than 1 percent of patients taking Semaglutide – acute kidney injury could lead to kidney failure, which may require hemodialysis. Symptoms of acute kidney failure include significant nausea, lightheadedness, and diarrhea.
But remember to arrange a blood test appointment before taking semaglutide to assess your kidney function. You should also drink at least half a gallon of water daily while taking semaglutide. Cut out sugary drinks and alcohol from your diet too, as these contribute to obesity.
2. Acute Gallbladder Disease
You are more likely to develop gallstones if you are overweight due to higher levels of cholesterol in your bile. Signs of gallbladder disease include stomach pain, yellowing of skin or eyes, fever, and clay-colored stools. Contact your primary care physician for a diagnosis.
3. Suicidal Behavior
Do not take semaglutide if you have depression and/or a history of suicidal thoughts. Taking this medication could cause sudden changes in your feelings, behavior, and mental state. If you are already taking semaglutide and notice significant mental changes, stop immediately.
4. Thyroid Cancer
If you have a personal or family history of thyroid cancer, do not take semaglutide as it might trigger or exacerbate your health condition. It could also increase the risk of developing a thyroid tumor.
5. Pregnancy
If you and your partner are looking forward to having a child, stop using semaglutide at least 2 months before you plan to get pregnant. Being overweight and having diabetes may harm the unborn baby; hence, it is best to ask your doctor for a safer medicine alternative for maintaining a healthy weight.
Can Semaglutide Be Compounded With Other Vitamins?
Yes. In fact, the semaglutide + B12 or L-Carnitine combination is an effective solution – a powerful appetite suppressant – if you’re looking to shed pounds consistently. Further, vitamin B12 and L-Carnitine are not only energy-enhancing, but also helps with weight management and muscle retention while shedding those unwanted pounds.
It’s generally recommended that your weekly subcutaneous semaglutide injection be taken with B12 or L-Carnitine, as well as incorporating healthy lifestyle choices, to maximize results. Since semaglutide is a highly-potent drug, it must be titrated slowly to decrease the risk of gastrointestinal issues.
Semaglutide + B12 or L-Carnitine essentially stimulates insulin secretion, inhibits glucagon secretion, thereby decreasing blood sugar levels. That’s why in addition to a host of the aforementioned benefits, the medication is also a promising agent for hypoglycemia.
Shedding The Pounds Is Hard. We Can Help!
We understand that shedding unwanted pounds is difficult. It can be frustrating to commit to daily exercise and a restrictive diet only for you not to see the results you want. Not to mention, keeping the weight off is another problem of its own.
If you no longer want to deal with the hunger pangs that come with depriving yourself of food, combining a healthy lifestyle with a dose of semaglutide is a promising solution. It comes in the form of oral tablets and once-a-week injections that can help you lose weight by suppressing your appetite and increasing your metabolism. Infuzed IV Hydration & Wellness is a top provider of semaglutide treatment. Contact us today to schedule an initial consultation.
