Unless you have been living under a rock for the last two years, you have certainly heard about the relatively new drug known as semaglutide. It was originally used to treat diabetes, but they discovered it also helped with weight loss. It became so popular that many diabetics were unable to obtain this medication. What does semaglutide do to your body?
Semaglutide Works for Weight Loss
Semaglutide does three main things to your body. GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist) stimulates the pancreas to secrete more insulin, lowers blood sugar levels, and decreases appetite.
It works due to the following:
- Semaglutide stimulates the GLP-1 receptors in the pancreas, cloning the actions of the natural GLP-1 hormone.
- It regulates blood sugar levels by stimulating GLP-1 receptors in the pancreas and the production of insulin. The insulin transports glucose into cells reducing blood sugar.
- It decreases the release of glucagon which is another hormone in the pancreas. It suppresses the hormone to manage blood sugar.
- It slows down emptying the stomach. This helps in regulating the absorption of nutrients including glucose (sugar). This makes the patient feel full with a reduced appetite.
- It regulates appetite by influencing the brain’s appetite center and promotes a feeling of fullness and decreases food consumption.
Semaglutide is a prescription medication and should only be used under the care of a specialist like Capital Women’s Care in Reston.
What Are Brand Names for Semaglutide?
Both Ozempic and Wegovy are brand names for semaglutide. Ozempic was first approved in 2017 to treat type 2 diabetes, and Wegovy was approved to treat obesity in 2021.
Ozempic is a semaglutide injection that should be used with an exercise and diet program to control blood sugar levels in adults with type 2 diabetes. In addition, it helps to reduce the risk of heart disease, stroke, heart attack, and death in those adults with type 2 diabetes.
Wegovy is a semaglutide injection used in conjunction with a low calorie, low fat diet and an exercise program for obese or overweight adults who may also have type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, or high cholesterol.
There are other semaglutide drugs with other names which are taken orally.
What Are Common Side Effects of Semaglutide?
Not everyone has side effects, but you may experience the following: fatigue, constipation, diarrhea, upset stomach, dizziness, headache, vomiting, low blood sugar, hair loss, and vivid dreams. Talk with Capital Women’s Care in Reston, if any of these persist.
In rare instances, patients could experience gallbladder problems, kidney damage, pancreatitis, thyroid tumors, and thoughts of suicide.
Taking compounded versions of semaglutide is not safe. In fact, Novo Nordisk is suing medical spas, weight loss clinics, and compounding pharmacies for selling “knock off” versions of the drug.
Contact Capital Women’s Care in Reston, at 571-500-2273 if you would like more information about semaglutide and how it may help you or someone you love.
