Semaglutide is a relatively new medication that has been making waves in the treatment of obesity and diabetes. If you’ve been considering buying semaglutide, this comprehensive guide will provide you with all the critical information you need to make an informed decision.
What is Semaglutide?
Semaglutide is an injectable prescription medication that was originally approved for the treatment of type 2 diabetes in 2017. It belongs to a class of drugs called glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists.
GLP-1 receptor agonists like semaglutide work by mimicking the effects of GLP-1, a hormone released naturally from the gut after eating. GLP-1 slows digestion, promotes fullness, and stimulates the release of insulin when blood sugar levels are high.
In 2021, a higher dose of semaglutide called Wegovy was explicitly approved for chronic weight management. For those interested in tracking their progress alongside medications like semaglutide, it can be beneficial to invest in a smart scale. Weighing the Benefits: Why the Withings Body+ Is the Smart Scale to Own provides insights into how this scale can enhance your weight management journey. It is currently the only GLP-1 drug approved for obesity treatment.
How Does Semaglutide Promote Weight Loss?
Semaglutide promotes weight loss through several mechanisms:
- It slows gastric emptying and suppresses appetite, reducing food intake and portions. People often feel fuller faster and for longer periods between meals when taking semaglutide.
- It balances blood sugar levels and lowers insulin resistance. This can reduce fat storage and make it easier to burn calories.
- It directly acts on regions of the brain involved in appetite regulation. Semaglutide activates areas that signal fullness while deactivating areas that stimulate hunger.
- It may increase metabolism and fat burning, but more research is needed.
Together, these effects can lead to significant weight loss in many individuals. In clinical trials, people taking semaglutide lost between 5-15% of their body weight over 68 weeks, better than with lifestyle changes alone.
What are the Benefits of Semaglutide for Weight Loss?
Several potential benefits make semaglutide an appealing weight-loss medication for many people:
- Clinically proven results – In randomized controlled trials, semaglutide has consistently outperformed placebo and other anti-obesity medications regarding the amount of weight loss achieved. The average person loses 10-15% of their body weight on semaglutide.
- Long-lasting effects – The weight-reducing effects of semaglutide appear to be sustained over time. People continuing semaglutide for 2 years maintained over 90% of their original weight loss.
- Improves cardiometabolic health – Beyond the numbers on the scale, semaglutide improves important health metrics like waist circumference, blood pressure, blood lipids, and blood sugar control. These changes lower risks for diabetes, heart disease, and stroke.
- Potentially delays/reverses prediabetes – By improving insulin sensitivity and lowering blood sugar, semaglutide may help stabilize and reverse early type 2 diabetes in people with prediabetes.
- Convenience of weekly dosing – Semaglutide is given once weekly subcutaneous injection. This is far more convenient than taking a daily pill or medication.
For many people struggling with overweight/obesity, semaglutide can be an effective tool to jumpstart a healthier lifestyle when combined with diet, exercise, and behaviour changes. It helps reinforce positive habits by curbing cravings and appetite.
What are the Potential Side Effects of Semaglutide?
As with most medications, semaglutide may cause specific side effects. The most common include:
- Nausea – The most frequently reported side effect. It occurs in up to 40% of people but generally improves over time. Taking semaglutide with food may help reduce nausea.
- Diarrhea – May affect up to 20% of people when starting semaglutide. This also usually lessens with continued use.
- Decreased appetite – Expected due to the medication’s effects on fullness hormones. But this may negatively impact people already struggling with eating/appetite problems.
- Constipation – Caused by slower digestion. Staying hydrated and increasing fiber intake can help alleviate constipation.
- Headache, fatigue, dizziness, abdominal pain – Generally mild and tend to resolve within the first month of treatment.
Semaglutide may also slightly increase heart rate by 2-4 beats per minute on average. The long-term risk of this is unknown. People with certain heart conditions or risk factors should use semaglutide cautiously.
In clinical trials, semaglutide did not appear to increase the risk of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) compared to placebo. However, it should still be used carefully in people on medications that can cause hypoglycemia, like insulin or sulfonylureas.
Who Should Not Take Semaglutide?
Semaglutide is not suitable for everyone seeking weight loss treatment. You should not buy semaglutide if any of the following apply:
- Have a personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma or Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2 – Semaglutide is contraindicated in these conditions.
- Are pregnant or breastfeeding – There is limited data on semaglutide use during pregnancy. It is not recommended.
- Have severe kidney disease – Kidney function affects the clearance of semaglutide from the body, requiring dose adjustments.
- Have diabetic retinopathy complications – Use semaglutide cautiously if you have damage to the retina from diabetes. It may worsen retinopathy symptoms.
- Have severe gastrointestinal disease – Such as gastroparesis or inflammatory bowel disease. Semaglutide slows stomach emptying, which could exacerbate symptoms.
- Have a history of pancreatitis – There is a potential risk of pancreatitis with semaglutide, especially at higher doses. Use cautiously if you have pancreatitis risk factors.
Always inform your doctor of your complete medical history before buying semaglutide to ensure it is appropriate for your situation.
How to Buy Semaglutide? Is it Legal?
Semaglutide is a prescription-only medication, meaning a doctor must authorize its use. There are two main ways people commonly obtain semaglutide:
Through a Doctor’s Prescription
The FDA-approved brands of semaglutide, Ozempic and Wegovy, require a valid prescription from a licensed healthcare provider.
Your doctor will determine if you meet the criteria for semaglutide treatment and are an appropriate candidate. They will also monitor you for any side effects while on the medication.
The downside is that getting a prescription can be time-consuming. Many doctors are hesitant to prescribe semaglutide off-label solely for weight loss. You may have to demonstrate a clinical need like poorly controlled diabetes. Health insurance coverage varies widely too.
Through a Telehealth Clinic
Telehealth or online medical clinics specialize in quick online consultations and can prescribe and deliver semaglutide remotely. This telemedicine approach provides faster, more convenient access for people who don’t otherwise qualify for in-person prescriptions.
However, this route has raised legal concerns because the prescriber often does not have an existing doctor-patient relationship or conduct an in-person evaluation. While technically legal through valid prescriptions, the practice exists in a grey area, and some consider it unethical. However, many customers feel the benefits outweigh any minimal risks.
If you buy semaglutide online, thoroughly vet the telehealth site for medical legitimacy, licensed providers, security, and fair pricing. Only give personal information to trustworthy sources that follow best practices.
Dosage, Administration and Duration
Semaglutide comes in pre-filled pens meant for subcutaneous injection under the skin. The starter dose is 0.25 or 0.5 mg once weekly, then increased to the 1 mg maintenance dose after 4 weeks if well-tolerated. Wegovy for obesity goes up to 2.4 mg once weekly.
Using the provided pen device, inject semaglutide into your thigh, stomach, or upper arm. The injections are very thin small-gauge needles meant to minimize discomfort.
Like other weight loss treatments, semaglutide works best when taken continuously long-term. Weight loss results reverse within 6 months of stopping semaglutide in most patients.
Ensure you understand the instructions for injecting, handling, and storing semaglutide pens properly before use. Ask your prescriber if you have any administration questions. Never share pens or needles with other people.
What to Expect – Semaglutide User Reviews
Looking at user reviews can provide helpful insights into real-world experiences using semaglutide. Here are some common themes among reviews:
- Weight loss is significant but gradual. Most people lose around 1-2 pounds per week on average. Some lose faster initially than plateau.
- Appetite and food cravings are much decreased. Feeling satisfied with smaller meals is expected. Some users find this beneficial psychologically, while others dislike the decreased interest in food.
- Nausea and gastrointestinal side effects are worst in the first 4-8 weeks before improving. Taking semaglutide right before bed may alleviate symptoms.
- Combining semaglutide with diet (like low-carb or intermittent fasting) and exercise can amplify weight loss results. The medication reinforces positive lifestyle changes.
- There are vast differences in individual responses – some only lose a few pounds while others lose up to 15-20% of body weight over time. Genetics likely play a role.
- The cost and insurance coverage challenges of semaglutide lead some users to stop once they’ve lost enough weight due to the high monthly price.
Overall, user reviews indicate semaglutide can be a game-changer for weight loss, but response varies significantly between individuals. Realistic expectations of the pros and cons will lead to the best results.
The Bottom Line – Is Semaglutide Right for You?
Semaglutide represents an exciting new option for managing obesity and supporting weight loss through the benefits of GLP-1 receptor activation. For many struggling to lose weight through diet and exercise alone, semaglutide can help overcome biological and environmental hurdles.
However, semaglutide is not a magic bullet. It works best when combined with healthy lifestyle changes. Medications also carry risks that must be weighed against potential benefits. Work with your doctor to determine if semaglutide is appropriate for your health history and goals.
Thoroughly research your options before buying semaglutide online through telehealth sites – while convenient, there are medical and legal considerations. Take your time, evaluate all factors carefully, and select the right weight loss path for your needs.
FAQs
The retail cost for brand-name semaglutide ranges from $800 to $1500 per month without insurance. With insurance, copays can range from $25 to over $1000, depending on your plan’s prescription coverage. Buying from international or telehealth sites costs around $150 to $300 per month.
Insurance coverage for semaglutide varies widely. Many plans do not cover it for weight loss, only for diabetes treatment. Out-of-pocket costs are high when not covered. Preauthorization and appeals may be required even when technically covered.
The most common side effects are nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, constipation, abdominal pain, headache, fatigue, dizziness, and decreased appetite. These are often worse when first starting and improve over time. Semaglutide may also increase heart rate.
Ozempic (for diabetes) and Wegovy (for weight management) are FDA-approved. Generic semaglutide products are not.
Clinical trials showed an average weight loss of around 15% over 68 weeks compared to placebo. However, individual results vary widely from 5% to over 20% weight loss. Greater calorie deficit and more activity increase weight loss.
Most people notice appetite suppression and weight loss within the first 2 to 4 weeks. But maximum weight loss results take several months of continued use, with the greatest loss seen in the first 6 months.
Semaglutide appears generally safe for long-term use of 2+ years based on available data, with no increased cardiovascular risks seen. However, there is still limited data on use beyond 2 years. It is not meant for indefinite or lifelong treatment.
