Overcoming Judgment and Embracing Progress With Weight-Loss Medication
Team Levity
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Nov 7, 2024
Explore how individuals using weight-loss medication overcome judgment and embrace progress, finding confidence along the way.
Are you curious about the right semaglutide dosage for weight loss? This guide will help you learn more.
Semaglutide is the active ingredient within Ozempic and Wegovy. Ozempic is currently approved to treat type 2 diabetes, but can also be prescribed off-licence to treat obesity**. Wegovy is an approved obesity medication that has been shown to effectively promote weight loss and clinical trials have shown people to lose up to 14.9% of their body weight over 68 weeks on the strongest dose. [1]
Semaglutide works by mimicking a naturally occurring hormone called GLP-1, which stands for glucagon-like peptide-1. After eating, the body releases GLP-1 in order to promote insulin secretion, which helps to regulate blood sugar levels. It is also involved in appetite suppression and slowing down the rate at which food leaves your stomach.
The starting dose for Ozempic is 0.25 mg, which is administered by subcutaneous injection into the fatty layer of tissue directly beneath your skin. This is done once a week for a total of 4 weeks. [2]
The starting dose for Wegovy is also 0.25 mg. Again, this is administered by subcutaneous injection, just like Ozempic. This is also done once a week for a total of 4 weeks. [3]
If you have not heard of Compounded Semaglutide* before it is a safe alternative to Wegovy/Ozempic and it contains the exact same active ingredient. Compounded Semaglutide* is simply the unbranded alternative. Due to it containing the same active ingredient as Wegovy and Ozempic, it can deliver the same results in terms of weight loss, but as a cheaper alternative. This medication does not come in pre-filled pens, but rather in vials. You can therefore be prescribed a personalized treatment plan, and the starting dose will be determined by a registered clinician.
At the start of your treatment, it is important to start at a low dose, as your body needs time to adjust to the new medication. Then, the dose of the treatment is gradually increased in 4 weeks using a method called titration. In theory, this should keep side effects to a minimum, but you should monitor your side effects and seek medical advice if any of them become significant.
Your dosage for Ozempic may increase until you reach the maintenance dosage. The maximum dosage of Ozempic is 2 mg, which you may begin at 13 weeks of treatment. The 0.5 mg dose may be sufficient in helping people achieve their blood sugar goals, and there may not be a need in increasing your dose from this amount.
Your dosage for Wegovy will also increase every 4 weeks. 2.4 mg is the maximum dosage of Wegovy which you begin at 17 weeks of your weight-loss treatment plan.
Wegovy has a higher maintenance dose compared to Ozempic, due to Ozempic being licensed to treat type 2 diabetes first and foremost. While the maximum dose of 2 mg for Ozempic is sufficient to manage blood sugar levels, the higher maximum dose of Wegovy at 2.4 mg was tailored to achieve more significant weight loss.
Before starting semaglutide, it is crucial that you inform your doctor of any history of pancreatitis, stomach or intestinal disorders, kidney disease, or diabetic retinopathy.
Studies of semaglutide administration in animals have noted an increase in the incidence of thyroid tumors. Therefore, you will not be eligible for semaglutide-containing treatments if you have a family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma or if you have multiple endocrine neoplasia 2 (also known as MEN2, a rare genetic disorder that heightens risk of developing thyroid tumors).
You should stop your semaglutide treatment for 2 months before trying to get pregnant.
Remember, you should only use semaglutide under the supervision of a licensed healthcare professional.
Semaglutide can result in acute kidney injury, particularly in patients with kidney problems who report nausea, vomiting or diarrhea during treatment. Patients with a history of kidney disease should have their kidney function monitored during semaglutide treatment.
Although not officially approved to treat liver disease, semaglutide was found to improve markers of overall liver health in people with MASH - an inflammatory liver disease where excess fat builds up in the liver. [4]
The most common side effects associated with semaglutide are:
Studies have shown that up to 44% of people may experience nausea, while 30% experience diarrhea and 24% experience vomiting while taking the highest dose of semaglutide. [5]
There are several best practices for semaglutide injection:
It is crucial that you never administer a double dose of semaglutide to make up for a missed one. If 2 or more doses are missed, contact your pharmacist or healthcare provider for advice on how to restart your treatment.
You can begin your treatment today with Levity. Start your online consultation today to check your eligibility.
*Compounded drugs are permitted to be prescribed under federal law but are not FDA-approved and do not undergo FDA review for safety, effectiveness, or quality.
**Ozempic is FDA-approved for type 2 diabetes, but may be prescribed off-label for obesity at the discretion of the prescribing physician.
[1] Wilding JPH, Batterham RL, Calanna S, Davies M, Van Gaal LF, Lingvay I, McGowan BM, Rosenstock J, Tran MTD, Wadden TA, Wharton S, Yokote K, Zeuthen N, Kushner RF; STEP 1 Study Group. Once-Weekly Semaglutide in Adults with Overweight or Obesity. N Engl J Med. 2021 Mar 18;384(11):989-1002. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa2032183. Epub 2021 Feb 10. PMID: 33567185.
[2] HIGHLIGHTS OF PRESCRIBING INFORMATION [Internet]. Available from: https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2023/209637s020s021lbl.pdf
[3] HIGHLIGHTS OF PRESCRIBING INFORMATION [Internet]. Available from: https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2022/215256s005lbl.pdf
[4] Shah P, White M, Sievert A, Conway A, Kneepkens A, Sayuk G, et al. Semaglutide improves metabolic dysfunction‐associated steatohepatitis: A 10‐year retrospective study. JGH Open [Internet]. 2024 Feb 1 [cited 2024 Aug 27];8(2). Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10883239/
[5] Wharton S, Calanna S, Davies M, Dicker D, Goldman B, Lingvay I, et al. Gastrointestinal tolerability of once‐weekly semaglutide 2.4 mg in adults with overweight or obesity, and the relationship between gastrointestinal adverse events and weight loss. Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism. 2021 Oct 4;24(1). Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34514682/
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