Weight Loss

What is Semaglutide?

Semgalutide is an injectable glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) agonist that’s administered once weekly for obesity.

How Does Semaglutide Work for Weight Loss?

GLP-1 is an incretin hormone that plays a role in your appetite and digestion. Incretins, hormones released by your small intestine, are sent out by your body after you’ve eaten a meal to help lower your blood sugar by triggering insulin and blocking other sources of sugar. It also slows down how quickly food leaves your stomach (called gastric emptying). The result of these actions causes you to feel full – lowering your appetite and causing you to lose weight. Medications like GLP-1 agonists are referred to as incretin mimetics since they “mimic” these effects.

Potential Side Effects?

Gastrointestinal (GI) effects tend to happen most frequently when using this medication – the most common being nausea, constipation, and vomiting. You may experience these effects more strongly when your provider raises your dose. Additional common side effects include stomach pain, indigestion, and bloating.
If you experience severe nausea/vomiting or abdominal pain, please stop the medication immediately, contact us, or go to the ER*

How Do I Deal With The Nausea?

*Small, frequent meals
*Lower the amount of alcohol you consume
*Low-fat meals
*Bland diet – bananas, rice, toast
*Ginger, Unisom, Vitamin B6 for nausea
If prescribed Zofran (ondansetron), take 1 tablet under your tongue every 6 hours as needed for nausea. Please only use Zofran for severe nausea as it can lead to constipation. The following can help relieve constipation: stay hydrated, continue with exercise, high fiber diet, and over-the-counter stool softener.

How Do I Administer It?

You’ll give yourself the injection once a week, on the same day each week. It can be given at any time of day, and you can take it with or without food.
Semaglutide is injected just under the skin (subcutaneously) in your abdomen.

Since semaglutide slows down how quickly food leaves your stomach, you may experience effects like nausea and vomiting.

The goal is to have limited unfavorable side effects while losing 1-2 pounds per week (and feel the benefits of the medication: less appetite, cravings, and portion sizes). We may need to adjust your dose every two weeks to achieve that goal. The starting dose is 0.25 mg. Blood work will be required.

Weight loss consultation: $50. *BMI requirement. Consultation doesn’t guarantee prescription*

2.5mg vial of semaglutide: $650. You begin at a weekly dose of 0.25mg upon prescription by one of our Nurse Practitioners. Patients’ first 2.5mg vial typically lasts 7-10 weeks as dosing may increase at the 5th week.