Frequently Asked Questions:

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1. How long can I stay on the medication?

When used for managing weight, Semaglutide may be continued as a long as it’s proving effect and is not producing any adverse, unwanted, or unsafe side effects. 

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2. Who is not eligible for this treatment?

Semaglutide cannot be prescribed to anyone with the following: history of gallbladder disease, pancreatitis, diabetic retinopathy, eating disorder, drug or alcohol abuse, recent bariatric surgery, personal or family history of medullary thyroid cancer, multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2 (MEN 2), currently pregnant or planning to become pregnant. 

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3. How often do I take the medication?

You are going to give yourself a little injection under the skin (with the same small needle that is used for insulin and neurotoxin injections) once a week. *First dose given in office

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4. What are the possible adverse reactions? 

Semaglutide is associated with adverse gastrointestinal effects, including nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, abdominal pain, dyspepsia, abdominal distention, belching, flatulence, gastroenteritis, and gastroesophageal reflux disease. It has also been associated with causing headache, fatigue, dizziness, and hypoglycemia in patients with Type II diabetes. Please discuss with your provider the contraindications and other warning and precautions before starting Semaglutide. 

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5. What will happen if I stop taking the medication?

It depends. Semaglutide helped the insulin in your body work more effectively while you are on the medication. If you stop the medication shortly after starting it, you will see very little change. If you have been on the Semaglutide long term and then stop taking it, the lifestyle component becomes critical. If you’ve developed consistent health lifestyle habits, you will likely succeed at keeping weight off. 

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6. How does Semaglutide work?

Semaglutide is an injectable medication that helps promote weight loss by increasing the feeling of fullness and reducing appetite. It works by mimicking the hormone GLP-1, which helps regulate appetite. Semaglutide is a great choice for patients looking for a non-surgical weight loss option. It has been proven to be effective in reducing body weight, body fat, and waist circumference in clinical studies. Patients can expect to see results within a few weeks of starting the medication.

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7. Do I need to follow a specific diet to lose weight?

This medication works best in conjunction with a diet that is well-balanced, nutrient dense, and calorically appropriate for gradual weight loss. Which dietary changes you choose will be entirely up to what feels most suitable and sustainable for your lifestyle (because this is the one that you are most likely to follow consistently and consistency leads to changed behaviors and success). 

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8. How long does it take for the medication to start working?

It reaches a steady state in the body after 4-5 weeks. That is typically when patients start to appreciate steady weight loss. However, you may experience some nausea or changes in appetite immediately after starting the medication.

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9. Why can’t I start off at the 2mg per week dose?

More is not always better, especially in the beginning. Your body must adjust to the medication slowly. Starting at a higher dose increases the chances of experiencing unwanted side effects such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. More concerning than the gastrointestinal effects is the risk of your blood sugar dropping too low and too fast by starting at a higher dose than prescribed. If this happens, you can become faint, pass out and fall. Due to this concern it is imperative that you follow the titration protocol as prescribed by your provider. 

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10. What happens if I skip a weekly dose?

The medication lasts in your system at a steady-state for about one week, but i can take up to 4-5 weeks for the medications to completely leave the body. Keeping this in mind, if you accidentally skip a dose, you can take it immediately once you remember. If it has been more than one week since you were supposed to have taken your last dose, you may need to step down your dose in order to get your body accustomed to the medication and alleviate any unwanted side effects. You are welcome to reach out to our provider with any questions that you may have in a situation like this. 

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11. Why do I have to get bloodwork done to being this medication?

Bloodwork is important of us to establish and baseline and ensure we can safely prescribe Semaglutide. This, like any medication, has the potential for side effects and can place stress on your body. By utilizing a comprehensive panel of labs, we can get a substantive information about the status of multiple organs and how your body is functioning metabolically as a whole. 

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12. I’m getting nausea, what should I do?

There are many ways to mitigate possible nausea from Semaglutide. First, eat absorptive foods such  as rice or toast prior to your injection. Have a cup of ginger tea on hand, this is a powerful anti-nausea option as are ginger candies or crystallized ginger. Typically any nausea will subside within a day. We can also prescribe ondansetron to take if you are having an ongoing nausea reaction to the medication. 

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13. How do I enroll?

Start by booking your consultation via telemedicine and filling out the medical questionnaire. After reviewing it with our nurse practitioner, you will then have then have your labs drawn at a local Quest Diagnostics Laboratory. Once the results are received and you are cleared to start the medication, we will send a prescription to our compounding pharmacy for direct shipment of the medication to your home.

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**Whatever your weight loss goals, it’s important to remember that there is no magic injection or pill to make you instantly the ideal weight. You will have to eat nutrient-dense balanced meals in the appropriate portions. You will have to exercise. You will have to learn and be mindful of the signals your body is trying to give you. To learn more about your weight loss and what we can do to help, book your consultation via the link below.