Semaglutide is a synthetic glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist used to treat type 2 diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular diseases, and chronic kidney disease. It imitates the natural GLP-1 hormone to suppress appetite, slow digestion, and regulate blood sugar. It is available as FDA-approved prescription medications like Ozempic and Wegovy. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
How It Works
Appetite Suppression: It mimics GLP-1 by acting on the brain's hypothalamus to reduce hunger signals and increase feelings of fullness.
Digestion: It slows down gastric emptying, causing food to remain in the stomach longer.
Blood Sugar Control: It stimulates insulin secretion and suppresses glucagon release when blood sugar levels are high. [1, 2, 3]
FDA-Approved Brands
Wegovy: Approved for chronic weight management in adults and adolescents, and for reducing the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (e.g., heart attacks and strokes).
Ozempic: Prescribed primarily for glycemic control in type 2 diabetes, and for lowering cardiovascular risks in adults with heart disease.
Rybelsus: An oral, once-daily tablet version of semaglutide for type 2 diabetes. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
Dosage & Administration
Injectable (Ozempic/Wegovy): Administered once weekly via a pre-filled subcutaneous pen into the abdomen, thigh, or upper arm. Dosages start low and are gradually increased to minimize side effects, with maintenance doses for weight loss reaching up to \(2.4\text{ mg}\) or higher.
