You have probably heard of Semaglutide in the media lately, being described as “Hollywood’s Weight Loss Drug” or simply as the new “Miracle Weight Loss Injection”. But, in fact, Semaglutide has been around for some time now, and it isn’t just for Hollywood’s finest.
So how does Semaglutide work for weight loss?
Keep reading to find out exactly what Semaglutide is, how it works, and how you can try it for yourself from a team of medical experts here at Drip IV Lounge & Aesthetics.
Semaglutide is an injectable medication that falls within the class of drugs known as glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) agonists (or GLP-1 agonists, for short). When Semaglutide is used in combination with diet and exercise, it has been shown to help with blood sugar control in type 2 diabetics.
The main reason Semaglutide is hitting the scene in the media lately is mainly due to it’s mechanism of action, which mimics the hormone GLP-1 in your body to lower blood sugar IeveIs after you've eaten a meal.
The normal chain of events that occur after eating a meal goes something like this:
Given the simplified scenario above, GLP-1 agonists, like Semaglutide, hijack the glucose/insulin pathway and step in to help to control your blood sugar, especially for people that have struggled with finding the appropriate diet in the past or who have been told by their doctor that they are on the verge of developing Diabetes.
GLP-1, the key hormone involved, slows down the rate in which your stomach empties food into the small intestines where it is absorbed into the bloodstream(called gastric emptying).
Also, in addition to slowing the rise in glucose from your food, Semaglutide also plays a role in blocking glucagon release from the liver. Glucagon is primarily responsible for triggering glucose stored in the liver to be released in times of stress, hunger, or during sleep to provide the brain with a steady stream of glucose. Together, these functions can help you feel less hungry, causing you to eat less food and lose more weight.
Under the care of our expert medical staff, they will first make sure you are a good candidate for Semaglutide, along with ensuring you respond well to the effective dosage. They will effectively guide you up to the target dose at which time you will see the most amount of weight (fat) loss.
Per the Semaglutide clinical trials, participants had their dose adjusted until they reached the 2.5 mg dose if needed. In phase 3 of the trial, after 20 weeks of taking weekly injections of Semaglutide, most participants were able to reach the full dose and also lost weight as their dose was increased. They saw additional weight loss over the remaining 48 weeks at the full dose.
It is important to keep in mind that weight loss (in particular, fat loss) can take time, but the biggest determinant of that loss comes when Semaglutide is paired with a synergistic diet and exercise plan. No two clients are the same, and you may require a different dose to achieve your desired results. Our trained medical staff will ensure you are taking a safe and effective dose and that most side effects are tolerated or decreased through the entire treatment regimen.
Currently, Semaglutide is used for obesity (with the criteria of having a BMI of 30 or higher OR a BMI of 27 or higher with other comorbidities), to help with blood sugar control in type-2 diabetes, and to lower the risk of major cardiovascular events (like heart attack and stroke) in people with both type-2 diabetes and heart disease. Previous studies have shown Semaglutide can be consistently taken for up to 1.5 years safely if tolerated well.
If you happen to fall into this category of patients being prescribed Semaglutide for either of these reasons, you'll need to take it as directed by your primary healthcare provider since you are using it to manage a chronic condition.
But, if you do not have either of the previous diagnoses and are looking to try Semaglutide specifically to enhance your current diet and exercise regimen, email us at br@dripivco.com to speak to one of our practitioners about other options.
While proven safe and effective in pharmaceutical trials, Semaglutide still can have certain side effects for patients. The most common side effects are listed below, although the intensity and duration of the effects vary from patient to patient.
Common Semaglutide side effects:
Below are several guidelines, depending on your health history, that you may want to speak to your doctor or staff about prior to trying Semaglutide for weight loss:
When starting Semaglutide injections, it is advised to limit the amount and frequency of alcohol you're drinking. Alcohol can negatively affect blood sugar and potentially drop if too low while adjusting to Semaglutide. Digestive issues or GI problems could also worsen while drinking alcohol and taking Semaglutide.
Ensure you give your provider a list of all current and past medications that you are taking or have taken in the past prior to starter injections. Given the effects on gastric emptying and insulin secretion, Semaglutide could potentially enhance the effect of other medications that have on these systems.
Your risk of having low blood sugar may be higher if you use Semaglutide with another medicine that can cause low blood sugar, such as sulfonylurea or insulin. Signs and symptoms of low blood sugar may include: dizziness or lightheadedness, blurred vision, anxiety, irritability or mood changes, sweating, slurred speech, hunger, confusion or drowsiness, shakiness, weakness, headache, fast heartbeat, and feeling jittery.
In people who have kidney problems, diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting may cause a loss of fluids (dehydration), which may cause kidney problems to get worse. It is important for you to drink fluids to help reduce your chance of dehydration.
Stop using Semaglutide and get medical help right away if you have any symptoms of a serious allergic reaction, including swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat; problems breathing or swallowing; severe rash or itching; fainting or feeling dizzy; or very rapid heartbeat.
Contact us today for more information about our weight loss services, drip infusion bar, or book your appointment online.
Drip IV is a leader in the delivery of intravenous micronutrient therapies servicing both Lafayette and Baton Rouge, Louisiana. As a drip infusion bar, we provide Semaglutide for weight loss, NAD+, and IV nutrition therapies for Energy, Hydration, Immunity, Performance & Recovery, Hangover Remedy, which may benefit COVID-19 and Long COVID symptoms and recovery. Our Baton Rouge location is proud to offer Stem Cells and aesthetic services like BOTOX, Dysport, Xeomin, and Lip Fillers and will be offering SkinCeuticals medical grade skincare.
Lafayette: 4906 Ambassador Caffery Pkwy, Bldg. B, Lafayette, LA 70508
Baton Rouge: 7731 Perkins Rd STE 135, Baton Rouge, LA 70810
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