Semaglutide

What is Semaglutide (Generic GLP-1)?

Semaglutide (also known under the brand names Wegovy and Ozempic) is a weekly injection medication. Belonging to the category of medicines known as GLP-1 receptor agonists, it works by reducing your appetite, slowing down digestion, and lowering your blood sugar levels.

Generic Semaglutide is only licensed in Canada to treat type 2 diabetes. So to get it for weight loss, your clinician will need to prescribe it to you ‘off-label’. Off-label prescribing is a safe and common practice among medical professionals, and it’s only done when they’re confident that the treatment will be safe and effective for you.

How does Semaglutide work?

Semaglutide, as a GLP-1 receptor agonist, mimics a hormone your body produces naturally when you eat called GLP-1. In the body, GLP-1:^[1]

• Sends signals to your brain to tell you that you’re full
• Triggers your gut to slow down digestion
• Stimulates your pancreas to produce more insulin, lowering your blood sugar

So by mimicking GLP-1, Semaglutide reduces ‘food noise’, meaning you don’t feel like eating as often. Plus, when you do eat, you’ll feel fuller more easily and for longer afterwards, so your portion sizes might also decrease.

When used in combination with a reduced-calorie, nutrient-dense diet and regular physical exercise, these factors help people with overweight and obesity to lose weight.

What doses does Semaglutide come in?

Semaglutide is available in three doses: 0.25 mg, 0.5 mg, and 1 mg. Typically, you’ll start on the lowest dose (0.25 mg), which you’ll take once a week for four weeks. Then you’ll move up to four once-weekly 0.5 mg doses, before graduating to a maintenance dose of 1 mg.

This helps you move up gradually to the more effective dose of 1 mg while reducing your risk of side effects.

How to use Semaglutide

Semaglutide needs to be injected once a week, into your abdomen, thigh, or upper arm. To use it:

• Check the liquid – it should look clear and colourless. If you can see bits in it, or if there’s any discolouration, don’t use the injection.
• Choose your injection site, making sure it’s different from the one you used last week.
• Inject Semaglutide into your skin. Don’t inject it into a vein or muscle.

For full and detailed instructions on how to use it, including pictures, check the patient medication information that comes with your injection.

How long does Semaglutide take to work?

Biologically, Semaglutide ‘gets to work’ within hours of your first injection. But physical and noticeable weight loss changes take a bit longer (usually at least a month).

Here’s a timeline of what you might expect:

Days 1 to 7

• Semaglutide reaches its peak concentration in your body about 1 to 3 days after your first injection.^[1]
• You might notice a drop in appetite, fewer cravings, and less ‘food noise’.

Weeks 4 to 12

• By the end of the first month, you should start to see some weight loss on the scale.
• In clinical trials, patients lose an average of 2% of their starting weight by week 4, and around 6% by week 12.^[2]

Months 3 to 6+

• This is when the medication starts to become most effective. You should see steady, consistent weight loss.
• By the 6-month mark, patients in clinical trials lost an average of 10% to 11% of their starting weight.^[2]

1 year+

Maximum weight loss is normally achieved between 60 to 68 weeks.
On the full maintenance dose, patients lose an average of 15% of their baseline body weight. After this point the medication mostly works to help you maintain that weight loss.^[2]

What should I do if I make a mistake?

If you forget to use Semaglutide, don’t worry.

• If it’s been less than five days since your scheduled dose, use your injection as soon as possible after remembering.
• If it’s been more than five days since your scheduled dose, skip the missed dose and carry on as normal.

If you use too much Semaglutide, you might have an increased risk of side effects like nausea. If you start to feel unwell, seek medical advice.