Semaglutide FAQs: Will it work for me?
What is semaglutide?
Also known as Ozempic or Wegovy, semaglutide is a medicine that decreases appetite and helps the body feel full. It can also slow down how long it takes for food to move through the digestive system, which also contributes to a decreased appetite.
How does semaglutide work?
Originally, semaglutide was used to treat Type 2 diabetes. The way it works is by tricking the body into thinking it is a certain hormone, called GLP-1, that the stomach releases after eating. That hormone increases insulin in the bloodstream, which then decreases the amount of blood sugar. Since Type 2 diabetes is a problem with the way the body uses insulin, semaglutide helps solve that problem.
For those who are overweight or obese, semaglutide doesn’t change the way the body uses insulin, but it does help them experience fewer urges to eat.
In an experiment to test semaglutide versus a change in diet and exercise, over half of semaglutide users lost 15% of their body weight in 68 weeks. The group who changed diet and exercise lost an average of 2.4% of their starting weight. However, it is important to note that other studies have shown that some semaglutide users gained the weight back when they stopped using it.
Semaglutide can also decrease the risk of cancer, diabetes, stroke, and heart disease in obese or overweight patients.
What’s important to consider before using semaglutide?
You’ll want to tell your provider about all medications, vitamins, and nutritional supplements that you take by mouth, because semaglutide can change how those medicines are absorbed.
Also, stopping semaglutide treatments should be done only after talking to your provider. Even if you see the results that you have been looking for or are feeling very well, do not stop taking the medicine without creating a plan with your doctor.
Anyone who is planning to become pregnant should not take semaglutide for two months before conceiving. Again, you’ll want to talk to your provider before you stop treatment. Semaglutide should not be taken while pregnant or breastfeeding.
How do I get started with semaglutide?
The risks and benefits of semaglutide can all be discussed with your provider directly during an appointment. If it sounds like this treatment could be the health solution you’ve been waiting for, call us at 681-282-5591 or fill out this form to request an appointment today with Adorn Aesthetics, at our Princeton, West Virginia office.