Semaglutide is a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist.  This peptide is an analogue of a protein our body naturally produces to help prevent sugar spikes after meals by improving insulin production.

​Semaglutide is used to treat type 2 diabetes, but has recently been approved  by the FDA to help manage weight (along with diet and exercise) in overweight adults with other risk factors such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, sleep apnea, etc.  Semaglutide is used to lower the risk of heart attack, stroke, or death in patients with type 2 diabetes, vascular disease, and/or heart disease.

Semaglutide is injected under the skin, once weekly at any time of day, with or without food, and should be injected on the same day each week.  If you choose a different weekly injection day, start your new schedule after at least 2 days have passed since your last injection.

Semaglutide is generally well tolerated.  The most common side effects are GI symptoms such as nausea, diarrhea, constipation, headache, fatigue, decreased appetite, and/or dizziness, most often due to low blood sugar (hypoglycemia).  These symptoms may occur when the dose is increased, but often improve or go away after a few days. 
Although semaglutide by itself usually does not cause hypoglycemia, blood sugar can be affected by stress, illness, alcohol use, surgery, and skipping meals.  Hypoglycemia can make you feel very hungry, dizzy, irritable, or shaky, along with rapid heartbeat, and/or tingling hands or feet.

Semaglutide should not be used in patients with a personal or family history of medullary thyroid cancer (MTC) or in patients with Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2).

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