Some Things You Need To Know About Somaglutide

What is semaglutide?

Semaglutide (Wegovy, Ozempic, Rybelsus) is a medicine used for weight loss in specific patients, and to lower blood sugar levels and reduce the risk of major cardiovascular events such as heart attack or stroke in type two diabetes patients. Semaglutide is a GLP-1 agonist and works by increasing insulin release, lowering the amount of glucagon released, delaying gastric emptying and reducing appetite.

Before taking this medicine
You should not use semaglutide if you are allergic to it, or if you have:

multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2 (tumors in your glands);
a personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma (a type of thyroid cancer); or
diabetic ketoacidosis (call your doctor for treatment).
Tell your doctor if you have ever had:

a stomach or intestinal disorder;
pancreatitis;
kidney disease; or
eye problems caused by diabetes (retinopathy).
In animal studies, semaglutide caused thyroid tumors or thyroid cancer. It is not known whether these effects would occur in people. Ask your doctor about your risk.

How does semaglutide work?

Semaglutide works to lower high blood sugar by increasing the amount of insulin that is released, lowering the amount of glucagon released and by delaying gastric emptying. Semaglutide also controls appetite and so helps you reduce the amount of food that you want to eat. Semaglutide is a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) agonist

How should I take semaglutide?

Wegovy and Ozempic are given as a subcutaneous injection once a week.

Rybelsus is a tablet that you take once a day in the morning, 30 minutes before eating, drinking or taking any other medicines. You may eat, drink or take oral medicine 30 minutes after taking Rybelsus

Dosing information:

Ozempic dose

Ozempic injection 0.25 mg or 0.5 mg dose pen.

Pen can deliver 0.25 mg or 0.5 mg doses.

2mg/1.5mL (1.34mg/mL)

Each 1.5 ml pen contains 8 doses of 0.25mg or 4 doses of 0.5mg.

Ozempic injection 1 mg dose pen.

Pen delivers a 1mg dose.

4mg/3mL (1.34mg/mL)

Each 3ml pen contains 4 doses.

Ozempic injection 2mg dose pen.

Pen delivers a 2mg dose.

8mg/3mL (2.68 mg/mL)

Each 3ml pen contains 4 doses.

 

Ozempic Recommended Dosage

Start Ozempic with a 0.25 mg subcutaneous injection (injection under the skin) once weekly for 4 weeks. The 0.25 mg dosage is intended for treatment initiation and is not effective for glycemic control.

 

After 4 weeks on the 0.25 mg dosage, increase the dosage to 0.5 mg once weekly.

If additional glycemic control is needed after at least 4 weeks on the 0.5 mg dosage, the dosage may be increased to 1 mg once weekly.

​If additional glycemic control is needed after at least 4 weeks on the 1 mg dosage, the dosage may be increased to 2 mg once weekly. The maximum recommended dosage is 2 mg once weekly.

 

Administer Ozempic once weekly, on the same day each week, at any time of the day, with or without meals.

The day of weekly administration can be changed if necessary as long as the time between two doses is at least 2 days (>48 hours).

If a dose is missed, administer Ozempic as soon as possible within 5 days after the missed dose. If more than 5 days have passed, skip the missed dose and administer the next dose on the regularly scheduled day. In each case, patients can then resume their regular once weekly dosing schedule