In June 2021 the FDA approved Semaglutide for chronic weight management in adults with obesity or overweight with at least one weight-related condition (such as high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes or high cholesterol)
After reaching the target dose, the 2.4 mg/week dose was sustained for an additional 16 weeks
Reapply after 80 minutes of swimming or sweating, immediately after towel drying, or at least every 2 hours to stay protected
Important safety considerations include: Pancreatitis risk : If you develop severe, persistent abdominal pain that may radiate to your back, with or without vomiting, stop taking the medication and seek urgent medical attention Gallbladder disease : Sudden pain in the upper right abdomen, fever, or yellowing of the skin/eyes requires urgent medical review GLP-1 medications are not recommended in people with severe gastrointestinal disease, including severe gastroparesis [10] [11] Clinical considerations include: Starting with the lowest available dose and titrating slowly Monitoring symptom patterns carefully during initiation Distinguishing between temporary side effects (which often lessen over weeks) and persistent symptom changes Adjusting dietary intake, particularly meal size and composition Most gastrointestinal side effects of GLP-1 medications are dose-dependent and tend to diminish over time as the body adapts
Some providers may still prescribe if they believe youd benefit, particularly if your weight is trending upward or you have other compelling factors
