A guide to semaglutide weight loss medication
Losing weight can reduce the risk of various diseases and health conditions. However, some people find it difficult to make or maintain progress without support. Semaglutide is a weight loss medicine used to assist patients with a BMI over 50 or a BMI over 30 with comorbidities like type 2 diabetes and heart disease.
If you’re eligible, a weekly semaglutide injection could be prescribed by a specialist weight management service, like Oviva. Our programme is available to eligible patients in England through the NHS and provides holistic support led by healthcare professionals.
Key Takeaways
- Semaglutide is a weight loss medicine, which suppresses your appetite.
- It’s most commonly distributed under the brand name Wegovy when used for weight loss.
- The medicine is available through the NHS for patients who qualify for a specialist weight management service.
- Studies show most patients can lose up to 10% of their body weight over 68 weeks, while a quarter lose up to 15% of their body weight.
What is semaglutide?
Semaglutide is a weight loss and diabetes medicine, usually taken as an injection, though semaglutide tablets also exist. It’s commonly distributed under the brand name Wegovy when used for weight loss.
The medicine should be combined with lifestyle changes, such as a controlled diet and increased movement and exercise, to lose weight and keep weight under control in the longer term. It’s injected into the stomach, thigh or upper arm once per week. This injection can be self-administered at home.
Semaglutide can be taken as part of a lifestyle programme designed to aid weight loss and long-term management. Wegovy has been approved by the European Union since January 2022. Since March 2023, it’s been approved by NICE for use by the NHS as a weight loss medication and can be prescribed as part of a specialist weight management service.
Is it safe?
Semaglutide has been ruled as safe and effective by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) and the European Medicines Agency (EMA). When used in the recommended way, following some simple precautions, it’s safe for the vast majority of people and has been proven effective.
Semaglutide injections can cause side effects, with some of the most common examples including:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Stomach pain
- Diarrhoea
- Headaches
To reduce the prevalence or severity of any side effects, the dosage of the medicine begins low and is gradually increased over a period of 16 weeks, allowing your body to adjust more easily.
You’re encouraged to tell your medical consultant if you experience any side effects, so that they can be managed effectively. That’s why it’s so important to take the medication as part of a weight management programme like Oviva’s as you’ll have access to experts that can support you.
How does semaglutide work?
Semaglutide belongs to a class of medicine called GLP-1 receptor agonists.
These medications work by mimicking the action of GLP-1, which is a gut hormone released after eating. The result of this GLP-1-like action is reduced hunger and increased fullness, which means you naturally eat less than normal.
Semaglutide also stimulates the release of insulin when blood glucose levels are high. As a result, it can be used to lower blood sugar. This is why semaglutide is also used to treat type 2 diabetes.
Semaglutide should not be used in isolation to promote weight loss. Instead, it should be combined with lifestyle and behaviour changes that can help you reduce and control your weight, like exercise and diet.
That’s why everyone on the Oviva app receives more than just medication and monitoring, but support across lifestyle and wellness for long-lasting change.
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How much weight can you lose on semaglutide?
According to the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), people can reduce their weight by more than 10% in 68 weeks by using Wegovy, which is the most popular semaglutide brand name for weight loss purposes. However, the medicine needs to be supported with improved nutrition and other lifestyle changes.
A 2021 study of 1,210 patients explored the effects of semaglutide when compared to a placebo.
One group was given a weekly 2.4 mg semaglutide injection, while another group was given a placebo. Both received lifestyle intervention to improve eating and exercise habits.
Over 68 weeks, the mean loss in body weight for hose given semaglutide was 9.6% vs. 3.4% in the placebo group. More than a quarter of the semaglutide patients achieved a 15% reduction.
The key is combining semaglutide and lifestyle changes. That’s why Tier 3 weight management services like Oviva‘s offer coaching, lifestyle support and medication together, in accordance with NICE guidelines.
How fast does it work?
Semaglutide is a fast-acting medicine – most people taking it will notice a decrease in their appetite quickly. This may become noticeable within a few days, but could take a few weeks.
Most patients experience weight loss within the first two months when combined with lifestyle changes, and the weight loss can become significant within three months. On average, patients lose around 6% of their body weight after three months.
You’ll gradually increase the amount of semaglutide you take over 16 weeks before reaching the maintenance dose. As your dosage increases, you’re likely to notice the effects more and more.
Is semaglutide available on the NHS for weight loss?
Semaglutide has been approved for use within the NHS since March 2023, and Wegovy has been available to NHS patients to assist with weight loss since September 2023. It’s available to those who meet the criteria for referral to an approved tier 3 weight management service, like Oviva.
The medication is prescribed to people experiencing obesity and weight-related health problems. This criteria includes a BMI over 30 and relevant comorbidities, or a BMI over 50.
How do I get a prescription for semaglutide?
For semaglutide prescription on the NHS, you’ll need to meet the criteria for enrolment in an approved specialist weight management service. You can speak to your doctor about this and ask for a referral.
You can also check your eligibility with Oviva. If you’re eligible, you’ll receive a prescription for semaglutide and get access to our free smartphone app where you can monitor your progress, activity and nutrition.
The service is fully remote, and we have a full team of healthcare professionals in-house, including specialist consultants, GPs, specialist nurse prescribers, psychologists, dietitians and coaches who are all here to support your journey.
To be eligible, you must be aged 18+ with a BMI of 50 and above, or a BMI of 30 and above with certain comorbidities (such as type 2 diabetes, pre-diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease or asthma).
The BMI requirement for people living with these comorbidities is reduced to 27.5 and above for ethnic minorities, as people from certain ethnic minority backgrounds have been found to have an equivalent obesity risk level at a lower BMI than people from a white ethnic background.
Who should not take semaglutide (contraindications)?
A contraindication is a condition, symptom or situation that makes treatment with a medication risky. Although semaglutide is generally a safe and effective medication, it’s not suitable for all patients.
You should avoid semaglutide if:
- You have a personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC)
- You have multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2 (MEN 2)
- You’re taking any other GLP-1 agonist medication
- You have a known hypersensitivity to semaglutide
Semaglutide should not be taken if you’re pregnant, and it’s recommended to stop using the medicine two months before you plan to become pregnant, if possible. The safety of taking semaglutide while breastfeeding is not yet fully understood, but some studies suggest it may pass into breast milk, so it should be avoided.
If you’re currently experiencing suicidal ideation or have recently felt suicidal, you should discuss the potential risks and benefits of taking semaglutide with your doctor before starting treatment.
Which drugs does semaglutide interact with?
Semaglutide medications like Wegovy reduce your blood sugar levels. If used in combination with some other diabetes medications that lower your blood sugar, there is a small risk of experiencing hypoglycaemia.
You should discuss combining of semaglutide and blood glucose-lowering diabetes medications with a doctor before starting treatment. It’s important to continually monitor blood glucose levels if you take these medications together.
Semaglutide also slows down the movement of food through the gastric system. This has the potential to impact the effectiveness of other medications taken at the same time because they may not be absorbed as quickly as usual.
This is why it’s so important to take the medication with the support of healthcare professionals, such as those at Oviva.
What should I do if I miss a dose?
If it has been less than five days since the missed dose, take it as soon as you remember.
If it has been more than five days, skip the missed dose and continue taking your medication as usual on your regular schedule.
It’s important to avoid taking two doses within 48 hours, and you should never take a double dose. If you accidentally take a double dose, seek medical assistance as soon as possible.
How should I store semaglutide?
You should store semaglutide pens in the refrigerator between 2°C and 8°C (36°F and 46°F). When refrigerated, your medicine should remain viable until its expiration date.
If you’re unable to refrigerate semaglutide for any reason, you can store it at room temperature for up to six weeks as long as it’s kept below 30°C (86°F). In this case, even if refrigerated afterwards, it should be used within 6 weeks .
Do not freeze semaglutide; if it has been frozen, you should avoid using it. The medicine is sensitive to both temperature and light and will deteriorate if kept in the wrong conditions.
Could weight loss medication help you?
Semaglutide is a weight loss medication which has been proven to help patients lose up to 10% of their body weight, especially when combined with lifestyle intervention. It’s available to patients through the NHS and can be prescribed as part of a specialist weight management service such as Oviva.
Find out whether you’re eligible for Oviva’s weight management service with our simple survey.
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Browse learning resources
Written by Oviva’s team of experts, explore advice on nutrition, exercise, and motivation to guide you through the programme and maximise long term weight maintenance.
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