Cagrilintide Dosage

While Semaglutide, also known as Wegovy or Ozempic and Tirzepatide, have dominated weight loss options for quite some time, leading to nearly 25% of body weight loss. Cagrilintide, on the other hand, doesn't belong to the GLP-1 group like the previous two.

This one is a long-acting amylin analog, mimicking the pancreatic hormone that regulates glucose homeostasis and appetite. In clinical trials, Cagrilintide was able to reduce weight by 10% in patients. But its real power lies in combination therapy when paired with other peptides.

Let's break down how this peptide works and explore its unique mechanisms of action.

Cagrilintide Dosage Chart (Weekly Injection)

Treatment Phase	Dosage (mcg)	Duration	Notes
Week 1–2 (Initiation)	0.3 mg (300 mcg)	2 weeks	Start with a low dose to assess tolerance and minimize side effects.
Week 3–4	0.6 mg (600 mcg)	2 weeks	Gradual increase to improve appetite control and minimize nausea.
Week 5–6	1.2 mg (1200 mcg)	2 weeks	Continue titration to increase weight loss effect.
Week 7–8	1.8 mg (1800 mcg)	2 weeks	Monitor for side effects; adjust if needed.
Week 9 and onward	2.4 mg (2400 mcg)	Maintenance dose	Target maintenance dose for long-term weight loss and glucose control.

What is Cagrilintide?

Cagrilintide is a new drug that helps lose weight. It is an amylin analogue, which is a type of drug that works by imitating amylin actions. Amylin is a natural hormone produced by the pancreas that has several effects on digestion and appetite control. It makes you feel full after eating, reduces the speed at which your stomach empties, and controls your blood sugar level.

Cagrilintide works in a way that's somewhat different from GLP-1 drugs, which also are used for weight management. Both work on hormones that regulate hunger, but they do so on different brain parts to cause fullness. Researchers examined how Cagrilintide would work when paired with GLP-1 drugs like Semaglutide.

Experiments have discovered that Cagrilintide can also function independently. In one study, obese patients lost 10.8% of their body weight over 26 weeks. Even more astonishingly, when Cagrilintide was paired with Semaglutide in early clinical trials, the results were even more promising – showing an extra 7.4% weight loss in addition to taking Semaglutide by itself.

Cagrilintide Use

Cagrilintide and Obesity

Researchers have carried out two important studies of Cagrilintide to better understand the effects of peptide on weight loss. In one study, participants received weekly doses of Cagrilintide and experienced significant body weight reductions ranging from 6% to 11% in just six weeks. The result exceeded that obtained with liraglutide, an approved drug used as a reference comparator in the study. Somewhat surprisingly, both drugs' side effect profiles were similar.

A second important trial tested what happens when Cagrilintide is combined with Semaglutide. The combination had even more dramatic effects. The weight loss was not the sum of each drug's effect – it was greater. Scientists think this is because the two drugs have a synergistic effect, i.e., they enhance each other's effect. In this study, patients lost up to 17.1% body weight over 20 weeks. To put this into perspective, a 200-pound individual could lose about 34 pounds in five months.

Cagrilintide and Diabetes

Cagrilintide, along with similar drugs like pramlintide, has also shown great promise in treating type 2 diabetes. These drugs render type 2 diabetes more manageable by lowering insulin resistance and A1C levels through the inhibition of the release of glucagon, a hormone that elevates blood sugar levels.
Studies have shown that the injection of these peptides can lead to the reduction of A1C – by about 2.2% over a relatively short period of time.

Among the numerous features that set Cagrilintide apart is its convenience. It is dosed only once a week, which makes it easier for patients to stay on therapy. The once-weekly dosing and its extended duration of action allow for more stable blood glucose levels over time, and for individuals using it for weight loss, that extended half-life also continuously suppresses appetite.

Cagrilintide and Alzheimer's Disease

There has been a growing understanding of how blood sugar levels affect the health of the brain, especially as it relates to memory and cognitive function. Diabetes, for example, is often accompanied by problems like reduced cognition, shorter attention span, and memory loss – even in young people. When the blood glucose level is high (a condition known as hyperglycemia), it can induce harmful changes in the brain, such as inflammation, oxidative stress, and damage to brain cells.

This not only impacts mental sharpness but also may contribute to other complications common in diabetes, such as heart and kidney disease.

Science has always shown a strong connection between cognitive function and blood glucose levels. Too high glucose levels can be harmful, but most studies address the effects of too much sugar in the bloodstream. In one such study, a group of older women was monitored for four years, and it was found that consistently high blood sugar was linked to a higher risk of both mild memory issues and more serious maladies like dementia.

One of the surprising findings is that high blood sugar can ultimately decrease glucose availability in the brain. Since the brain uses almost nothing but glucose as fuel, this has the potential to be a big deal. Another study adds to this one by showing that as the brain becomes resistant to insulin, it can't properly use glucose, something scientists believe contributes, first and foremost, to the cognitive impairment seen in people with diabetes.

Put briefly, these studies show that the brain's failure to metabolize glucose – especially when blood sugar levels are consistently high – can be a significant contributor to the development of dementia and other forms of cognitive impairment.

Conclusion

While mostly combined with Semaglutide, Cagrilintide still offers plenty of benefits. It stimulates weight loss, helps with diabetes, and influences Alzheimer's disease. Unfortunately, these findings are still in the experimental stage, and more research is required to ensure this peptide is completely safe for human use.

You can discuss the treatment plan with your doctor if you start with Cagrilintide. They will propose the best course of action and ensure your health and safety aren't jeopardized during this treatment.

References:

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