Semaglutide Side Effects

Ongoing studies continue to support Semaglutide’s role in helping patients lose weight. These findings also reinforce a broader principle: that obesity is a chronic metabolic disease, and managing it often requires more than diet and willpower. Medications like Semaglutide are becoming part of a more comprehensive approach to weight management.

We should point out that Semaglutide is not a magic bullet. Here's a closer look at what Semaglutide is, how it works, and who might benefit from it. While Semaglutide shares certain similarities with newer compounds such as Retatrutide, there are important differences between them that become clear when examining their mechanisms and clinical profiles in more detail. Here's a closer look at what Semaglutide is, how it works, and who might benefit from it.

Semaglutide is a prescription drug used for various health conditions. It is one of the main components in the treatment of diabetes, helping with weight loss, and lowering chronic kidney disease and serious heart-related diseases like heart attack or stroke.

This medication works by mimicking a natural hormone in the body called GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1). Semaglutide decreases appetite, slows down the rate of how fast food leaves the stomach, increases the production of insulin, and decreases the amount of glucagon-a hormone that raises blood glucose.

You can take semaglutide in two ways:

• As a once-a-week injection (brand names Ozempic and Wegovy)
• Or as a daily tablet (Rybelsus)

All three medications-Ozempic, Wegovy, and Rybelsus-are made by Novo Nordisk and are approved by the FDA for different applications. Semaglutide was first approved on December 5, 2017 as Ozempic.

Semaglutide at work

Semaglutide works by imitating a natural body hormone named GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) that is released after eating. The hormone manages hunger and blood sugar levels.

Semaglutide has some profound effects through its activity on GLP-1 receptors:

• It increases insulin release from the pancreas
• It reduces the amount of sugar produced by the liver
• It slows down digestion so that foods stay in the stomach longer
• It helps reduce hunger and food intake

These effects combined can make people feel full for longer, eat less, and have better blood sugar regulation. Because of this, Semaglutide works for weight loss, blood sugar regulation, and the decrease of cardiovascular disease risk.

Its effect on reducing kidney risks is still not well understood.

Semaglutide is part of a group of drugs called GLP-1 receptor agonists, which are medications that act by mimicking the GLP-1 hormone’s action in the body.

Common Side Effects of Semaglutide

In clinical trials in type 2 diabetes patients on Ozempic 1mg, the most frequent side effects were:

• Nausea (20.3%)
• Vomiting (9.2%)
• Diarrhea (8.8%)
• Abdominal pain (5.7%)
• Constipation (3.1%)

These gastrointestinal side effects are frequent but usually mild and transient. They usually disappear within the first few weeks and do not usually interfere with continued therapy. They may be more present at higher doses.

Other common symptoms reported are:

• Heartburn
• Bloating and gas
• Eructation
• Headache
• Dizziness
• Fatigue
• Loss of appetite
• Stomach flu-like symptoms
• Low Blood Sugar (Hypoglycemia)

In patients who are taking insulin or sulfonylureas (like glipizide or glyburide), semaglutide has the potential to cause low blood sugar. In all patients, 3.8% experienced symptomatic hypoglycemia, but nearly 30% of insulin-treated patients experienced symptoms. Severe events were observed in around 1.5% of those cases.

Symptoms of Hypoglycemia May Include:

• Hunger
• Shakiness or trembling
• Sweating
• Dizziness or blurry vision
• Fatigue or weakness
• Mood changes such as anxiety or irritability
• Palpitation
• Tingling lips
• Confusion

How to Treat It:

• Drink something with sugar quickly: fruit juice, soda (not diet), candy, or glucose tablets.
• Wait 10 to 15 minutes and check your blood sugar again.
• If still low, follow the above steps.

As soon as your sugar levels return to normal, eat a more balanced meal or snack to help maintain levels.
Severe cases can be treated with a glucagon injection.

If you are taking insulin-containing medications, your doctor can adjust them when you start or increase semaglutide to reduce the risk of hypoglycemia.

Tips for Managing Stomach Side Effects

To reduce nausea or stomach upset, try these:

• Eat slowly and in small portions
• Have low-fat, unseasoned foods like toast, rice, or crackers
• Avoid greasy or sweet foods
• Sit up straight after eating-don’t lie down
• Drink cold or clear fluids
• Get outside for a breath of fresh air if you feel queasy
• Concentrate on foods with more water content, like soups or gelatin

Note: Semaglutide tablets (Rybelsus) should not be used in patients with severe gastroparesis, an illness that slows stomach emptying.

When to Get Immediate Medical Assistance

Call your physician or go to the emergency room if you feel:

• Sudden change in vision
• Severe mood shifts or suicidal behavior
• Irregular or thudding heartbeat
• Light-headedness or fainting
• Thyroid tumor symptoms (neck swelling, difficulty swallowing, hoarseness, shortness of breath)

Pancreatitis symptoms: severe pain in upper part of your stomach that moves to your back, nausea, or rapid heart rate

Gallbladder issues: pain in the upper abdomen, fever, yellow skin or eyes, or pale-colored stools

Kidney trouble: swelling, reduced urination, or weakness

Stomach flu symptoms: nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, cramps-especially if bloody or severe

You also need to seek urgent care if you notice the following symptoms or severe allergic reaction: hives, wheezing, fast heartbeat, or swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.