What is Semaglutide?

Semaglutide is a once-weekly antidiabetic prescription medication used for the treatment of type 2 diabetes and long-term weight management.

What is the difference between Ozempic and Wegovy?

One word: Marketing. Ozempic is the medication marketed for diabetes treatment and Wegovy is designated for weight loss. Both are at the core Semaglutide in its generic form.

How do you dispense Semaglutide?

We dispense a four week supply (4 injections) of semaglutide at a time during in-office appointments.

How much does it cost?

Please call our office at 760.278.1887 for the most up-to-date costs associated with our Semaglutide program.

How does Semaglutide work?

Semaglutide acts like human glucagon-like peptide-1 in that it increases insulin secretion, thereby increasing sugar metabolism. It works by helping the pancreas to release the right amount of insulin when blood sugar levels are high. Weight loss may result from GLP-1's reduction of appetite and slowing down digestion.

How much weight can I lose?

The Semaglutide Treatment Effect in People With Obesity (STEP) trials have shown the efficacy of semaglutide for the treatment of obesity. In large RCTs patients receiving semaglutide, 2.4mg, lost a mean of 6% of their weight by week 12 and 12% of their weight by week 28.

Keep in mind that you must put in the work to reap optimal results from Semaglutide. Try exercising for 30 minutes every day and eating nutrient-rich foods. Empty calories make it harder to achieve your desired weight goal.

How is Semaglutide given?

Semaglutide injection is initiated via an escalation dosing schedule to minimize any gastrointestinal adverse reactions. The final dose (2.4 mg injected subcutaneously weekly) is the maintenance dose. It is administered subcutaneously in the abdomen, arm, or thigh.

When was Semaglutide FDA approved?

Semaglutide was approved in 2021 as an injectable form for patients with obesity that require chronic weight management. Semaglutide was approved for obese patients, or overweight patients that have at least one condition contributed by their weight such as high blood pressure, type II diabetes (for which it is normally indicated), or high cholesterol.

I heard you also offer Tirzepatide (Mounjaro). What's the difference?

Semaglutide and tirzepatide are both medications used in the treatment of type 2 diabetes, but they belong to different classes of drugs and have distinct mechanisms of action. Here are the differences between semaglutide and tirzepatide:

Drug Class:

• Semaglutide: Semaglutide is a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist. It mimics the action of GLP-1, a hormone that stimulates insulin release and reduces glucagon secretion.

• Tirzepatide: Tirzepatide is a dual glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) and GLP-1 receptor agonist. It activates both GIP and GLP-1 receptors to stimulate insulin release and reduce glucagon secretion.

Mode of Action:

• Semaglutide: Semaglutide primarily acts on GLP-1 receptors to increase insulin secretion from pancreatic beta cells, reduce glucagon secretion from pancreatic alpha cells, slow down gastric emptying, and promote satiety.

• Tirzepatide: Tirzepatide targets both GIP and GLP-1 receptors. By activating these receptors, it enhances insulin secretion, inhibits glucagon release, slows gastric emptying, and promotes satiety. The dual action on both GIP and GLP-1 receptors potentially provides greater glycemic control compared to drugs targeting only GLP-1 receptors.

Clinical Trials:

• Semaglutide: Semaglutide has been extensively studied and approved in various formulations, including once-weekly subcutaneous injections (Ozempic) and oral tablets (Rybelsus). It has shown efficacy in reducing HbA1c levels, promoting weight loss, and improving cardiovascular outcomes in clinical trials.

• Tirzepatide: Tirzepatide is a newer medication that has shown promising results in clinical trials and has recently received FDA approval.