Semaglutide has been all over the news recently, thanks to its success in helping people lose excess weight. But as popular as it is, semaglutide isn’t right for everyone. Here’s how to tell if you should consider it.
If you’ve been struggling with weight loss, there’s a good chance you’ve at least heard about semaglutide, the diabetes drug that’s proven exceptionally effective at helping people lose weight. But as good as it is at helping some people drop unwanted pounds, it’s not an ideal option for everyone.
The team at Micari Aesthetics helps patients lose weight and keep it off with custom-tailored weight-loss treatments featuring an array of options, including semaglutide therapy. Here’s how to tell if this revolutionary therapy is right for you.
How semaglutide works
Semaglutide is a type of drug called a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist. GLP-1 is a hormone secreted by your intestine, pancreas, and other parts of your body to help regulate blood sugar (glucose) and appetite. It’s this aspect that makes semaglutide an appropriate choice for managing diabetes.
For weight loss, semaglutide offers some additional benefits. First, semaglutide helps slow gastric emptying — how quickly food moves out of your stomach. By slowing down this part of the digestive process, you wind up feeling full longer so you don’t eat as often.
At the same time, semaglutide works on the brain’s appetite center, reducing the production and release of hunger hormones and blunting your appetite. In the liver, semaglutide slows down glucose production to reduce insulin resistance. And finally, semaglutide helps muscle tissue use glucose more efficiently, so you burn more calories.
Deciding if semaglutide is right for you
Although semaglutide can be very effective in helping patients lose weight, it’s not right for everyone. To be a candidate, you must be overweight or obese with a body mass index (BMI) greater than 30. You’re also a candidate if you have a BMI of 27-30 and another condition, like heart disease, type 2 diabetes, or high cholesterol.
Semaglutide isn’t recommended for anyone who has a personal history of:
- Gallbladder disease
- Pancreatitis
- Medullary thyroid cancer
- Multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN2)
You also shouldn’t use it if you’re pregnant or breastfeeding.
You should also know that semaglutide interacts with certain medications, including some antibiotics, retinoids, and cortisone products, as well as some nutritional supplements. During your consultation, let your provider know about all prescription and over-the-counter medications you’re taking, along with any vitamins or supplements.
Before prescribing semaglutide, we take a detailed medical history and perform a physical exam, along with blood work and other lab tests to assess your health. We also measure your BMI and check for existing conditions that could make you a candidate.
If we prescribe semaglutide for you, we tailor your dosing and adjust it as needed during your therapy. We’ll also determine if the oral or injectable route is the better option for you. For most people, semaglutide therapy takes about 3-6 months.
Find a weight-loss solution that works
GLP-1 agonists can help people lose weight even if previous attempts at weight loss have failed — but they’re not always an ideal solution. To learn if semaglutide is right for you and to learn about other weight-management options we offer, call 631-910-7599 or request an appointment online with our team in Bellmore, New York, today.
