SEMAGLUTIDE WEIGHT LOSS INJECTIONS ALBUQUERQUE NM

SEMAGLUTIDE WEIGHT LOSS INJECTIONS

The search for effective and safe weight-loss treatments never ends. But at Sandia Skin + Face, we have the newest anti-obesity medication, semaglutide, which is making waves more than a year after its 2021 approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

HOW DID SEMAGLUTIDE COME TO BE?

The injectable drug Semaglutide was initially only used as a diabetes medication. Semaglutide is the first drug since Saxenda (2014) to be approved by the FDA to treat chronic weight management, which affects 70% of American adults who are obese or overweight. Continuing research shows the effectiveness of Semaglutide injections for weight loss. This research also highlights the value of treating obesity as a chronic metabolic disease rather than expecting overweight people to depend solely on their willpower and lifestyle changes to manage their condition.

Vijaya Surampudi, MD, physician nutrition specialist and assistant director of the UCLA Weight Management Program (RFO), stated “It is important to remember that obesity is heterogenous, chronic and complex. There is no cure for obesity. It requires lifelong treatment that’s not one size fits all.”

WHAT IS SEMAGLUTIDE?

Semaglutide is one member of a class of medications known as glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs). Semaglutide mimics the GLP-1 hormone, which is released in the gut as a response to food intake.

Once-a-week injections imitate the role of hormones in your gut called incretins.

The key purpose of GLP-1 is to prompt your body to produce additional insulin, which reduces blood sugar (glucose). This reaction is the reason healthcare providers have used Semaglutide for more than 15 years to treat Type 2 diabetes.

However, in higher amounts, GLP-1 also interacts with the parts of your brain that suppress your appetite and create the signal for you to feel full after eating. When Semaglutide is used in conjunction with diet and exercise, it can result in a large loss of weight and a reduced risk of cancer, diabetes, and heart disease — in obese or overweight patients.

SEMAGLUTIDE INJECTIONS FOR WEIGHT LOSS USE

As interest in Semaglutide for weight loss grows, healthcare professionals are seeking methods to manage the demand. Many people use Semaglutide as an off-label to help manage weight. Semaglutide for weight loss demand has become so high, that now there is a shortage for the people who need it to help manage their diabetes. Many healthcare professionals are prescribing other brands of Semaglutide, such as Ozempic and Rybelsus, as an “off-label use” alternative.

Currently, Semaglutide is only approved for weight loss under the brand name Wegovy. The most common dose for weight loss is 2.4 milligrams, administered weekly as subcutaneous (under the skin) self-injections.

HOW EFFECTIVE IS SEMAGLUTIDE FOR WEIGHT LOSS?

A study was published in March 2021 by the New England Journal of Medicine which reported on 2,000 obese adults comparing people using Semaglutide plus a diet and exercise program against people who only did diet and exercise without Semaglutide. After 68 weeks, half of the study group using Semaglutide lost 15% of their body weight, and nearly a third lost 20%. Participants who incorporated only diet and exercise changes lost only 2.4% of their body weight.

Since the March 2021 study, additional studies have shown similar results. However, these additional studies also showed that people tend to regain the weight loss when they stop taking Semaglutide.

ANY OTHER POTENTIAL HEALTH ADVANTAGES OF SEMAGLUTIDE INJECTIONS FOR WEIGHT LOSS?

There are other potential health benefits:

• A promoted sensation of fullness after meals
• Reduced glucagon levels in fasting and after eating
• Slowed gastric emptying in the intestines to help you feel fuller for longer
• Reduced appetite
• Lower blood sugar with no increase in hypoglycemia
• Reduced lipids, blood pressure, inflammatory markers, and oxidative stress
• Enhanced insulin synthesis and secretion
• More significant improvement in cardiovascular risk factors associated with obesity

WHAT IS THE SEMAGLUTIDE INJECTION FOR WEIGHT LOSS PROCEDURE?

To begin, there is the initial consultation appointment to determine whether you are a candidate for Semaglutide. A thorough medical history, family history, and medication list will be reviewed. A set of lab tests will be required.

It is important that your progress be checked at regular visits to make sure that Semaglutide is working as intended. Blood and urine tests may be needed to check for unwanted effects.

Inform us if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant. Do not use Semaglutide for at least two months prior to your plan to become pregnant.

Before adjusting the Semaglutide dosage, please consult with the nurse practitioner. The Semaglutide dosing guidelines may be changed by the Nurse Practitioner based on how well you tolerate Semaglutide. You will be continuously measured and the dose adjusted according to the recommended schedule. The nurse practitioner will decide this based on how well you tolerate Semaglutide.

WHAT ARE SEMAGLUTIDE INJECTIONS POTENTIAL SIDE EFFECTS?

When taking Semaglutide, the most frequent side effects are gastrointestinal (or GI). This most commonly occurs after increasing your dosage. The following are the most reported possible side effects:

• Headache
• Fatigue
• Indigestion
• Dizziness
• Bloating
• Burping
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Constipation
• Stomach pain

AM I A CANDIDATE FOR SEMAGLUTIDE INJECTIONS FOR WEIGHT LOSS?

At Sandia Skin + Face we follow FDA guidelines. Semaglutide is FDA-approved for weight loss and all procedures are clinically supervised.

The below items are part of our checklist to determine if you are a good Semaglutide Candidate:

• Patients will have to answer a pre-screening questionnaire
• Patients will be required to do lab testing
• The patient’s BMI requirement is 27 or above
• Approval for treatment is based on lab results, truthfulness on pre-screening, and past medical history.  

Semaglutide should be used in conjunction with a healthy diet and exercise. However, doing diet and exercise are not required to lose weight with Semaglutide injections.