Weight loss drugs have a bad rep. In the past, both over-the-counter and prescription medication have failed to deliver on their promises. They also had unpleasing effects. Some drugs were dangerous and even deadly. Semaglutide is a new drug that has recently been approved. Experts on obesity think so.
Early in June, the FDA approved this drug for “chronic weight management” among clinically overweight adults. BMI of greater than 30 is considered clinically obese. People with a BMI of greater than 27 who are overweight can also qualify, provided they have at least one weight-related health condition.
Semaglutide is not a brand new drug. It has been available for type 2 diabetics since 2017. This is a modified version of an old drug. This drug is injected once a week in order to lower blood glucose. It can cause weight loss in patients, particularly those who take the higher doses of 1 mg instead of.5-mg.
Wegovy is the brand that sells weight loss products. They now offer a higher dose of semaglutide, 2.4mg.
Third of the people who participated in drug trials have lost 20 percent of their body weight
Novo Nordisk performed several studies in order to establish the safety and efficacy of the 2.4mg dose before submitting an FDA application. In the largest trial, a 68-week double-blind study of nearly 2,000 obese adults, those who received semaglutide weekly in addition to a diet and exercise program lost more weight than people receiving placebo injections.
Semaglutide treated half of the participants were able to lose at least 15% and almost a third managed to lose upto 20%. The placebo group lost only about 2.4% of its initial weight.
Jennifer L. Kirby, M.D. Associate professor of endocrinology and metabolism at the University of Virginia’s Health System, Dr. Kirby holds a Ph.D. She said, “The numbers are impressive.” There are limited treatments for obesity and excess weight. The addition of semaglutide is fantastic news.
Why this drug is superior to other Rx options
There are only a handful of FDA-approved weight loss drugs. W. Timothy Garvey M.D. W. Timothy Garvey M.D. He claims that none of the drugs works as well as semaglutide.
Garvey’s research has included studies of semaglutide, as well as other weight-loss drugs.
Semaglutide was originally used to treat type-2 diabetes. It mimics GLP-1 hormone, which increases insulin production after eating. The blood glucose level is reduced. As a side-effect, these drugs can cause weight loss.
The average person loses between 6 and 9 pounds. Many people who want to lose weight use Semaglutide (Wegovy), which is 2.4 mg. If you begin at 200 pounds and the drug allows for you to lose 15% of that weight, then you will lose an additional 30 pounds.
Semaglutide affects the brain
The drug can suppress appetite in the brain, which makes weight loss possible. Kirby, “diplomate”, of the American Board of Obesity Medicine says that by controlling your appetite, you will be more likely to eat less and choose foods with less calories.
Saxenda, a medication that is FDA approved for weight loss, is very similar to liraglutide. Victoza is available from the same manufacturer and also under the Victoza brand. Garvey says that although both drugs are GLP-1s the effectiveness of Saxenda’s liraglutide is only half that of semaglutide, which has a 2.4mg dosage.
Other prescription weight loss medications on the market that act on the central nervous system to suppress appetite (though by a different mechanism than GLP-1 drugs) include bupropion-naltrexone (Contrave) and phentermine-topiramate (Qsymia). Orlistat (also known as Xenical, and sold over the counter as Alli) is the only FDA-approved weight loss medication which does not suppress appetite. It works by decreasing the absorption of fat from food.
Wegovy has been deemed the most effective medication by experts and published studies.
It’s not just a pill.
Garvey describes the approval of semaglutide for weight loss as a “game changer,” though he warns that it is not a quick-fix. It is a tool that helps patients maintain a low-calorie eating plan, but not a magic pill. He says that you still have to maintain a healthy lifestyle. This makes it easier for overweight and obese people to maintain a healthy diet and regular exercise.
Garvey states, “It’s not their fault.” Garvey says, “It is not their fault.”
Increase your dosage slowly to avoid side effects
Kirby claims that side effects tend to be mild. Many first-time users have reported nausea. Other people may experience nausea, diarrhea or vomiting. Semaglutide can be prescribed in a low dosage to minimize or avoid such problems.
Semaglutide is accompanied by a warning stating that it has been linked with a rare form of thyroid cancer. This effect, however, was only observed in animal studies and not human ones. People with a history of thyroid carcinoma, a rare type, should not take the drug. Avoid the drug if you have a rare condition called multiple endocrine carcinoma type 2 (MEN2).
Garvey warns adults of all ages to consult their doctor before starting any weight loss program. Weight loss can worsen osteoporosis and thinning bones if you already have them.
The current price of the drug is bad news
Cost is the biggest downside for most people who use semaglutide to lose weight. Medicare and most private insurance policies do not cover obesity medication. Kirby says, “It’s interesting that Medicare covers bariatric surgery.” Patients who wish to use Wegovy, a weight loss drug, will have to pay $1,200 to $1,300 per monthly for the duration of treatment. This could be a lifelong process.
Kirby and other experts in obesity hope to change that by supporting the Treat and Reduce Obesity Act. She notes that the Act will require Medicare to pay for medications to treat overweight and obesity. This could lead to a better commercial market.
Kirby explains that obesity can worsen over 200 diseases including heart disease, joint diseases and cancers. “I have worked with obese patients for many years. Many times, they’ve been told that all they need to do is eat less and move more. These interventions, however, only produce modest results for most. “The rest of the population needs additional assistance.”
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