How do I take SEMAGLUTIDE?

• Administer it subcutaneously in the abdomen, thigh, or upper arm once weekly.

• The dose is increased as tolerated to the maximum effective dose (not more than 2.5mg).

• If dose escalation is not tolerated due to side effects (eg, nausea, vomiting), the increase in dose can be delayed by another four weeks. We will continue the maximum tolerated dose if goal weight loss is achieved.

What are the cautions and contraindications?

• You may not take SEMAGLUTIDE if you are pregnant, have a personal history of pancreatitis, or a personal or family history of medullary thyroid cancer or multiple endocrine neoplasia 2A or 2B.

• If you take semaglutide with insulin or an insulin secretagogue (eg, a sulfonylurea), blood glucose should be monitored, and a dose reduction in the insulin or the sulfonylurea may be necessary to avoid hypoglycemia.

• Rare cases of angioedema and anaphylaxis have been reported with semaglutide.

• Patients with diabetic retinopathy should be monitored for complications

What are possible Side Effects?

• It’s common to experience nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea. These are generally mild to moderate and improve over time.

• Gastrointestinal symptoms could occur upon starting the medication and when increasing the dose each month.

• If you experience nausea upon starting the medication, contact us if you don’t feel better after a few days and we can prescribe a temporary medication for nausea (ondansetron/Zofran).

We Encourage You to:

• Eat nutritious food throughout the day to avoid hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), lightheadedness, or weakness. If you are diabetic and take insulin, check your blood sugars more often so you can prevent hypoglycemia.

• Move your body once a week or more as you are able. Muscle growth with resistance training will increase your resting calorie burn, and cardiovascular exercise will improve your heart health, win win!

• Avoid high calorie beverages like juice, soda, and alcohol.