Are Weight Loss Injectables Safe?

Now you may be thinking to yourself.

What is a weight loss injectable?

Wegovy (semaglutide) and Saxenda (liraglutide) are both injectable medications FDA-approved for weight loss. Wegovy is injected once weekly. Saxenda is injected once daily. A recent study compared Wegovy and Saxenda for weight loss.

At OWL, semaglutide injectables are one of many medications our doctors can prescribe. 

Compounding pharmacies have the ability to use the same ingredients as these FDA Approved drugs, the most common being semaglutide.

What is semaglutide and why is it so effective?

Semaglutide is medication that was intended for Type 2 Diabetes to control blood sugar levels, reduce appetite, and signal a feeling of fullness. One of the side effects of this medication was weight loss.

Semaglutide belongs to a class of medications known as glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists, or GLP-1 RAs. It mimics the GLP-1 hormone, released in the gut in response to eating.

One role of GLP-1 is to prompt the body to produce more insulin, which reduces blood sugar (glucose). For that reason, health care providers have used semaglutide for more than 15 years to treat Type 2 diabetes.

But GLP-1 in higher amounts also interacts with the parts of the brain that suppress your appetite and signal you to feel full. When used in conjunction with diet and exercise, it can cause significant weight loss — and a reduced risk of cancer, diabetes and heart disease — in people who are obese or overweight.

The common typical dose for weight loss is 2.4 milligrams, administered weekly as subcutaneous (under the skin) self-injections.

Examples of Injectables

Here is an example:

Injection, prefilled, single-dose pen (Wegovy)

• 0.25mg/0.5mL
• 0.5mg/0.5mL
• 1mg/0.5mL
• 1.7mg/0.75mL
• 2.4mg/0.75mL

An early study of 2,000 obese adults compared people using semaglutide plus a diet and exercise program with people who made the same lifestyle changes without semaglutide. After 68 weeks, half of the participants using semaglutide lost 15% of their body weight, and nearly a third lost 20%. Participants who incorporated only lifestyle changes lost about 2.4% of their weight.

Ideal Uses of Semaglutide

Semaglutide is best for:

• Have a body mass index (BMI) of 27kg/m2 or greater and at least one weight-related condition, such as high blood pressure, Type 2 diabetes or high cholesterol
• Have a BMI of 30 kg/m2 or greater 

Avoid semaglutide if you have:

• History of medullary thyroid cancer
• History of gallbladder disease
• History of pancreatitis
• Multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN2)

There are potential side effects with taking a weight loss drug like semaglutide. You may experience: 

• Dizziness
• Fatigue
• Gastrointestinal issues, such as diarrhea, constipation and gassiness
• Headache
• Stomach issues, including nausea, vomiting, pain or distension (bloat)

If you’re considering semaglutide for weight loss, your first step should be consulting a primary care physician (PCP). You can book an appointment directly with an OWL doctor who is licensed in your state.

How to Start with Semaglutide

With OWL, you start with a low cost consultation with a doctor who prescribes the proper dosage and medication of the weight loss injectable that would work best for you, and that doctor guides you throughout the whole journey and answers any questions you may have. 

Weight loss injectables are generally taken continuously and ongoing for best results, so it is important to have a doctor guide you through the process to determine when or if you should ever come off of it once you begin the program.

They will understand your personal and family medical history and can guide you in the best treatment for your condition. If you have diabetes and already take a different medication, talk to your physician about acceptable (and safe) combinations of diabetes medication.

You want to choose a telemedicine company who has the highest standards for your health. 

We work with you right from the convenience of your home through online video and we send the medication directly to you.

We hope you choose OWL for your prescription needs! We are a trusted name in medicine and we source the highest quality products from some of the best compounding pharmacies in the country.

We take health seriously and we know you do. The care for our patients is first and foremost.

Make an appointment with an OWL doctor today. We cover weight loss, longevity, skincare, hair restoration, sexual health, and much more. Our company is 100% online. Every product is shipped directly to you.

Remember, it’s all in WHO you Trust. Trust in OWL.