Semaglutide

What it is

Semaglutide is a GLP-1 receptor agonist. It mimics the gut hormone GLP-1, increasing glucose-dependent insulin release, damping glucagon, slowing stomach emptying and reducing appetite. It is used in type 2 diabetes and in weight management.

Used for

• Diabetes
• Weight management

What to know while taking it

Nausea, fullness and reflux are common at the beginning and usually settle; smaller, slower, less fatty meals help. Because appetite drops, protein intake needs deliberate attention so that muscle is not lost along with weight, while HbA1c, glucose and ALT are the tracked lab values. Delayed stomach emptying can change how other oral drugs are absorbed, and the risk of low blood sugar rises when it is combined with insulin or sulfonylureas; a personal or family history of medullary thyroid cancer is the reason for caution in thyroid disease.

When to see a doctor

Severe abdominal pain spreading to the back with vomiting can mean pancreatitis and needs prompt assessment. A lump in the neck, hoarseness or trouble swallowing, and vomiting that prevents drinking, are also reasons to see a doctor.

Worth knowing

• Nausea is common at the start
• Rare pancreatitis risk
• Caution with thyroid disease
• Keep protein intake up while appetite is low

Markers to watch

• HbA1c
• Glucose
• ALT
• Total protein