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Semaglutide
Weight Loss Treatmentsemaglutide is the active ingredient in Wegovy and Ozempic.
Semaglutide Weight Loss Treatment
Am I a candidate for semaglutide weight loss treatment?
You should meet all of the following criterion for semaglutide:
- BMI 30 or more, or 27 or more with a related health problem like high cholesterol or high blood pressure.
- Age 12 or over
- No personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma or multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2.
- No history of pancreatitis or gastroparesis
How much does semaglutide weight loss treatment cost?
Semaglutide is sold as Wegovy for weight loss and as Ozempic for the treatment of diabetes. Our staff will work with you and your insurance to get it approved, if you have coverage. If not, please see the FAQ below for more information on cost. We can usually find a cost-effective option even for those without insurance coverage for semaglutide.
Semaglutide FAQ
Am I a good candidate for semaglutide?
Semaglutide should only be used in people 12 and over with obesity (BMI >= 30). It may also be used if the BMI is >= 27 with a compelling related medical problem, like high blood pressure or high cholesterol. Semaglutide should not be used for purely cosmetic weight loss.
In addition, semaglutide should not be used in the following situations:
- Personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma, or multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2.
- History of pancreatitis.
- Known allergy to semaglutide, or any of the excipients in the semaglutide.
- May cause fetal harm – discontinue semaglutide when pregnancy is recognized, or 2 months before a planned pregnancy.
How much does semaglutide cost?
Pricing is quickly changing, but at this time (11/1/2024):
- Wegovy: retail price ~$1,400 / month
- Wegovy: coupon price – $650 / month
- Wegovy: insurance coverage – usually ~ $0 – $100 / month
- Ozempic: retail price ~$900 / month
- Ozempic: price in other countries shipped: ~$450 / month
- Ozempic comes in a multi-dose pen. It is possible to achieve more doses from the pen by “click-counting” the pen.
Our staff will work with you to find the most cost-effective option. We can usually find a reasonable cost for most patients desiring to use semaglutide / Ozempic / Wegovy for weight loss.
Does the injection hurt?
You inject semaglutide yourself at home once a week. The injections are not painful.
What are the side effects of semaglutide?
Most side effects are mild to moderate. They may include: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, abdominal pain, headache, fatigue, dyspepsia, dizziness, abdominal distention, eructation (burping), hypoglycemia in patients with diabetes, flatulence, gastroenteritis, gastroesophageal reflux disease, and nasopharyngitis.
Rare but more serious problems include a potential risk for medullary thyroid carcinoma, pancreatitis, gallstones, hypoglycemia, acute kidney injury, hypersensitivity reactions, diabetic retinopathy complications in patients with type 2 diabetes, and heart rate increases.
What should I do if I miss a dose?
If the missed dose will be done more than 48 hours before the next regularly scheduled dose, then administer as soon as possible. If less than 48 hours before the next regularly scheduled dose, you may wait and resume on your regularly scheduled day. If you miss more than 2 doses, talk with your provider about possibly resuming at a lower dose to lower the chance of side effects.
What about my diet and physical activity plan?
Semaglutide doesn’t take the weight off by itself – it helps control your appetite so you can eat a lower calorie food plan without feeling hungry. However, if you don’t eat a healthy diet and get regular physical activity, a lot of the weight lost will be muscle. For this reason, it is important to review your eating plan and physical activity plan with your CNC staff. Further, we recommend monitoring body composition on our seca medical body composition analyzer so we can track your fat vs. lean loss.
Tips and Tricks
- We recommend starting your GLP-1 on a Sunday or Monday evening. Then, if there are side effects, you can call us at the office at (303) 750-9454 to assist you.
- Avoid eating out the first couple days after your first shot at each new dose..
- Avoid high-fat or high-carb foods the first couple days after your first shot at each new dose.
- Careful with Alcohol – it may seem a lot stronger than you remember.
- To avoid nausea, eat something immediately when you wake up, even if you are nauseous. We’ve found a protein drink can really settle down the stomach. Even a glass of water can help reduce or prevent nausea.
- Eat frequent small meals throughout the day the first couple days after the injection. Choose small amounts of proteins and vegetables.
- If the injection site hurts, it could be from injecting the medication while it is cold – consider allowing your medication to come to room temperature before the injection.
- See a provider or dietitian at CNC each month to customize your plan, figure out your best dose, and help you maximize your results.
- Do not stop your GLP-1 medication without discussing this with your CNC provider – obesity is a chronic health problem, and we usually use these medications long-term.
How to inject from Vials
If your GLP-1 medication comes in a vial, click here to watch Jamie Shriver, PA-C, show how to safely draw up and inject the correct dose.
Are you ready to experience the transformative weight loss power of semaglutide?
Say “Goodbye!” to food noise, once and for all!
*Weight Loss medications are not appropriate for all individuals and will be prescribed only if deemed an appropriate treatment option by Dr. Lazarus, Heather Thomas, PA-C or Jamie Shriver, PA-C. The purchase of prescription medications from us is completely optional – programs do not include the cost of medication. We stock many medications, but you are welcome to request a written prescription or have our providers e-prescribe to the pharmacy of your choice.