Frequently Asked Questions
What is Semaglutide?
Semaglutide (Brand name Ozempic or Wegovy) is FDA approved for weight loss. It is an injectable medication that, combined with diet and exercise, helps with blood sugar control in type 2 diabetics. Semaglutide belongs to a class of medications called glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) agonists, which mimic the hormone GLP-1 in your body to lower blood sugar levels after eating.
What is Levocarnitine?
L-carnitine supplementation significantly reduces body weight, BMI, and fat mass, especially among adults with overweight/obesity. Studies have shown that when l-carnitine is combined with other lifestyle modifications, the weight loss is more significant.
What is the hormone GLP-1?
Insulin is a hormone that promotes sugar uptake by the cells, stores sugar as glycogen, promotes the building of fat, and signals the body to build skeletal muscle. Glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) is a hormone that causes enormous effects on regulating blood sugar by stimulating glucose-dependent insulin secretion. In addition, GLP-1 inhibits glucagon release (which slows down the release of sugar into the blood so that you burn more fat), slows down gastric emptying (makes you feel full), and lowers the desire for food intake (because you feel full).
Is Semaglutide a type of insulin?
No, Semaglutide is not a type of insulin or a substitute for insulin. Semaglutide does stimulate your pancreas to release insulin when glucose (sugar) is present. Because Semaglutide relies upon your body’s insulin to have this effect, Semaglutide isn’t used when your pancreas can’t make insulin, such as in patients with type 1 diabetes.
How does Semaglutide work for weight loss?
GLP-1 agonists like Semaglutide help to control your blood sugar, but people taking them also tend to lose weight. GLP-1, the critical hormone involved, slows down how fast your stomach empties food (called gastric emptying). And in addition to causing your pancreas to release insulin, Semaglutide also blocks a hormone that causes your liver to release sugar (glucagon). Together, these functions can help you feel less hungry, causing you to eat less food and lose more weight.
Does Semaglutide curb your appetite?
Yes, it is believed that Semaglutide can help curb your appetite. In addition to slowing gastric emptying to make you feel full for longer, GLP-1 also directly affects how your appetite is regulated.
How long does it take to lose weight on Semaglutide?
It is essential to remember that weight loss can take time, and you’ll see the best results when you are using your medication in combination with a healthy diet and exercise. However, with Semaglutide, you will slowly work your way up to the target dose, at which time you will see the most weight loss. This was the case in the clinical trials, where participants adjusted their dose until they reached 2.4 mg once weekly. In the phase 3 trial that measured outcomes at 20 weeks, most participants were able to reach the full dose and also lost weight as their dose was increased. They saw additional weight loss at the full dose over the remaining 48 weeks. Sometimes the medication may not work for you, or you may not be able to tolerate the full dose due to side effects.
