Semaglutide has been called the most effective weight loss drug today! Wondering how you can get a prescription? Check out our complete guide to learn more.
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Over time, doctors and researchers have been looking for more effective ways for weight loss treatment, especially for individuals with obesity. When semaglutide was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration as an anti-obesity medication in 2021, it made a lot of waves in the market and is still considered the best way to lose excess weight.
Semaglutide is widely available at local pharmacies or online stores, but it's recommended to obtain it with a prescription from a licensed healthcare provider. This way, you don't purchase the unregulated and harmful versions. Let's take a closer look at how you can get semaglutide for your weight loss journey.
Semaglutide is the main ingredient in three medications approved by the FDA: Wegovy, Ozempic, and Rybelsus. It is a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP) receptor agonist. It was initially meant for the management of type 2 diabetes but is now approved for weight loss.
Wegovy is the only form of semaglutide that the FDA has approved for weight loss. Ozempic is also used as an off-label drug for those who want to lose weight. Semaglutide mimics the GLP-1 hormone like other GLP-1 Ras, which is released in the gut in response to eating.
Due to this, it can suppress appetite and make the user feel full. When used with diet and exercise, semaglutide is an effective way to lose weight in people who are obese and overweight. It also reduces the potential risks of cancer, diabetes, heart attack and heart disease.
According to recent surveys, one out of six youth in the US have obesity. Also, over 70% of adults aged 20 and over are overweight, while nearly 40% of adults are obese. These worrying numbers increase the need for drugs like semaglutide.
Semaglutide has been recognized as an effective medication for obesity treatment. The average loss is between 9.6% and 17.4% of initial body weight, according to this study.
For individuals prescribed Wegovy, the dose gradually increases throughout the weeks and is escalated for over 17 weeks. Here is the standard schedule:
Semaglutide is administered through subcutaneous injections. This means that it is injected under the skin. Also, if your body does not react well to the dose escalation, it can be delayed for one week. If the final dose of 2.4 mg once a week is not escalated, it can be decreased back to 1.7 mg per week for four weeks.
After these four weeks, it can be increased back. However, if the patient cannot tolerate it, the drug will be discontinued. It's important to discuss with your healthcare provider when taking Semaglutide for chronic weight management.
When taking semaglutide for weight loss, there are important factors to consider. People with type-2 diabetes should monitor your blood glucose at baseline and during the treatment. Furthermore, the drug should not be taken with other semaglutide-containing medications or GLP-1 RAs. It's not recommended to use it with other weight loss products.
There are different Wegovy interactions to watch out for. Using Wegovy with insulin can increase the risk of low blood sugar levels. It should also be avoided with alcohol and some other drugs like weight loss medications. For instance, if you’ve had thyroid cancer, endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2 or a history of pancreatitis, it would be difficult to get a prescription.
When prescribed semaglutide for weight loss, here are the common side effects that you should watch out for:
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To get a semaglutide prescription, you need to visit a healthcare professional. If you qualify, then the provider will help you choose the right semaglutide for your weight loss needs. Patients who are uninsured can consider options like a Wegovy patient assistance program, depending on if they're eligible.
Due to the high demand, it's often difficult for patients to get Wegovy from pharmacies, even if they have a prescription. Due to this, some doctors prescribe Ozempic as an off-label use. This has also increased the demand, making it difficult for those with diabetes to purchase it.
Follow these steps to get a prescription.
Firstly, you should schedule an appointment with your primary care physician or a trusted health care provider. The healthcare professional will ask you about your medical and family history, weight loss goals, and your current health status. When seeking a subscription, expect questions about your lifestyle and diet. You will also have to provide information about existing medical conditions or medications that you are on.
After collecting all your information, the healthcare provider will check if you meet the criteria for semaglutide treatment for obesity. The FDA recommends that Wegovy should be prescribed to patients who have a body mass index (BMI) of 27kg/m2 or greater and at least one weight-related condition like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, high blood sugar levels, and Type 2 diabetes.
If you qualify for semaglutide, your healthcare provider will write a prescription for the medication. They will also provide you with instructions on how to administer the medication, monitoring requirements, and any common side effects. Your healthcare provider will send your prescription medication to a physical or online pharmacy. You can also ask the pharmacy about home delivery options if you don't want to visit for your medication. Depending on your health plan, you can get insurance coverage for semaglutide.
Work with your primary care physician to add semaglutide into a more comprehensive weight loss program. Relying on pills alone would be a bad idea for those with obesity. So, your doctor will recommend a healthy diet and exercises. You will also need regular check-ins to track progress and adjust the treatment if needed.
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You can purchase semaglutide online, but the FDA recommends that you obtain it only with a prescription from a licensed provider. You can also get a prescription online, but you might have to undergo lab tests, which require in-person visits.
To get a semaglutide prescription online, you should get a telehealth appointment. There are telehealth platforms that offer online consultations with licensed healthcare providers. They will ask you the same questions a face-to-face appointment will ask, like your medical history. But you might have to go for an in-person visit to get a subscription.
If the healthcare professional online gives you a prescription, you can then order the medication from a licensed online pharmacy. Make sure that the pharmacy is authorized to give prescription medications and follows all the safety and legal regulations. Online pharmacies offer home delivery options, making it more convenient.
When purchasing semaglutide medications online, you should consult your health insurance company and check whether a semaglutide prescription is covered. You will need to provide them with information like the name of the medication, prescription details, and the dosage. If semaglutide is not covered or you don't have health insurance, you can ask your healthcare provider for programs to help you with the cost. Your primary hospital can also provide you with a coverage request letter to give your insurance company.
Semaglutide is widely available at pharmacies as long as you provide a valid prescription. It's important to work hand-in-hand with your primary care physician when taking semaglutide, especially if you're having an adverse reaction to the medication and you need to adjust the dosage. You should monitor your weight loss progress, too. Consult a healthcare provider to get medical advice about a semaglutide prescription.
To take semaglutide, you need to receive a prescription from a doctor, like your primary care physician or endocrinologist. You should visit your primary healthcare provider and voice your concerns about taking the medication. If you meet the qualifications, you need to be considered overweight by a physician and have obesity-related health conditions. You can take your prescription to a local pharmacy or a trusted online pharmacy and focus on getting it covered by insurance.
The cost of semaglutide depends on whether you're using insurance or not. With insurance, depending on your policy, you can pay as little as $25 per month. But if you don't have health insurance or financial assistance, you will have to pay the full price. This will cost around $66 per injection or up to $15,000 per year. It can cost about $1430 per year if you're taking Wegovy. If your healthcare provider prescribes Ozempic as an off-label use for weight loss, it would cost less.
You can also consider oral semaglutide for weight loss treatment. When you meet your primary care physician, they will provide you with a dose that works best for your body weight, age and height, gender, medical conditions, lifestyle, and weight loss goals. You can expect regular adjustments along the way. The oral form is taken once a day or a week, depending on the prescription from a healthcare provider.
There have been cases of patients who lost 20 pounds in the first month of taking semaglutide, but it depends on your body weight, medical conditions like heart disease, lifestyle, diet and exercise. Patients experience weight loss within the first four weeks, and most people lose about 12% of their baseline body weight by week 16 in clinical trials.
Sources Used:
https://www.uclahealth.org/news/semaglutide-weight-loss-what-you-need-know
https://www.goodrx.com/wegovy/semaglutide-for-weight-loss
https://www.healthline.com/health/how-to-get-semaglutide
https://www.drugs.com/dosage/semaglutide.html
https://www.healthline.com/health/weight-loss/semaglutide-oral-vs-injection
Disclaimer
Off-Label Use: When discussing off-label uses, such as using Ozempic for weight loss, make it clear that this is not FDA-approved for that purpose. For example, you can add a disclaimer like: “While Ozempic is primarily approved for treating Type 2 diabetes, some healthcare providers may prescribe it off-label for weight loss. However, this use is not FDA-approved.”
Medical Advice Disclaimer: Clearly state that the article is for informational purposes only and not a substitute for professional medical advice. Encourage readers to consult with their healthcare provider before starting any new medication.
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