Semaglutide injections for weight loss

About semaglutide

Semaglutide very closely resembles a natural hormone called glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) that is released in your intestines after eating a meal. This hormone tells your brain that you have eaten something. Semaglutide works by stimulating the receptors in your brain that control appetite. This makes you feel fuller or less hungry with fewer cravings for food, helping you to eat less and lose weight.

Semaglutide should only be used as an addition to a calorie-controlled diet and increased physical activity. Ask your doctor for advice on maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

Semaglutide also has other effects on your body. It increases the amount of insulin produced by your body, which then reduces the level of sugar in your blood. It also works on your stomach so that food passes more slowly through it, making you feel fuller for longer.

Semaglutide is also used to treat type 2 diabetes. If you are using semaglutide for this reason, see our separate medicine leaflet called Semaglutide for diabetes.

Before starting semaglutide treatment

Some medicines are not suitable for people with certain conditions, and sometimes a medicine may only be used if extra care is taken. For these reasons, before you start treatment with semaglutide it is important that your doctor knows:

• Si está embarazada, esperando un bebé o en período de lactancia.

• Si tiene algún problema estomacal o digestivo.

• Si tiene algún problema con el funcionamiento del hígado o de los riñones.

• If you have an underactive or overactive thyroid gland.

• Si alguna vez ha tenido el páncreas inflamado (pancreatitis).

• Si alguna vez ha tenido una reacción alérgica a un medicamento.

• Si está tomando otros medicamentos. Esto incluye cualquier medicamento que esté tomando y que pueda adquirirse sin receta, así como medicamentos a base de plantas y complementarios.

How to use semaglutide injections (Wegovy®)

• Antes de iniciar el tratamiento, lea el prospecto impreso del fabricante que se encuentra en el interior del envase, así como cualquier información que le facilite su médico o clínica de diabetes. El prospecto del fabricante le proporcionará una lista completa de los efectos secundarios que puede experimentar.

• Use Wegovy® exactly as your doctor tells you to. Your doctor or a nurse will show you how to inject yourself. Wegovy® should be injected into the skin on your upper arms, thigh, or tummy (abdomen). Try to choose a different injection site for each of your injections. This will help to prevent skin problems and difficulties in injecting.

• After each injection, remove the needle to help prevent problems with blockage, leakage or infection.

• Wegovy® should be injected once each week, on the same day each week. Each pre-filled pen provides a single dose. The injection can be given at any time of the day, and it can be given either before or after a meal. It is best to have your doses around the same time each day.

• There are several different strengths of semaglutide injection. You will start with a 0.25 mg dose once a week for four weeks, followed by 0.5 mg once a week for at least another four weeks. Provided you are not experiencing side-effects your dose will be increased every four weeks until you reach a maintenance dose of 2.4 mg.

• If you forget to use the injection on your usual day, use it as soon as you remember and keep to your normal weekly schedule. However, if it has been more than five days since the missed dose, skip the forgotten dose and take your next dose when it is due.

• You can change the day of your scheduled dose as long as you leave at least three days (72 hours) between doses. For example, if your dose is usually scheduled for Monday morning you could change it to Thursday morning at the earliest. Then continue each week on Thursdays.

Aproveche al máximo su tratamiento

• It is important that you keep your regular doctor's and clinic appointments. This is so that your progress can be monitored.

• It is important for you to drink plenty of fluids while you are using semaglutide. Adults should aim to drink at least two litres (about 8-10 cups) of fluid per day. Most sorts of drink will do but as a start, try just drinking a glass of water 3-4 times a day in addition to what you normally drink.

• Intente seguir una dieta equilibrada que contenga alimentos ricos en fibra, como panes y cereales integrales, fruta y verdura, arroz integral y pasta integral. Si no está acostumbrado a una dieta rica en fibra, puede ser mejor que aumente la cantidad de fibra que ingiere de forma gradual.

• The NHS recommends 150 minutes of physical activity per week - that's 30 minutes, five days a week. Ask your doctor or a pharmacist for advice about increasing your physical activity. It is best to start slowly and build up your level of activity over a period of a few weeks.

• If you are having an operation or any dental treatment that requires a general anaesthetic, tell the person carrying out the treatment that you are using these injections. This medicine slows down stomach emptying which may affect the timing of your operation.

• Este medicamento no debe utilizarse durante el embarazo. Las mujeres y niñas en edad fértil deben utilizar métodos anticonceptivos eficaces durante el tratamiento y durante los dos meses siguientes a la interrupción del mismo.

Can semaglutide cause problems?

Along with their useful effects, most medicines can cause unwanted side-effects although not everyone experiences them. The table below contains some of the most common ones associated with semaglutide. You will find a full list in the manufacturer's information leaflet supplied with your medicine. The unwanted effects often improve as your body adjusts to the new medicine, but speak with your doctor or pharmacist if any of the following continue or become troublesome.

Si experimenta cualquier otro síntoma que considere que puede deberse a este medicamento, consulte a su médico o farmacéutico.

How to store semaglutide injections

• Mantenga todos los medicamentos fuera del alcance y de la vista de los niños.

• Store unopened packs of pre-filled pens in a fridge. Do not freeze the pens and do not use them if you think they have been accidentally frozen.

• Once in use you can keep the pre-filled pen at room temperature for up to six weeks. Keep the cap on the pen to protect the medicine from light.

Información importante sobre todos los medicamentos