When Does Semaglutide Start Working? | Kingsberg Medical (2024)

The general answer to "When does semaglutide start working?" is that it differs somewhat from patient to patient.

Semaglutide injections for weight loss are designed for long-term use. Like many medications, semaglutide is "titrated". which means you are started at the lowest effective dose for obesity management, and your dose is increased over time. This method is designed to see how well your body will do on semaglutide and also help to minimize the risk of the most common side effects.

You can and likely will lose much of your initial body weight on semaglutide. However, you must be patient with your weight loss efforts and understand that it will take time to see notable weight loss.

Semaglutide is quite effective in combating weight gain. It may very well be the most effective weight management drug ever to hit the market, which is why semaglutide has become enormously popular and so well-known. In clinical trials, over months of treatment, people lost, on average, about 16% of their total body weight, which translates to an impressive 40 pounds or more in most cases.

Lasting weight loss is quite possible on semaglutide, however, it’s important to be patient. Semaglutide treatment is designed for the long term. During initial FDA approval trials, total fat reduction occurred over the course of more than a year, with the most notable weight loss occurring after being on semaglutide for at least six months and when combined with healthy lifestyle factors such as regular exercise and caloric reduction.

Short-Term Effects of Semaglutide

Semaglutide was FDA-approved for long-term weight management in 2021. It was the first drug of its type to receive such approval for weight loss. Semaglutide treatment has been a breakthrough in obesity medications, with thousands of patients achieving notable weight loss and a reduction of medical conditions related to obesity. such as heart disease and metabolic syndrome.

Semaglutide belongs to a class of drugs known as GLP-1 agonists. GLP-1 is a natural hormone produced by your body that by reacting with GLP-1 receptors tells you when you are hungry and when you feel full. Semaglutide mimics these effects so that you eat less because your stomach maintains your feeling of fullness for longer periods, and you experience fewer food cravings.maintains your feeling of fullness longer periods and you experience fewer food cravings.

After your first few weeks of treatment, you may not notice significant reduction of belly fat, but you will feel fuller more often and thus reduce your food intake. You will also crave junk food less, and with the help of your healthcare provider, find it easier to eat a balanced diet and improve your exercise habits.

Semaglutide is not some kind of overnight cure for obesity, but when combined with healthier lifestyle choices, it can be an amazing start to your weight loss journey.

Long-Term Effects of Semaglutide

The initial clinical trials, where people lost as much as 16% of their total body weight, lasted for 68 weeks. Based on the results of those trials, you can expect to lose up to 5% of your body mass after about one month on semaglutide. After two months on semaglutide, you could lose up to 8%.

As mentioned earlier, clinical trials have shown that people using semaglutide can expect to lose an unprecedented amount of fat over the course of a year to a year and a half. Most of that occurs the longer you are on semaglutide. As to long-term effects, once you have been on semaglutide treatment for more than three months, this is when you can expect to reach the maximum or close to the maximum loss of 16% of total body mass as experienced in the clinical trials.

After about six months of semaglutide injections, fat reduction tends to taper off but will continue with an average of 1-2% of body weight lost per month, for a total estimated loss of 10-20% over the course of a year of semaglutide treatment.

Factors Influencing the Onset of Semaglutide’s Effects

It is so important to stress that the maximum benefits you can achieve on semaglutide do not happen in a vacuum. Figuring out when your semaglutide treatment will start working for you has a lot to do with your lifestyle and other factors. Those who shed the most pounds over the shortest period of time combined their semaglutide injections with reduced calories, exercise, and other healthy lifestyle changes.

Semaglutide Dosage and Treatment Plan

Semaglutide is given once a week as a subcutaneous injection, usually provided in premixed injector pens with your prescribed dosage. Semaglutide may also be prescribed as vials to be reconstituted and used with standard syringes. Your prescribed dosage of semaglutide is “titrated", which means your doctor starts you out at the lowest effective dose so that your body has a chance to adjust to the presence of the drug and to reduce any potential side effects. Over the course of using semaglutide for weight loss, your prescriber will slowly increase your dose until you reach the maintenance dose on which study participants in the clinical trials achieved maximum weight loss of as 16% of their total body weight. Your initial dose of Semaglutide and how long you will be on the drug will be tailored to your medical history, current Body Mass Index, health status, and weight loss goals.

Titration Period and Initial Dose of Semaglutide

Semaglutide is a prescription medication approved by the FDA for chronic weight management in adults with obesity or other comorbid conditions caused by being overweight, such as high blood pressure or type 2 diabetes. Your initial course of semaglutide for weight loss will likely be prescribed for six months to see how well you do on the medication. Over the course of those months you can dose escalation with a series of dose adjustments. During the titration period, your doctor will start you on a lower dose of semaglutide and gradually increase it to determine the most effective dose for you. This process allows your body to adjust to the medication and helps minimize any potential side effects.

The initial dose of semaglutide is typically 0.25 mg once a week. After a few weeks, your doctor may increase the dosage to 0.5 mg, and then to 1 mg if necessary. The dose adjustments are tailored to your individual needs and response to the medication.

Throughout the titration period your rate of weight loss will increase. It is essential to closely monitor your weight, blood sugar levels, and any other relevant health markers. This will help your doctor assess your progress and make informed decisions about the dosage adjustments.

It is important to note that the duration of the titration period may vary for each individual. When using drugs for weight loss, some people may reach their optimal dose within a few weeks, while others may take several months. Your doctor will determine the appropriate length of time based on your specific circ*mstances.

From your first few weeks of semaglutide treatment to your sixth month and beyond, your dosage of semaglutide will be adjusted till it takes maximum effect. This is the best way to ensure healthy weight loss.

Dosage Adjustments for Semaglutide

The titrated dosage for a typical course of semaglutide injections is as follows:

• First Month: 0.25 mg once weekly (starting dosage)
• Second Month: 0.5 mg once weekly
• Third Month: 1 mg once weekly
• Fourth Month: 1.7 mg once weekly
• Fifth Month: 2.4 mg once weekly (target maintenance dose)

It does not matter what time of day or night you take your once-weekly injection. However, doctors and pharmacists suggest that whatever time you choose, you do your injection at the same time each week.

Maximum Recommended Dose of Semaglutide

The maximum effective dose of semaglutide injections is 2.4 mg, administered once a week. To help you adjust to the medication, your semaglutide treatment will likely start at less than the maximum dose and gradually increase to this level over the next few weeks.

Semaglutide as Part of a Weight Loss Program

We can not stress enough that those who have achieved the most optimal weight loss outcomes did so when semaglutide injections were part of an overall medical weight loss program. Effective medical weight loss uses drugs like semaglutide but combines the medications with reduced caloric intake, increased regular exercise, and other healthy lifestyle changes.

You can maintain your weight loss results with lifestyle modifications like getting enough exercise and eating a healthy diet that is low in fat and processed foods and high in lean protein and whole grains. Other ongoing weight management strategies and supportive lifestyle habits include:

• Getting enough sleep.
• If you smoke, quit. If you do not smoke, do not start.
• Reduce or eliminate your consumption of alcohol.
• Stay hydrated and drink enough water.
• Have your hormones checked for any imbalances.
• Take measures to reduce stress.
• Take advantage of counseling and other support offered by your healthcare provider that can change your relationship with food.

Final Thoughts on When Does Semaglutide Start Working for Weight Loss

Semaglutide is a remarkable development in weight loss. Rather than worrying about when your semaglutide treatment will start working, just focus on the fact that we know it provides effective weight loss. Semaglutide treatment works by mimicking the action of a specific hormone in your body that makes you feel full, and it also helps control glucose levels. These combined effects make semaglutide injections particularly effective in providing notable weight loss as well as reducing the risk of obesity-related health conditions like diabetes and increased blood pressure.

Semaglutide injections have been shown to provide amazing weight loss effects. In clinical trials, over the course of a few months, study participants lost dozens of pounds and as much as 15% of their total body mass. Semaglutide treatment is designed to take several months. Over the course of those months, your body adjusts to your increased dosage of semaglutide as you build to your maximum dose.

In the first few weeks of taking a GLP-1 drug like semaglutide, you will be on your lowest dose, and weight loss will be minimal. However, after one month on your prescribed treatment plan, your dose will be gradually increased until you reach the maximum dose and see your most substantial weight loss in the third or fourth months.

If you would like to learn more about this breakthrough treatment for obesity management please feel free to Contact Us today!