Semaglutide is not a new drug — it has been used by healthcare practitioners for over a decade to treat type 2 diabetes. More recently, it has gained a reputation as an effective form of treatment for weight loss. It also helps reduce the risk of cancer or heart disease in obese and overweight people.

If you’re considering trying semaglutide for weight loss, it’s important to be aware of the benefits and drawbacks before starting. Here, we’ll explore how long you may need to use this medication to achieve your goals.  

What is Semaglutide?

Semaglutide is an antidiabetic medication approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2017 to manage chronic weight loss. 

Semaglutide was developed by Novo Nordisk, a global healthcare company situated in Denmark, and is often marketed under the brand names Ozempic, Wegovy, or Rybelsus. Ozempic and Rybelsus have both been approved by the U.S. FDA, European Medicines Agency, and Japanese Health Ministry, but they are still undergoing testing at several other countries’ regulatory bodies.  

How It Works 

Semaglutide is known as a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist or GLP-1 RA. It copies the GLP-1 hormone, one of the two types of incretin, which is a hormone that is produced in the gut to regulate appetite and food consumption. 

Taking semaglutide in small doses forces the body to produce more insulin. This reduces your blood sugar levels, an effective treatment for type 2 diabetic patients. 

In more significant amounts, semaglutide triggers the GLP-1 receptors in the brain, suppressing your appetite and prolonging feelings of fullness. This is a newly discovered and highly effective treatment for weight loss. 

How to Use Semaglutide

Semaglutide can be taken in two different ways: through subcutaneous injection or oral ingestion. The most common form offered for weight loss is typically a weekly injection. 

The approved dose for taking Semaglutide for weight loss is, at most, 2.4 mg, and it is to be administered once a week as a subcutaneous self-injection. For type 2 diabetes, a maximum dose of 14 mg of semaglutide, to be taken once a day orally, was approved by the U.S. in 2019 and Europe in 2020.

How Long Should I Use Semaglutide?

Semaglutide starts working in the body immediately after it has been administered. Semaglutide treatments can be seen from as early as four weeks, but the full effects can last up to several months. 

A recent study, the STEP1 clinical trial of almost 2000 obese adults, was carried out by the New England Journal of Medicine in 2021. It showed that half of the adults who had taken semaglutide and incorporated lifestyle changes lost up to 20% of their body weight after 68 months of a once-weekly subcutaneous dose.

Inferring data from the STEP1 clinical trial, people can expect to begin losing visible weight within the first four weeks of use and as much as 15% of their body weight after 13 months. Factors like your body’s metabolism, tolerance, and dose administration can also influence how fast semaglutide works in your body. 

After a certain amount of time, your weight loss will likely plateau. Semaglutide typically helps people lose up to 20% of their body fat, but its effects may slow down after you reach that point.

In summary, how long you should take semaglutide will depend on your personal needs and goals. Many people take it for 1-2 years before stopping use, but others may stay on it for much longer. Once you reach your goal weight, consult with your doctor to determine when you will be able to wean off semaglutide. As long as you have made the effort to eat a healthy diet and work out regularly, you should continue to find success in maintaining your weight even without medication.

The Effects of Long-Term Use

People taking semaglutide may experience nausea, vomiting, dizziness, fatigue, and headaches. Gastrointestinal issues like constipation and diarrhea are commonplace among people starting semaglutide. Fortunately, these effects are typically short-term and go away after a few days or weeks. 

The FDA has approved semaglutide for long-term use, so it is safe to take indefinitely. With consistent use over extended periods, semaglutide has become loved by many to achieve and maintain significant weight loss.

A study published in December 2020 examined the long-term safety of semaglutide in patients with type 2 diabetes. It concluded that, when taken on a long-term basis, the medication was well tolerated and blood glucose levels were managed and maintained.

Although semaglutide is safe to use in the long term, it is not a lifetime solution for everyone. To maintain your weight loss indefinitely, it is advised to incorporate healthy lifestyle habits into your routine.

Final Thoughts 

If you’re planning on using semaglutide as either a weight loss treatment or to manage living with type 2 diabetes, it is always best to consult with your primary care physician on how to use it for your specific needs. 

To learn more about semaglutide and how it may benefit your life, schedule an appointment with one of our doctors today.