Semaglutide is an injectable peptide which, when used in combination with diet and exercise, helps with blood sugar control in type 2 diabetics. It can help assist in weight loss, appetite suppression, lowering your A1C levels, regulate blood sugar, and can help reduce the risk of cardiac disease, lower blood pressure and reduce inflammation. You do not need to be diabetic to take this medication. It is not insulin and most people qualify to take it. 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 you’ve eaten a meal. Our clinic provides GLP-1/GIP-based weight-loss therapies including semaglutide, tirzepatide and retatrutide options. Retatrutide is an investigational multi-agonist peptide currently under study.
Medical Weight Loss
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 key 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. To say this short and sweet.. It can help you to feel full faster.. stay full longer.. and helps you to portion your food intake.
Yes, it’s believed that Semaglutide helps curb your appetite. In addition to slowing gastric emptying to make you feel full longer. GLP-1 also plays a direct role in how appetite is regulated. It can also change the foods you crave leaving you to not want to indulge in the high fat, high calorie foods that could be adding to weight gain.
With Semaglutide, you will slowly work your way up to the target dose at which time you will see the most amount of weight loss. This was the case in the clinical trials, where participants had their dose adjusted until they reached 2.5 mg dose if needed. 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 over the remaining 48 weeks at the full dose. It is important to keep in mind 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. Sometimes the medication may not work for you, or you may not be able to tolerate the full dose due to side effects in which case your practitioner will provide additional options or change the protocol to better suit your individual needs. At Aqua Restore, we make sure to monitor you closely for side effects, track your weight loss, monitor your lab studies, and give you the support you need through your weight loss journey.
All patients start on the lowest dose of Semaglutide at 0.25mgs injected subcutaneously into belly fat every week. All patients increase by 0.25mgs every two weeks as tolerated (slower if nauseous). The dosing being studied for weight loss is 2.5 mg once weekly, which is currently higher than the doses approved in diabetes. Semaglutide is being studied in different populations: people with a body mass index (BMI) greater than or equal to 30 kg/m2 alone or 27 kg/m2 with at least one weight-related comorbidity (diabetes excluded). Insurance companies may require certain criteria to cover this medication. At Aqua Restore, we do not accept insurance, so the guidelines we follow differ. To see if you qualify, schedule a consultation today by clicking below, or call 561-319-7388.
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 own insulin to have this effect, Semaglutide isn’t used when your pancreas can’t make insulin, such as in patients with type-1 diabetes.
No, Semaglutide is not a stimulant. While other weight loss medications, like phentermine, have stimulating effects that help curb your appetite, Semaglutide works differently.
Yes. Semaglutide is considered to be safe and effective when used as indicated. However, safe doesn’t mean there aren’t risks. Semaglutide also carries a boxed warning about thyroid C-cell tumors occurring in rodents (with unknown risk in humans). Semaglutide shouldn’t be used if you or your family have a history of certain thyroid cancers. Semaglutide should not be used in people with type-1 diabetes or a history of pancreatitis. Semaglutide should be used cautiously for people on other blood sugar lowering medications. Aqua Restore’s healthcare providers monitor its patients closely and are available most of the time, so you feel comfortable with your treatment.
No. Aqua Restore does not accept insurance and Semaglutide is not covered by insurance for people who are not type-2 diabetics. However, you can get this medication prescribed as part of a Semaglutide Weight Loss Program through Aqua Restore. However, we do accept HSA. It is important to note that you must know if your HSA holding company will accept services offered at Aqua Restore. If not, the responsibility for payment goes back to you.
YES.
The common side effects of Semaglutide are:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Stomach pain
- Constipation
- Fatigue
- Headache
Yes. Like most medication, Semaglutide may cause rare side effects, including:
- Prolonged vomiting. Patients on Semaglutide can develop gastroparesis where the stomach stops moving, and patients vomit considerably. This can lead to dehydration and electrolyte imbalances. Stop using Semaglutide and call your healthcare provider right away if you have vomiting that persists more than a day.
- Inflammation of your pancreas (pancreatitis). Stop using Semaglutide and call your healthcare provider right away if you have severe pain in your stomach area (abdomen) that will not go away, with or without vomiting. You may feel the pain from your abdomen to your back.
- Changes in vision. Tell your healthcare provider if you have changes in vision during treatment with Semaglutide
- Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia). Your risk for getting low blood sugar may be higher if you use Semaglutide with another medicine that can cause low blood sugar, such as a sulfonylurea or insulin. Signs and symptoms of low blood sugar may include: dizziness or lightheadedness, blurred vision, anxiety, irritability or mood changes, sweating, slurred speech, hunger, confusion or drowsiness, shakiness, weakness, headache, fast heartbeat, and feeling jittery.
- Kidney problems (kidney failure). In people who have kidney problems, diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting may cause a loss of fluids (dehydration), which may cause kidney problems to get worse.It is important for you to drink fluids to help reduce your chance of dehydration.
- Serious allergic reactions. Stop using Semaglutide and get medical help right away if you have any symptoms of a serious allergic reaction including swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat; problems breathing or swallowing; severe rash or itching; fainting or feeling dizzy; or very rapid heartbeat.
❋ Please Note❋
At Aqua Restore, all prescriptions are provided under the guidance of a licensed medical practitioner who evaluates each patient thoroughly to ensure safe and appropriate treatment. We responsibly prescribe Glp-1 and combo Glp-1 medications and offer compounded Tirzepatide, Semaglutide, and Retatrutide through trusted, licensed compounding pharmacies.
These medications are powerful tools for appetite control, metabolic support, and sustainable weight loss when used as part of a medically supervised program. Individual results may vary and are significantly enhanced when combined with a healthy diet, regular exercise, and ongoing lifestyle support.