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Semaglutide Dosing Schedule for Weight Loss

Semaglutide Weekly Injections

Semaglutide, the active ingredient in Wegovy® and Ozempic®, is a diabetes medicine for weight loss that has helped thousands of people achieve their weight loss goals when combined with diet and exercise.

At BMI Doctors, our team of expert doctors will create a personalized semaglutide dosing schedule just for you. We can help you understand the semaglutide dosage chart and find the right semaglutide dose for weight loss.

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Semaglutide Weight Loss Dosage Chart

Important Note: The Semaglutide you may be prescribed is a compounded medication and is not associated with the Novo Nordisk™ company or the brand-name medications Wegovy® or Ozempic®.

Understanding Your Semaglutide Dosage Plan

Semaglutide is a medication used for both type 2 diabetes and weight loss. It works as a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist, which helps increase insulin secretion and reduce glucose production in the liver. This leads to better glucose control in patients.

At BMI Doctors, we can onboard pre-diabetic patients, and we’ve found that patients with a higher starting A1C level might need a higher dosage of semaglutide. However, we cannot onboard patients with diabetes as that will require changes in their insulin as well.

Semaglutide Dosing

The recommended starting Semaglutide dose for weight loss is 0.25 mg once weekly, administered via subcutaneous injection. It can be increased to 0.5 mg, 1.0 mg, or 1.5 mg once weekly based on individual tolerance and glucose control.

However, your exact dosing for semaglutide will depend on several factors:

Individual needs and response: Your doctor will personalize your dose based on your weight, health history, and response to the medication.
Tolerability and side effects: Starting at a lower dose and increasing gradually helps minimize potential side effects.
Ongoing monitoring and adjustments: Your doctor will monitor your progress and adjust your dose as needed to ensure the best results and minimize side effects.

Side Effects of Semaglutide

Semaglutide makes people feel less hungry and more full compared to lower doses. However, if you start at too high of a dose without allowing your body to get used to it, it can create side effects.

Some of the most common ones include:

Nausea
Diarrhea
Constipation
Headache
Dizziness
Fatigue
Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar levels)
Injection site reactions

Remember, open communication is key. Discuss any side effects you experience with your healthcare team, who can adjust your dosage or offer guidance to manage them effectively.

Less common but serious side effects like pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas) and thyroid cancer have been observed in clinical trials. However, these side effects are rare. Your doctor will thoroughly assess your medical history and potential risks before prescribing Semaglutide, ensuring your safety remains the top priority.

Research-Backed, Doctor Guided

Our semaglutide dosing protocols are grounded in extensive research, referencing studies like:

Marso SP et al. (2016) on Liraglutide and how it affects cardiovascular outcomes.
Russell-Jones D et al. (2009) compared Liraglutide with other diabetes medications.
Pratley RE et al. (2011) showed the effectiveness of Liraglutide in controlling blood sugar and reducing weight.

We prioritize evidence-based practices combined with personalized care.

What to Do if You Miss a Dose

Missed a dose? No problem! Here’s what to do if you forget to take your Semaglutide medication:

Within a few days: Take the missed dose as soon as possible.
Close to the next dose: Skip the missed dose and resume your regular schedule.
Never double dose: This increases the risk of side effects.
Monitor for side effects: Pay attention to any side effects after missing or taking a delayed dose.

If you’re unsure or frequently miss doses, don’t hesitate to reach out to our doctors for guidance on improving adherence.

Beyond Semaglutide Dosing: Supporting Your Success

Remember, weight loss medications are not a cure-all and should not be used as a substitute for lifestyle changes such as diet and exercise. This is why you’ll have a dedicated team of experts working with you to help you achieve your weight loss goals.

Your journey with us starts with important blood work. This helps us ensure that semaglutide is right for you and identify any underlying reasons for weight gain. We often see patients who experience sudden weight changes, which can indicate a thyroid issue, infection, or even undiagnosed diabetes. The blood work helps us get a baseline and personalize your treatment plan.

Your board-certified doctor and pharmacist will fine-tune your dosage, monitor your response through regular blood work (including a 6-month checkup), and provide ongoing support every step of the way. This collaborative, continuous process ensures you’re making safe and steady progress toward optimal health.

Maximizing the Benefits of Semaglutide

Semaglutide offers more than just weight loss and blood sugar control. The SELECT Trials showed it can lower the risk of strokes and heart attacks. Patients often see improvements in A1C, cholesterol, and triglyceride levels as well.

For those who hit their weight loss goals, maintaining results usually involves gradually reducing the dosage or spacing injections further apart (e.g., switching from weekly to bi-weekly).

To help you stay on track, we offer tools and resources:

Drug Interactions Page: Learn what may or may not interact with semaglutide here.
Patient Portal: Log in weekly to track progress, access nutrition guidelines, and connect with our care team for support or questions.

Ready to take control of your weight and your health? Get started with BMI Doctors today!