Weight Loss Strategies
Many people are looking to lose weight or struggle with chronic weight management. Proper weight management has many health benefits and should always be done properly. Weight loss comes down to solving an equation. Calories burned need to be more than calories consumed. Proper diet and exercise are the best way to maintain both a healthy weight but also provide overall physical benefits. A good support system is also a crucial part of a healthy lifestyle. For some people, despite their best efforts, they are unable to achieve target weight goals on their own. For some people, medication may be helpful.
What is Semaglutide?
Semaglutide belongs to a class of medications known as glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists, or GLP-1 RAs. It mimics the natural GLP-1 hormone, released in the gut in response to eating. One role of GLP-1 is to prompt the body to produce more insulin, which reduces blood sugar (glucose). For that reason, health care providers have used semaglutide for more than 15 years to treat Type 2 diabetes. But GLP-1 in higher amounts also interacts with the parts of the brain that suppress your appetite and signal you to feel full. When used in conjunction with diet and exercise, it can cause significant weight loss — and a reduced risk of cancer, diabetes and heart disease — in people who are obese or overweight. At St Bernard Drugs, we offer a compounded injectable form of the drug sourced from an FDA inspected compounding facility.
What is the Dosage and How is It Supplied?
The medication comes in a glass vial. It should be stored refrigerated. If you are taking semaglutide for the first time, you will be instructed to begin with a starting dose as directed by your provider. This means that you will start with a smaller dose and gradually increase. Titrating this medication helps to reduce gastrointestinal side effects and nausea. Do not use higher doses than stated on your prescription label. It does not matter what time of day you administer the medication, and it can be taken with or without food.
What Are the Side Effects?
The most common side effects include gastrointestinal related symptoms such as abdominal pain, constipation, diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting. These side effects may be more common after initiation and during dose escalation. Extreme sensitivity reactions such as rash, trouble breathing, swelling of the mouth, face, or throat should be reported to your prescriber immediately. Low blood sugar can occur and is marked by signs of dizziness, headache, feeling sleepy or weak, shaking, fast heartbeat, confusion, hunger, change in eyesight, or sweating. Discontinuing the use of the medication may be necessary should these reactions occur. Always consult your prescriber or pharmacist before stopping any medication.
How Do I Get a Compounded Medication?
All compounded medications are available by prescription only from your physician, nurse practitioner, or physician’s assistant. We have created a template for them here. You may print and take this form to your appointment to discuss if this medication is appropriate for you. The completed prescription can then be brought to St Bernard Drugs or your provider can fax it directly to us. While the compounding facility that we source semaglutide medication from is FDA inspected, compounded medications themselves are are not reviewed by the FDA for safety of efficacy. Contact the pharmacy for more information.
What is the cost of semaglutide?
The cost of semaglutide starts at $250 for one vial which is a month supply. St Bernard Drugs does not bill insurance for compounded medications, but we can give you a Universal Claim Form to submit to your insurance to claim reimbursement. We accept Health Savings Accounts (HSA) and Flexible Spending Account (FSA) cards, which will cover the cost of semaglutide injections. We accept cash, credit card, and check if you plan to pay out of pocket.
Semaglutide Injection Instructional Video:
