When I founded WeightMed 2 years ago, semaglutide (a GLP-1 medication) had been recently FDA approved for weight loss and was just starting to gain popularity. Since then semaglutide has exploded in the media, with many confusing and contradictory information being available to patients, which can be overwhelming. Today I will debunk two of the most common myths about semaglutide.

Myth #1: Semaglutide is new and experimental

FALSE - GLP-1 medications have been on the market since 2005, almost 20 years.

Semaglutide belongs to the class of medication called GLP-1 agonists. The first GLP-1 medication, exenatide, entered the market as a way to help manage blood glucose in diabetics in 2005. It was a twice a day injection. Since then GLP-1 efficacy and ease of administration has continued to improve, making these medications an essential part of the the standard of care for treating type II diabetes. In general, diabetics can be very medically complex patients to treat, and throughout years of research, GLP-1 medications have been proven safe and effective in this patient population. As GLP-1 medications do not cause hypoglycemia unless combined with multiple glucose lowering medications, they have also been proven safe and effective in the STEP trials for non-diabetic patients.

With a strong family medicine background, our providers have managed GLP-1 in diabetics long before managing these medications for weight loss. We are very familiar with complexities and side effects of these medications and are here to navigate the weight loss process with you.

Myth #2: The side effects of semaglutide are too severe to take for weight loss

FALSE - Patients who are good candidates for semaglutide usually tolerate the medication well. Semaglutide is titrated slowly to minimize side effects.

Like all prescription drugs, semaglutide has side effects. That is why here at WeightMed we spend 40 minutes with each new patient, with the bulk of that time reviewing side effects, and risks vs benefits of semaglutide. We also spend this time going over your medical history to ensure you do not have an underlying condition or family history putting you at a higher risk for severe side effects. We include a records release for your primary care provider in each set of new patient paperwork, and will review your records in detail prior to your appointment as well.

For patients who are good candidates for semaglutide, there are absolutely things that can be done to manage and reduce the risk of side effects, the most common being nausea, indigestion, acid reflux and constipation. Avoiding foods that are high in saturated fat (especially restaurant type foods), avoiding eating large meals, and maintain adequate hydration are the first crucial steps that most patients can take to minimize unwanted side effects while on semaglutide.

Kristine is the founder of WeightMed PLLC, Washington’s Premier Obesity Medicine Clinic. WeightMed PLLC prescribes semaglutide and tirzepatide in the Seattle, Puget Sound area, Vancouver, Spokane Valley, and all of Washington State. WeightMed PLLC sees patients virtually usually our HIPPA-compliant platform and medications are shipped directly from our Seattle based pharmacy partner to your door.