Semaglutide

Description

What is Semaglutide?

• Increases insulin release in response to meals
• Slows gastric emptying
• Reduces appetite and food intake

Dosage: What Does “10 mg” Mean?

• Semaglutide 10 mg per week is a higher dose used for weight loss or obesity treatment.
• It is not a standard dose for diabetes (which usually ranges from 0.25 mg to 2.0 mg/week in products like Ozempic).
• The Wegovy brand (approved for weight management) reaches 2.4 mg/week, but 10 mg/week may refer to compounded or off-label formulations.
• A 10 mg weekly dose is not FDA-approved and may only be found in compounded semaglutide, often from non-branded or online sources.

Brand Names

• Ozempic®️ – Approved for Type 2 diabetes (up to 2.0 mg/week)
• Wegovy®️ – Approved for weight loss (up to 2.4 mg/week)
• Rybelsus®️ – Oral semaglutide (for diabetes)

Uses

• Type 2 diabetes (not for type 1)
• Obesity or overweight with at least one comorbidity (e.g., hypertension, sleep apnea, etc.)
• Off-label uses are growing, including higher-than-approved doses in some weight management protocols.

Common Side Effects

• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea or constipation
• Headache
• Fatigue
• Reduced appetite

Less common but serious:

• Pancreatitis
• Gallbladder problems
• Risk of thyroid C-cell tumors (in animal studies)
• Kidney issues (due to dehydration from GI effects)

Warnings & Precautions

• Not for use in type 1 diabetes or for treatment of diabetic ketoacidosis
• Avoid in patients with personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma
• Caution with multiple GI disorders or severe gastroparesis
• Risk of hypoglycemia when combined with other antidiabetic agents

Availability & Legality of 10 mg Doses

• Compounded semaglutide (10 mg) may be legal in some countries or states via licensed compounding pharmacies.
• The FDA has warned about the safety and quality of some compounded semaglutide products.
• Always verify the source and consult with a healthcare provider before using non-FDA-approved dosages.