From the Guidelines
For weight loss, semaglutide is typically prescribed starting at 0.25 mg once weekly by subcutaneous injection for the first month, with a gradual increase to 2.4 mg once weekly by the fifth month. This dosing regimen is based on the most recent and highest quality study, which recommends a gradual dose titration to minimize gastrointestinal side effects 1. The dose is increased monthly as follows: 0.5 mg weekly for the second month, 1 mg weekly for the third month, 1.7 mg weekly for the fourth month, and finally reaching the maintenance dose of 2.4 mg once weekly by the fifth month. Some key points to consider when prescribing semaglutide for weight loss include:
- The medication should be stored in the refrigerator before first use and can be kept at room temperature for up to 28 days after opening.
- Patients should inject on the same day each week, and can change the day if needed as long as the last dose was administered at least 48 hours earlier.
- Semaglutide works by mimicking GLP-1, a hormone that regulates appetite and food intake by acting on receptors in the brain, helping patients feel fuller longer and consume fewer calories.
- It's essential to combine this medication with lifestyle modifications, including diet and exercise, for optimal results 1. The efficacy and safety of semaglutide for weight loss have been demonstrated in several clinical trials, including the STEP trials, which showed significant weight loss and improvement in weight-related comorbidities compared to placebo 1. Additionally, semaglutide has been shown to reduce the risk of cardiovascular events in adults with overweight or obesity without diabetes 1.
From the FDA Drug Label
5 mg semaglutide The dose of semaglutide for weight loss is 2.4 mg or 2.5 mg is not mentioned in this label, but 5 mg semaglutide is mentioned in the label for a different indication. No conclusion can be drawn for the dose for weight loss from this label. 2
From the Research
Semaglutide Dosage for Weight Loss
- The recommended dose of semaglutide for weight loss is 2.4 mg weekly, as stated in studies 3, 4, 5, 6.
- This dose has been shown to produce an average weight loss of 15% at 1 year 3.
- Additionally, a lower dose of 1 mg has been studied, particularly in postmenopausal women, and has been found to be effective in promoting weight loss and improving body composition 7.
- The dosage and administration of semaglutide may vary depending on the individual patient's needs and medical history, and should be determined by a healthcare professional 6.
Efficacy of Semaglutide for Weight Loss
- Semaglutide has been demonstrated to be effective in promoting weight loss, with reductions of approximately 15% of initial weight at 68 weeks, accompanied by improvements in cardiovascular risk factors and physical functioning 4.
- The medication has been shown to be superior to placebo and other anti-obesity medications in terms of weight reduction 5.
- Semaglutide's efficacy in weight loss is thought to be due to its mechanism of action as a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist, which helps to regulate appetite and metabolism 4, 5.