What is SEMAGLUTIDE for?

• • SEMAGLUTIDE is indicated as an adjunct to a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity for chronic weight management in adults with a BMI >30 or a BMI>27 with comorbidities (high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol).

• • Unlike other weight loss medications, you do not have to stop taking it after a short time. You may continue as long as you think it’s helpful.

• • For patients with or without diabetes mellitus, SEMAGLUTIDE is a preferred first-line pharmacotherapy for the treatment of obesity.

How does SEMAGLUTIDE work?

• • SEMAGLUTIDE is a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1) that stimulates glucose-dependent insulin secretion.GLP-1 also inhibits glucagon release and gastric emptying.

• • GLP-1 receptor agonists bind to the GLP-1 receptor and stimulate glucose-dependent insulin release from the pancreatic islets.

• • GLP-1 receptor agonists were initially approved for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. One of the mechanisms by which GLP-1 receptor agonists improve glycemia in diabetes is due to their ability to induce weight loss.

Does SEMAGLUTIDE work?

• • Once-weekly subcutaneous SEMAGLUTIDE has been shown to induce weight loss in individuals considered overweight or with obesity, with or without diabetes.

• • In studies of people taking SEMAGLUTIDE, there was a 15% weight loss at 16 months.

• • Studies show that shorter duration of treatment is associated with weight regain, so we encourage you to continue this medication long term. Individuals continuing SEMAGLUTIDE after 20 weeks continued to lose weight, while those switched to placebo regained weight over the subsequent 48 weeks.

• • SEMAGLUTIDE has been shown to reduce major cardiovascular disease events in adults with type 2 diabetes and established cardiovascular disease or chronic kidney disease.

• • At your 16 week follow up visit, we will evaluate if this medication works for you by looking for at least a 5% weight loss.

How do I take SEMAGLUTIDE?

• • Administer it subcutaneously in the abdomen, thigh, or upper arm once weekly.

• • The dose is increased as tolerated to the maximum effective dose (not more than 2.5mg).

• • If dose escalation is not tolerated due to side effects (eg, nausea, vomiting), the increase in dose can be delayed by another four weeks. We will continue the maximum tolerated dose if goal weight loss is achieved.

What are the cautions and contraindications?

• • You may not take SEMAGLUTIDE if you are pregnant, have a personal history of pancreatitis, or a personal or family history of medullary thyroid cancer or multiple endocrine neoplasia 2A or 2B.

• • If you take semaglutide with insulin or an insulin secretagogue (eg, a sulfonylurea), blood glucose should be monitored, and a dose reduction in the insulin or the sulfonylurea may be necessary to avoid hypoglycemia.

• • Rare cases of angioedema and anaphylaxis have been reported with semaglutide.

• • Patients with diabetic retinopathy should be monitored for complications