W H A T   I S    S E M A G L U T I D E ?

Semaglutide is a revolutionary GLP-1 receptor agonist that was originally developed for patients with Type 2 diabetes, but when providers and pharmaceutical developers noticed how much weight their patients were losing, they began to study semaglutide exclusively for weight loss. A series of clinical trials known as the STEP clinical trials demonstrated that almost 90% of patients lost 5% or more of their body weight. There is no other weight loss drug on the market that compares. In June of 2022, the FDA approved semaglutide for weight loss.

H O W    D O E S    S E M A G L U T I D E    W O R K ?

Semaglutide acts like GLP-1 (a gut hormone) to:

• Increase insulin production
• Decrease glucagon synthesis
• Delay gastric emptying
• Suppress hunger. It signals your brain that you are full so you can lose weight without feeling like you are depriving yourself.

W H A T    A R E   P O T E N T I A L.   S I D E   E F F E C T S ?

• Commonly reported GI side effects – nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, abdominal pain
• Site reactions
• Fatigue
• Headaches

W H O    I S.   N O T   A    C A N D I D A T E    F O R    S E M A G L U T I D E    A T   

 P H Y S I C I A N S    R E H A B I L I T A T I O N ?

• < 18 years old
• Pregnant/breastfeeding
• Type 1 diabetes mellitus
• Hypersensitivity to semaglutide or any components of this medication Personal or family
• history of medullary thyroid carcinoma
• History of multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome
• History of pancreatitis
• End stage renal disease (on dialysis)
• Family history of thyroid cancers
• Type 2 diabetic patients that are on insulin or a sulfonylurea
• Patients with diabetic retinopathy
• Patients with that are on several antihypertensive medications

W H O    I S    A    C A N D I D A T E ?

• Everyone else*

*Health history, medications, and body weight information will be carefully reviewed by a licensed provider to determine each candidate’s eligibility.