The journey to losing weight is different for every person. I myself the owner of Coastal IV Therapy and Urgent Care and a nurse practitioner have struggled with extra weight for many years. I have yo-yoed back and forth without being able to keep the weight off successfully. I personally find that my mental health and busy lifestyle directly affect my weight loss journey. There are countless diets, workouts, weight loss medications and supplements that I have tried without success. I find the difficulty with most of these is they are not sustainable for a period of more than a few months at most which means I am right back to where I ended up.
As a nurse practitioner, I know a lot of the science behind weight loss and what I should be doing but sometimes life gets in the way and the science goes out the window. I am excited about a weight loss medication that has worked well for countless patients. It is semaglutide, a once weekly injectable. Semaglutide also referred to as Wegovy and Ozempic is a GLP-1 receptor agonist. It aids in weight loss by decreasing gastric emptying, meaning you will feel fuller longer. It also helps regulate appetite by targeting an area in the brain responsible for this.
How long do I need to take the medication for?
I am excited about this medication because it can be taken for several months to several years allowing for myself and others to build a healthy lifestyle that can be managed once the medication is stopped. It is recommended to be on semaglutide for over a year as studies showed patients that were on the medication for 5 months regained the weight verses patients that were on the medications for 17 months.
How much weight can I expect to lose?
In studies for weight loss, semaglutide has helped people lose 10-15% of their body mass. For a 200-pound person this is 20-30 pounds of weight loss.
Side Effects and Dosing
The most common side effects of semaglutide are nausea and diarrhea. At Coastal IV Therapy and Urgent Care we order our semaglutide from a pharmacy that makes it and adds B6 to the medication. This helps reduce the chance of nausea. Additionally, to help manage the side effects it is recommended to start at a dose of 0.25mg and every 4 months increase to the max dose of 2.4mg. A provider such as I will guide you each month.
How do I take the medication?
It is administered underneath the skin in the abdomen, thigh, or upper arm once a week. A provider at Coastal IV Therapy and Urgent Care will instruct you how to give yourself the injection. If you would prefer a staff member to give you the injection, then we can arrange to come to your house once a week for an additional fee. The injection is given with a very small insulin needle which helps decrease the pain associated with the injection.
Contraindications
It is not recommended for patients that are pregnant or wanting to become pregnant to take this medication. Patients with a history or pancreatitis, personal or family history of medullary thyroid cancer, multiple endocrine neoplasia 2A or 2B, or diabetic retinopathy should not take semaglutide.
What should I expect when getting semaglutide from Coastal IV Therapy and Urgent Care?
All appointments are via video tele-health unless you would prefer an in-home visit. At your first appointment we will go over your health history, medical allergies, and weight loss goals. We will give you instructions on how the medication is administered along with a video that you may reference if needed. We will order segamlutide for you and within a day or two you will receive a phone call from the pharmacy. They will confirm your address and ship out the medication. The medication will arrive on cold packs. The medication must be stored in the refrigerator. Once you receive the medication you can give yourself your first dose. We will follow up with you at least monthly and up to weekly depending on your needs. Every person’s weight loss journey is different. We will tailor this program to your needs.
