What Is Semaglutide and How Does It Help With Weight Loss?

If you’re trying to lose weight, you might have heard about Semaglutide from friends or even an ad and you're wondering if it is the right weight loss option for you.

Well, as Nigeria’s no. 1 certified provider of Semaglutide medications, we’ve seen amazing transformations in our clients who wanted a safe and effective way to lose weight. 

So in this post, we’ll tell you EVERYTHING you need to know about Semaglutide, what it is, how it works and how it can help you lose weight. 

TL;DR: Semaglutide and How It Helps With Weight Loss

1. Semaglutide works by reducing your appetite, keeping your stomach full, and reducing blood sugar levels.
2. There are 3 different brands of Semaglutide: Ozempic (injectable), Wegovy (injectable), and Rybelsus (oral).
3. Most users experience an average weight loss of up to 20% with Semaglutide. But this depends on the brand, the dosage and how well your body responds to the drug. 
4. The maximum recommended doses are 2 mg for Ozempic, 2.4 mg for Wegovy, and 14 mg for Rybelsus.
   
5. The most common side effect is nausea. This is safely managed with a nausea drug for weight loss.

What is Semaglutide?

Semaglutide is one of the fastest and safest weight loss medications that has successfully helped users lose up to 20% of their body weight in just a few weeks.

That means if you weigh 90kg, you could lose up to 18kg in a couple of weeks. Nice right?

Here’s how: 

Semaglutide works by mimicking a natural hormone in the body called GLP-1. 

Now, GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide 1) is a hormone produced by the body that helps regulate your appetite as well as your blood sugar levels. Once it gets into your system, it sends signals to your brain to make you feel full and slow down how quickly food leaves your system.

Types of Semaglutide 

There are 3 major brands of Semaglutide:

1. Ozempic 

2. Wegovy 

3. Rybelsus 

These are the three most popular Semaglutide brand names. Although they are all Semaglutide, they are quite different.

For example, Ozempic and Wegovy are injectables while Rybelsus is a pill. 

Since Rybelsus has to pass through the stomach, the body might not fully absorb ALL of the weight loss components which means that it might not be as effective as Ozempic and Wegovy. 

In fact, let's talk about the differences between Ozempic, Wegovy and Rybelsus. 

Key Differences Between Ozempic, Wegovy and Rybelsus

P.S.: Ozempic is the most popular Semaglutide with an average weight loss of 10-15%. However, Wegovy offers a faster weight loss of 15-20%. Read this for a more detailed comparison between Wegovy and Ozempic.

Semaglutide Dosage: How Much Do You Really Need?

Here’s what you need to know about the recommended dosage for each brand of Semaglutide:

1. Ozempic: Start at a low dose of 0.5mg once weekly, then gradually increase to a maximum dose of 2mg.

2. Wegovy: Start at a low dose of 0.25 mg once weekly, then gradually increase to a maximum dose of 2.4mg once weekly.

3. Rybelsus: Start at a low dose of 7mg once daily, then gradually increase to a maximum dose of 14mg once daily.

P.S.: With most weight loss drugs, the starting dose is low to reduce and manage common side effects like nausea. 

P.S.S.: For the injectable Semaglutide, the most frequent sites are the abdomen, thigh, or upper arm, and it is administered with a multi-use injection pen.

We advise that you follow a doctor’s prescription when using a Semaglutide shot or learning how to inject Semaglutide. Many people find using a Semaglutide dosing chart extremely useful in visualizing adjustments and monitoring progress.

How Fast Does Semaglutide Work? 

This table provides a quick summary of Semaglutide weight loss schedules:

How Much Does Semaglutide Cost in Nigeria?

You can get Semgalutide drugs between ₦390,000 to ₦700,000 in Nigeria. But this heavily depends on the brand you’re getting, the dosage and where you get it.

For example, you can get:

• Ozempic for ₦390,000 (0.5mg) and ₦400,000 (1mg) at HueBeautyGlam. 

• Wegovy for ₦680,000 (1.7mg) to ₦700,000 (2.4mg) and 

• Rybelsus for ₦650,000 (7mg) to ₦700,000 (14mg) at HueBeautyGlam.

Who Can and Can’t Use Semaglutide?

Although Semaglutide is considered safe, it is important to know that not everyone fits into the eligibility criteria.

For example Semaglutide is typically prescribed for adults:

• Who are obese with a BMI >30 or overweight. 

• With a BMI of >25.

• With associated conditions like high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, or high cholesterol.

On the flip side, don’t use Semaglutide if:

• You have a personal or family history of medullary thyroid cancer.

• You are pregnant or breastfeeding.

• You have a history of pancreatitis or severe gastrointestinal disorders.

Side Effects of Semaglutide

The most common side effect of Semaglutide is nausea. But using a nausea drug solves that easily. However, if you don’t want to take more drugs, that’s okay. The nausea calms down after a little while.

Other than nausea, you could also experience diarrhea, constipation, mild stomach pain, or bloating. But again, it calms down as your body adjusts. And more often than not, you won’t even experience any of that.

In case you do (rare, but just in case), make sure you have a medical practitioner in your corner. And we (HueBeautyGlam) are more than happy to be there for you. 

Alternative Weight Loss Medications

If you aren’t satisfied with Semaglutide, that’s okay. There are many more clinically approved weight loss medications you can explore. You can try:

1. Terzepatide: Terzepatide includes injectables like Mounjaro and Tizaro. They are currently one of the strongest weight loss medications, helping clients lose up to 25kg.

2. Phentermine: Phentermine includes injectables like Duromine which is a short-term oral appetite suppressant and it is usually prescribed for short-term weight management.

3. Liraglutide: Liraglutide includes injectables like Saxenda which works by reducing your appetite and slowing down how fast your stomach goes empty.

Where Can You Get Semaglutide in Nigeria?

The absolute best place to get ANY Semaglutide medication in Nigeria is HueBeautyGlam.

About us? At HueBeautyGlam, we pride ourselves on providing 100% originality by sourcing directly from verified and trusted suppliers. Each medication is meticulously scanned and stored under strict cold-chain conditions. 

We also provide personalized weight loss consultations that cater to your body type and weight goals.

We have hundreds of clients who have provided positive reviews to back up our reputation. So, it doesn’t matter if you’re new or experienced with weight loss medication, we are here to assist in ANY possible way.

Visit our website or come down to House 7, Christo Court, Dpkay Estate, Orchid Road Lekki 2 Lagos.

Frequently Asked Questions: Semaglutide and Weight Loss

Is Semaglutide Safe?

Yes. Semaglutide is FDA-approved and is absolutely safe for weight loss. However, it is very important not to self-medicate. Always speak to a weight loss practitioner. 

Can Semaglutide Be Used with Other Weight Loss Methods?

Yes. Semaglutide is good on its own. But it's more effective when it is combined with healthy eating, regular exercise, and lifestyle changes.

How Long Do I Have To Use Semaglutide?

You might have to use Semaglutide for about 12 weeks+ to get the best out of it.  

What Are The First Signs that Semaglutide Is Working?

The first thing you’ll notice is a reduction in appetite and cravings. 

What Drugs Cannot Be Taken With Semaglutide?

Do not take Semaglutide with Liraglutide, Dulaglutide, any other diabetic medications, alcohol or even warfarin. It is  IMPORTANT that you always consult a doctor before deciding to combine any drug. Okay?

What Happens If I Miss A Dose of Semaglutide?

If you missed a dose of Wegovy and Ozempic and the next scheduled dose is more than 2 days away, use the missed dose. But if it is less than 2 days away, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. For Rybelsus, skip the missed dose and go back to the regular dosing schedule.

So Should You Use Semaglutide? And If Yes, Which Brand?

Yes, you should use Semaglutide if you want to lose weight safely. 

We suggest that you start with Wegovy because it’s the fastest and most effective weight loss drug when compared to Ozempic and Rybelsus. 

One last thing…Semaglutide has proven to be a very effective medication in weight management. Whether you choose Wegovy, Ozempic, or Rybelsus, you WILL get results. The key is just to be consistent.

See you in the next post.  •‿•