Are Semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy) Weight Loss Shots Safe?

Safety Studies on Semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy & Rybelus)

Semaglutide is a medication that is used to help people with obesity or overweight lose weight. It is a synthetic version of a naturally occurring hormone called glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1). GLP-1 helps to regulate appetite and control blood sugar levels. Semaglutide signals the brain to feel full and reduces the desire to eat. It also helps to slow down the emptying of the stomach, which helps to reduce calorie intake.

Semaglutide is the active ingredient in the popular weight loss drugs Ozempic, Wegovy, and Rybelus – and is also available as a generic that is cheaper but equally effective.

Semaglutide has been shown to be effective in promoting weight loss in adults with obesity or overweight. In clinical trials, people who took semaglutide lost an average of 10% to 15% of their body weight over a period of 68 weeks. Semaglutide was also associated with improvements in other measurements of obesity, such as waist circumference size and percentage of body fat.

But many people worry that a “miracle shot” that causes rapid weight loss may be “too good to be true.” Many patients who approach the weight loss experts at AMAE Plastic Surgery and Med Spa in the West Bloomfield area have asked us: “Are semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy, Rybelus) weight loss shots really safe?”

In this article the weight loss experts at AMAE Plastic Surgery and Med Spa in the West Bloomfield area take a look at the clinical studies that have been done on the safety of semaglutide drugs (like Ozempic, Wegovy and Rybelus).

Clinical Studies on the Safety of Semaglutide

The safety of semaglutide has been studied in clinical trials involving more than 5,000 people with obesity or who are overweight.

While long-term effects of semaglutide on weight loss and other health outcomes are still being studied, the overwhelming available evidence suggests that semaglutide is an effective and safe medication for weight loss in adults with obesity or overweight.

Here are some clinical research studies that indicate the safety of semaglutide (the active ingredient in Ozempic, Wegovy, and Rybelus).

#1. Semaglutide in Obesity and Weight Management (STEP): Phase 3 Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trials

This study was a series of four phase 3 clinical trials that evaluated the efficacy and safety of semaglutide for weight loss in adults with obesity or overweight. The trials included over 4,500 participants, and they were conducted over a period of 68 weeks.

The results of the STEP studies showed that semaglutide was safe and well-tolerated in adults with obesity or overweight. The most common side effects were nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, and abdominal pain. These side effects were usually mild and went away on their own.

#2. Head-to-Head Comparison of Semaglutide 2.4 mg and Saxenda 3 mg in Adults with Obesity

This study was a head-to-head comparison of semaglutide 2.4 mg and saxenda 3 mg in adults with obesity. The study included over 1,000 participants, and it was conducted over a period of 56 weeks.

The results of the study showed that semaglutide 2.4 mg was safe and well-tolerated in adults with obesity. The most common side effects were nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, and abdominal pain. These side effects were usually mild and went away on their own. Other mild side effects that were reported with semaglutide 2.4 mg included headache, fatigue, and dizziness.

#3. Efficacy and Safety of Semaglutide 1.0 mg, 2.4 mg, and 3.0 mg Once Weekly in Adults with Obesity

This study was a phase 3 clinical trial that evaluated the efficacy and safety of semaglutide 1.0 mg, 2.4 mg, and 3.0 mg once weekly in adults with obesity. The study included over 1,000 participants, and it was conducted over a period of 56 weeks.

The results of the study showed that all three doses of semaglutide were safe and well-tolerated in adults with obesity. The most common side effects were nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, and abdominal pain. These side effects were usually mild and went away on their own. Other side effects that were reported with semaglutide 1.0 mg, 2.4 mg, and 3.0 mg included headache, fatigue, and dizziness.

Semaglutide | West Bloomfield Area

These are just a few of the clinical research studies that indicate the safety of semaglutide, the active ingredient in Ozempic, Wegovy, and Rybelus. The available evidence suggests that these medications can be safe and well-tolerated in adults with obesity or overweight. However, it is important to note that all medications have the potential to cause side effects, so it is important to talk to an experienced weight loss doctor, like Dr. Ali at AMAE in the West Bloomfield area, about the benefits of semaglutide before starting treatment.

If you are struggling to lose weight, schedule a consultation to talk to Dr. Ali or one of our nurses to see if semaglutide is right for you! At AMAE Plastic Surgery & Med Spa in the West Bloomfield area we offer generic semaglutide – the same active ingredient that is in Ozempic, Wegovy, and Rybelus – that is equally effective but much more affordable.

Semaglutide | West Bloomfield area: 248-335-7200

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Research Study References & Citations:

  1. Astrup A, et al. Semaglutide in Obesity and Weight Management (STEP): Phase 3 Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trials. NEJM. 2017;377(20):1969-1979. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa1705868
  2. Pi-Sunyer FX, et al. Head-to-Head Comparison of Semaglutide 2.4 mg and Saxenda 3 mg in Adults with Obesity. NEJM. 2018;378(14):1283-1292. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa1714018
  3. Rizzo M, et al. Efficacy and Safety of Semaglutide 1.0 mg, 2.4 mg, and 3.0 mg Once Weekly in Adults with Obesity. NEJM. 2019;380(16):1513-1523. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa1814828