Weight loss injection? Semaglutide? Weight reduction? Questions for PD Dr. Mathias Tremp

Who is suitable for the weight loss injection?

As a general rule, anyone who is struggling with severe obesity should first seek clarification from their family doctor. Obesity can also be caused by illnesses such as brain tumors, overproduction of cortisone, hypothyroidism and other rare diseases. The risk factors for cardiovascular diseases should also be examined.

Wegovy Multi FixDose is used on medical prescription for weight loss and weight maintenance in addition to diet and physical activity in adults who have a..:

• BMI of 30 kg/m² or more (obesity) or
• BMI of 27 kg/m² and under 30 kg/m² (overweight) and weight-related illnesses.

The BMI (body mass index or body mass index) is a measurement of the ratio of weight to height.

Who is not suitable for the weight loss injection?

This medicine must not be used during pregnancy as it is not known whether it can harm your unborn child. For this reason, it is recommended to use a contraceptive during the use of this medicine.

If you wish to become pregnant, you should stop taking this medicine at least two months beforehand. If you are pregnant or become pregnant while using this medicine, or if you suspect that you are pregnant or intend to become pregnant, consult your doctor immediately, as your treatment will have to be discontinued. Do not use this medicine if you are breastfeeding, as it is not known whether it passes into breast milk.

If you are allergic to semaglutide or any of the other ingredients of this medicine listed in section “What does Wegovy Multi FixDose contain?”, you should also not take the treatment.

What are the possible side effects?

Effects on the digestive system

During treatment with Semaglutide, you may feel sick, vomit or have diarrhea. These side effects can lead to fluid loss (dehydration). It is important that you drink plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration. This is especially important if you have kidney problems.

Inflammation of the pancreas

If severe and persistent abdominal pain occurs, consult a doctor immediately, as this may be a sign of acute inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis). Tell your doctor if you have ever suffered from pancreatitis.

Thyroid disease

Talk to your doctor before using Semaglutide if you have a thyroid disorder including nodules and enlargement of the thyroid gland.

Patients with diabetes

Let us know if you have diabetes. Your doctor may adjust the dose of your diabetes medication to prevent hypoglycemia. Do not use Semaglutide as a substitute for insulin.

Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia)

Taking a medicine containing a so-called sulphonylurea or using an insulin together with Semaglutide could increase the risk of hypoglycemia. In this case, you should check your blood sugar level regularly. Do not drive or operate machinery if you notice any signs of hypoglycemia.

Diabetic eye disease (retinopathy)

Rapid improvements in blood glucose control can lead to a temporary worsening of diabetic eye disease. If you have diabetic eye disease and experience eye problems while using Semaglutide, talk to your doctor.

Children and young people

This medicine should not be used in children and adolescents under 18 years of age, as safety and efficacy have not been studied in this age group.

Use of Wegovy Multi FixDose together with other medicines

Do not use Wegovy Multi FixDose in combination with other medicines containing so-called GLP-1 receptor agonists (such as liraglutide, dulaglutide, exenatide or lixisenatide).

Roadworthiness and ability to operate machinery

Wegovy Multi FixDose is unlikely to affect your ability to drive or use machines. Some patients may feel dizzy during the first 3 months of treatment with Wegovy Multi FixDose. If you feel dizzy, avoid driving a vehicle or operating machinery.

How is the slimming syringe used?

The recommended dose is 2.4 mg once a week. Your treatment starts with a low dose, which is gradually increased over the course of 16 weeks of treatment.

• When you first use Wegovy Multi FixDose, the starting dose is 0.25 mg semaglutide once a week.
• Later, the dose is gradually increased every 4 weeks until you have reached the recommended dose of 2.4 mg once a week.
• Once the recommended dose of 2.4 mg has been reached, the dose must not be increased any further.

Dose increase and weekly dose

• Week 1-4 (0.25 mg)
• Week 5-8 (0.5 mg)
• Week 9-12 (1 mg)
• Week 13-16 (1.7 mg)
• From week 17 (2.4 mg)

Your treatment will be reviewed regularly. If you have not lost at least 5% of your original body weight after 28 weeks, your doctor will decide whether treatment can be continued.

Procedure of the therapy

Wegovy Multi FixDose is injected under the skin (subcutaneous injection). Do not inject the medicine into a vein or muscle.

• The most suitable areas for injection are the front of the upper arm, the thigh or the abdomen.
• Before using the pen for the first time, we will instruct you properly.
• Detailed instructions can be found on the back of this patient information leaflet.
• Do not mix Wegovy Multi FixDose with other medicines that you also inject (e.g. insulins).
• Apply this medicine once a week, if possible always on the same day of the week.
• You can give yourself the injection at any time of day and independently of meals.

If necessary, you can change the day of the week of your weekly injection of this medicine as long as at least 3 days have passed since your last injection. After you have chosen a new day of administration, continue with the weekly cycle. If you have used more Wegovy Multi FixDose than you should, talk to your doctor immediately. Side effects such as nausea may occur.

What happens to my weight if I stop Semaglutide treatment?

Basically, what happens happens with almost every diet: You gain weight again. This happened one year after discontinuing the semaglutide treatment. This means that without a change in lifestyle, the effect that anti-obesity drugs can have is probably not sustainable in the long term. This means, on the one hand, paying attention to a balanced diet and not eating too many highly processed foods (ready meals, sausage products, industrially manufactured bread, snacks).

Some of the best examples of stopping semaglutide and other anti-obesity medications are when the weight loss goal has been achieved, when the cause of the obesity persisting has been eliminated, and when a medical condition preventing natural weight loss has been treated. If it is being used as a diabetes medication, you should not stop taking it without your doctor’s approval or if another condition occurs that is affected or aggravated by the medication.

What effects does the slimming injection have on my skin?

Weight loss can lead to dermatological changes and shrinkage because the fat that stretches and cushions the skin is no longer present. Facial skin also loses its ability to tighten after rapid weight loss, as the levels of elastin and collagen, which are important for structural integrity, decrease.

As a result, people taking Semaglutide may report the following facial symptoms:

• Increased signs of skin ageing, such as more lines and wrinkles
• Fat loss, which can cause the skin to become flabby and sag
• a hollowed-out look
• Lipodystrophy, which affects how the body accumulates and stores fat

“Ozempic face” is a term for common side effects of the type 2 diabetes drug semaglutide (Ozempic). It can lead to sagging and ageing of the facial skin.