Semaglutide
Ozempic · Wegovy · Rybelsus
GLP-1 receptor agonist
A once-weekly GLP-1 receptor agonist used for type 2 diabetes and, at higher doses, chronic weight management.
- Approved for
-
- Type 2 diabetes (Ozempic, Rybelsus)
- Chronic weight management in adults with obesity or overweight with a related condition (Wegovy)
- Reducing cardiovascular risk in adults with type 2 diabetes and established cardiovascular disease (Ozempic)
- Titration
- Typically started at a low weekly dose and increased in steps every 4 weeks to improve tolerability. Exact schedule differs by brand and indication — follow the prescribing information and your clinician.
- Common side effects
-
- Nausea
- Diarrhea or constipation
- Vomiting
- Abdominal pain
- Reduced appetite
Semaglutide is a once-weekly injectable GLP-1 receptor agonist (also available as a daily tablet, Rybelsus). Sold as Ozempic and Rybelsus for type 2 diabetes and as Wegovy for chronic weight management, it is one of the most widely used medications in its class.
How it works
Semaglutide copies the action of GLP-1, a hormone released by the gut after eating. It prompts the pancreas to release insulin only when blood glucose is elevated, lowers glucagon, slows stomach emptying, and reduces appetite through brain pathways (Wegovy label).
What the evidence shows
In the STEP 1 trial, adults with obesity taking semaglutide 2.4 mg weekly plus lifestyle support lost roughly 15% of body weight over 68 weeks, versus about 2.4% with placebo (STEP 1, NEJM).
Side effects and cautions
The most common side effects are gastrointestinal — nausea, diarrhea, constipation, and vomiting — and tend to ease as the body adjusts. The label carries a boxed warning regarding thyroid C-cell tumors seen in rodents; it is contraindicated in people with a personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma or MEN 2 (Ozempic label). Discuss your full history with your clinician.