Introduction
For anyone who’s been trying to lose weight, Ozempic or Wegovy may already be well on their radar. That’s because the two brands—who share the same active ingredient, semaglutide—have become wildly popular over the last few years. Specifically, they rose to fame for their weight loss efficacy, especially for those suffering from type 2 diabetes or obesity.
Perhaps you or someone you know have considered taking the drug because of its therapeutic benefits. But you may also be thinking whether it’s the right medicine for you. You might have asked yourself, ‘What should you expect on your first week on semaglutide?’
Knowing what lies ahead will help you have better peace of mind and make an wise decision. Remember, though, that every person will react to a drug differently, due to a variety of factors.
In this article, first-time users share their experience and how they adjusted during their first week on semaglutide. Hopefully, it can illustrate a realistic picture of what could also be the scenario for you.
What is semaglutide?
Before we dive into the stories of first-time semaglutide users, it’s important that we familiarize ourselves with the drug. What is it and how does it work?
As we’ve mentioned, semaglutide is the active ingredient in brands such as Ozempic and Wegovy. Although only Wegovy has FDA approval for weight loss, many prescribe Ozempic or its fellow anti-diabetic drug, Rybelsus, for weight loss.
Here’s how semaglutide helps people shed pounds. Semaglutide falls under a class of drugs, glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists, or GLP-1 Ras, for short. Whenever we finish eating and blood sugar levels are high, a hormone, GLP-1 prompts insulin release to lower blood glucose.
GLP-1 Ras like semaglutide mimics GLP-1 and its additional effect of delayed gastric emptying or slow digestion. This process helps a person feel fuller for a longer period. Because of this effect, it suppresses patients’ appetites and they end up eating less, losing weight in the process.
Safety and efficacy of semaglutide
Studies have provided evidence on how semaglutide effectively lowers blood sugar levels and promotes weight loss. Moreover, research has found that the drug potentially has a positive impact on other health conditions such as cardiovascular problems.
Dosages and administration
Ozempic is in an injectable pen format and you should administer it once a week. It comes in 0.5 mg, 1 mg, and 2 mg doses and is available for purchase with a prescription.
Wegovy, on the other hand, also comes in an injectable pen format, but in five various dose strengths. The different doses come in pens of different colors.
Similar to Ozempic, your doctor will start you on small doses, gradually increasing this until you reach a maintenance dose. Wegovy is also a once-weekly injection.
You typically take Rybelsus at 3mg once per day during the first 30 days of use. After this initial month, your doctor will increase your dose to 7 mg per day. This dose is typically what it takes for your body to regulate its blood sugar levels. After another 30 days on 7 mg, your doctor might increase the dosage to 14 mg per day.
When it comes to administering semaglutide, you must inject Ozempic and Wegovy once weekly, with or without meals. Meanwhile, you must take Rybelsus once daily on an empty stomach the first time you wake up.
Take care not to inject subcutaneous semaglutide into a muscle or vein. On the other hand, in the case of Rybelsus, you should take it the same way every time.
Side effects of semaglutide
Gastrointestinal reactions account for 10% or more of semaglutide’s side effects. These include nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, constipation, and abdominal pain.
Occurring in every 1 to 10% of cases are indigestion, belching, gassiness, gastroenteritis, or gastritis. Gastroenteritis is a short-term infection and inflammation of the digestive system, while gastritis is inflammation of the stomach lining.
Note that these common side effects of semaglutide are mild and can be managed with your healthcare provider’s help. Semaglutide’s more serious adverse effects, meanwhile, are rare.
What happens on your first week on semaglutide?
Many people wonder whether it’s possible to lose weight as early as your first week on semaglutide. Some people claim they’ve shed pounds within their first week of use. However, clinical trials note that it usually takes at least a few weeks before they can see results.
As mentioned, every person will have a unique experience when taking semaglutide for the first time. As such, we looked at various testimonies on the internet on how their first week on the drug was like.
On the discussion website Reddit, users noted their remarkable drop in appetite, as well as their bouts with nausea.
- “I just started today, literally this morning on a 0.25 mg injection. I have not eaten since about 8 am. I don’t feel hungry. And so far, so good on side effects.” – Alphatrad
- “I’m a week in (took my second dose today). My appetite might be a bit smaller. Mainly the food noise is gone… I’ve been able to say no to foods I would usually binge as well.” – Unable_Ad_811
- “I am five days in (0.25 mg dose) and I don’t love it. I got super sick two days after my shot and was vomiting. My appetite is smaller but I think it’s my fear of getting sick to keeping me stick to small portions not that I’m not hungry.” – distillthis
- “I did mine on Saturday morning. Today, I almost pooped myself twice. The gas is real, the vomiting is real, and the bloating and diarrhea is very rough and real. Idk if I’m gonna finish out the month y’all.” – A_Bloody_Toaster
Curbed appetite, nausea, fatigue, and headaches
Meanwhile, YouTuber Hella Bella shared how she lost her appetite, along with nausea, headaches, and fatigue.
“The biggest thing that this drug has done for me is it has curbed my appetite and made it to where I’m not able to eat as much. Food is really not a reward for me anymore.”
“I’ve had nausea, I’ve had headaches, I’ve had fatigue, and a lot of that has contributed to a lack of appetite.”
The content creator also talked about how she could no longer enjoy food as before. Additionally, she started opting for lighter, healthier foods as she felt this would help her feel less nauseous.
“Sometimes I have [nausea] when I don’t eat soon enough, like if I wait too long to eat, like six or seven hours and I haven’t eaten, I’ll find that I have nausea, but then sometimes I get nausea right after I’ve eaten, like if I feel I’ve eaten too much.”
“I will say that Ozempic is sort of training me to make better choices when it comes to having to deal with nausea after you eat. You don’t want to eat anything that’s gonna make you feel sick for the rest of the day.”
Hella Bella also noted she felt so tired throughout the day, probably because of how little calories she’s been consuming. She also experienced a low-grade headache in the first two to three days.
What is “food noise”?
Earlier, in one of the Reddit comments, a user mentioned that “The food noise is gone.” What exactly is food noise?
According to Webmd, it’s how you have constant thoughts about food you’re craving for. At times, it can promote unhealthy eating habits and lead to obesity.
In the case of semaglutide, it may have an effect on the hypothalamus. It’s a part of the brain that controls feelings of hunger and fullness.
Managing side effects of semaglutide
While the incidence of gastrointestinal adverse effects may seem inevitable for first-time semaglutide users, it can be definitely be managed.
In a 2022 study, researchers gathered the advice of endocrinologists, nephrologists, primary care physicians, cardiologists, internists and diabetes nurses. Particular, they solicited advice on how to help patients manage the common side effects of semaglutide. Here’s a rundown:
How to manage nausea:
- Eat crackers, apples, mint, ginger-based drinks 30 minutes after taking or injecting GLP-1 Ra.
- Avoid strong smells.
For vomiting:
- Seek generous hydration.
- Have more frequent meals, in smaller amounts.
Addressing diarrhea:
- Seek generous hydration (water, lemon, bicarbonate)
- Avoid sport drinks.
- Avoid high-fiber content foods (You will gradually restore these upon improvement). Yes to chicken broth, rice, carrots, ripe peeled fruit, baked fruit. No to dairy products, laxatives, coffee, alcohol, soft drinks, very cold/hot foods, products with “ol” ending sweeteners.
For constipation:
- Ensure enough fiber in your diet.
- Increase physical activity.
- Have a healthy, balanced diet
- Seek generous hydration (water, sugar-free liquids)
For any other persistent or severe gastrointestinal adverse effects, contact your doctor as soon as possible.
Onset of action
Research has found that on average, it takes a person around four weeks on semaglutide to see some weight loss. However,the full effect can take some more time. In one study, participants lost as much as 35 pounds or 15.9 kilograms over a 68-week period.
Despite these studies, consider that results will vary from person to person as efficacy can be affected by different factors.
Non-effect of semaglutide
Sometimes there are people who do not see effects while on semaglutide.
According to Christina Inteso, Pharm.D., a clinical pharmacy specialist, lifestyle changes must still be implemented to see results. Here are two of the most frequently asked questions.
Why am I still hungry on semaglutide?
It may be because your body is still adjusting to the medication. As mentioned, it can take a few weeks before the drug takes full effect.
Why haven’t I lost weight on semaglutide?
It could be because you’re still on a low starting dose. Your doctor will gradually increase your dosage until you reach a maintenance dose. This whole process could take up to three months.
Other possible reasons are that the food you eat interacts with semaglutide or you lack physical activity.
Conclusion
Semaglutide is changing for the better the lives of people with type 2 diabetes and obesity. Its brands Ozempic and Wegovy have become popular because of their efficacy in lowering blood glucose and promoting weight loss.
For anyone considering taking semaglutide, they must be wondering what they can expect in your first week on the drug. People online have shared that they experienced a drop in their appetite, as well as nausea, fatigue, and headache.
Thankfully, there are ways to manage these adverse reactions or side effects. As with any drug, note it will react differently with different people, because of different factors (genes, medical history, etc.). The key is to be in constant dialogue with your healthcare provider. He or she can guide you on how to navigate the first few weeks of your semaglutide treatment.
