semaglutide at a glance
Medicine class
GLP-1 receptor agonist.
Licensed roles
Product-specific roles include type 2 diabetes, weight management, cardiovascular risk reduction and non-cirrhotic MASH.
Available forms
Subcutaneous pre-filled pens and oral tablets; administration instructions differ.
What is semaglutide used for?
Licensed uses depend on the individual semaglutide product.
Weight loss and weight maintenance alongside reduced-calorie eating and increased physical activity in eligible adults with obesity, or overweight plus a weight-related condition.
Weight management in eligible adolescents aged 12 years and over using the injection product.
Reducing major cardiovascular events in adults with established cardiovascular disease who also have obesity or overweight.
Treatment of non-cirrhotic metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis in adults with moderate to advanced liver fibrosis; this indication has conditional marketing authorisation.
Improving glycaemic control in adults with insufficiently controlled type 2 diabetes, either alone when metformin is unsuitable or with other diabetes treatments.
How does semaglutide work?
Semaglutide activates GLP-1 receptors. It reduces appetite and increases fullness, while lowering glucose-dependent insulin release and reducing glucagon when blood glucose is high. It can also delay stomach emptying.
semaglutide preparations and strengths
Tablet
Route: Oral
Strengths: 1.5 mg, 4 mg, 9 mg, 25 mg
Injection
Route: Parenteral
Strengths: 0.25 mg, 0.5 mg, 1 mg, 1.7 mg, 2 mg, 2.4 mg, 7.2 mg
How to take semaglutide
Follow the instructions for the prescribed product because tablets and injection pens are not used in the same way.
Inject the pen under the skin of the abdomen, thigh or upper arm. Rotate the precise injection site and never inject into a vein or muscle.
Use a new compatible needle for each FlexTouch injection, remove it afterwards and never share the pen.
Take tablets after fasting. Swallow whole with water; do not split, crush or chew.
After a tablet, wait before eating, drinking or taking another oral medicine.
Tell the surgical or anaesthetic team that you use semaglutide because delayed stomach emptying may increase aspiration risk during general anaesthesia or deep sedation.
semaglutide side effects
Common or expected effects
- Nausea or vomiting
- Diarrhoea or constipation
- Abdominal pain or indigestion
- Headache, tiredness or dizziness
- Injection-site reactions with injectable products
- Hair loss
- Gallstones
Get urgent medical advice
- Persistent severe abdominal pain, which may indicate pancreatitis
- Sudden sight loss or rapid deterioration in vision
- Severe allergic reaction, including facial or throat swelling and breathing difficulty
- Worsening diabetic retinopathy or other new vision changes
- Severe or persistent vomiting or diarrhoea causing dehydration
- Low blood glucose, particularly when combined with insulin or a sulfonylurea
- Symptoms of intestinal obstruction, such as severe abdominal swelling, pain and persistent vomiting
semaglutide in pregnancy
Semaglutide should not be used during pregnancy. Effective contraception is advised during treatment. Anyone who becomes pregnant should contact their prescriber promptly so treatment can be reviewed.
semaglutide interactions
Semaglutide has relatively few direct interactions, but delayed stomach emptying and combination diabetes treatment can have practical consequences.
Insulin or sulfonylureas
The combination increases hypoglycaemia risk, so glucose monitoring and adjustment of the other diabetes treatment may be required.
Levothyroxine
Oral semaglutide can increase thyroxine exposure; consider thyroid-function monitoring.
Common questions about semaglutide
Answers are fully visible for fast scanning and source review.
Is semaglutide insulin?
No. It is a GLP-1 receptor agonist that supports glucose-dependent insulin release and affects appetite; it cannot replace insulin when insulin is required.
Can semaglutide be used for type 1 diabetes?
No. Semaglutide is not indicated for type 1 diabetes or diabetic ketoacidosis.
Sources
These sources were used to prepare and review this medicine page.
Prepared and reviewed by the iatroX editorial team.