Semaglutide Alternatives Reduce Heart Disease
Semaglutide alternatives is a drug that helps people with type 2 diabetes lose weight and reduce the risk of complications such as heart disease. It works by mimicking a natural hormone produced by the body called GLP-1. The drug decreases hunger and makes patients feel full, so they eat less. It also improves the body’s ability to regulate blood sugar levels. This is a very important drug to have, as it reduces cardiovascular risk factors such as high blood pressure and bad cholesterol.
In the clinical trials that led to the approval of Ozempic, patients who took the drug lost 5% of their initial body weight after 12 weeks of treatment. This is a remarkable achievement and is the result of a combination of the effects of the drug with a healthy diet and regular exercise. In addition to reducing body weight, patients taking the drug saw improvements in other cardiometabolic parameters such as waist circumference, HbA1c, systolic blood pressure, total and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and very-low-density lipoprotein cholesterol.
Novo Nordisk has already developed a lower dose of semaglutide, known as Wegovy, for the treatment of type 2 diabetes and is aiming to get a higher dose approved for weight loss later this year. Its efficacy in lowering weight and cardiovascular risk factors could change the way doctors prescribe this medication.
Other medications in the same class as semaglutide, including liraglutide and dulaglutide, have been approved for use at a higher dose for weight loss than Ozempic. These drugs are used together with a healthy diet and regular exercise to help people lose weight and keep it off, reduce the risk of heart attack or stroke in people with type 2 diabetes and to lower blood sugar.
A natural substance, berberine, has been popularized on social media platforms such as TikTok as being the “nature’s Ozempic.” However, despite some impressive claims by users, this is not a replacement for prescribed semaglutide medications. In fact, berberine is a natural herb that can have some serious side effects and should be avoided by anyone who has been prescribed the drug.
Side effects of semaglutide may include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain. It can also cause a delay in the emptying of the stomach and impact the absorption of other medications taken orally. If you are taking other medications, check the prescribing information for a complete list of interactions.
If you develop a lump in the throat or experience persistent nausea and vomiting, talk to your doctor immediately. These symptoms could be signs of thyroid cancer, a rare but serious side effect of the medication.
Other possible side effects of the medication include pancreatitis and gallbladder-related problems. It’s important to change the injection site each week and not inject into the same spot each time to reduce the risk of these side effects. You should also contact your doctor right away if you notice any symptoms of gallbladder disease such as severe or frequent abdominal pain, back pain, fever, flu-like symptoms, jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes), or a sore on the thigh or arm that won’t go away.