Oral semaglutide weight loss online

Oral semaglutide mimics the action of the GLP-1 hormone, which is naturally produced in the gut. The medication works for weight loss by:

• Slowing the rate at which food leaves your stomach, helping you feel full for longer.
• Curbing hunger by sending satiety (“fullness”) signals to your brain, so you eat fewer calories.
• Reducing your cravings for certain foods, especially sugary and fatty foods, so you have more control over what you eat.

Together, these effects lead to weight loss.

By reducing your overall calorie intake and making you feel full for longer, semaglutide supports gradual, sustainable weight loss — especially when combined with a healthy diet and exercise regimen. In a clinical trial comparing oral semaglutide to injectable liraglutide (Victoza), people with type 2 diabetes lost more weight on oral semaglutide in 26 weeks (half a year). The average weight loss for those taking oral semaglutide was 9.7 pounds, compared with 6.8 pounds for those taking Victoza and 1.1 pounds for those taking a placebo.

That clinical trial used the lower doses of oral semaglutide currently available with Rybelsus. The drug’s manufacturer is seeking approval for oral semaglutide for weight loss using higher doses, based on the results of a recent clinical trial. In this trial, people taking 50 milligrams of oral semaglutide lost 15.1% of their body weight in 68 weeks (about a year and a half). If your initial body weight is 250 pounds, that’s a weight loss of 37.5 pounds.

Learn more about how GLP-1s work for weight loss.

Once-daily oral semaglutide is available in 3 dosage strengths — 3, 7, and 14 milligrams. Healthcare providers typically prescribe a low starting dose of 3 milligrams daily for 30 days. After that, they will increase your dosage to 7 milligrams daily. After 30 days on the 7-milligram dose, your healthcare provider will check in to see how well oral semaglutide is working for you and determine whether an increase to 14 milligrams a day is needed.

Here’s how you use oral semaglutide for weight loss: 

• Take the medication on an empty stomach.
• Swallow the tablet whole with a small amount of water (4 ounces).
• Wait at least 30 minutes before eating, drinking, or taking other medications.

Compared to other weight loss medications, oral semaglutide is less effective at its currently available dosage strengths. Clinical trials show that people taking the maximum 14-milligram dose of Rybelsus lost an average of 9.7 pounds over 26 weeks.

In comparison, weight loss pills such as Contrave (bupropion-naltrexone) and Qsymia (phentermine-topiramate) can result in 5 to 10% weight loss over 56 weeks. For someone with an initial body weight of 250 pounds, that translates to 12.5 to 25 pounds in about a year.

Weekly injections, including Wegovy, which contains the same active ingredient as oral semaglutide, have produced even greater weight loss results. In a 68-week clinical trial, people taking Wegovy lost an average of 14.9% of their initial body weight in 68 weeks. In a 72-week trial of Zepbound (tirzepatide), another injectable GLP-1 receptor agonist, people lost up to 20.9% of their initial body weight.

These medications are FDA-approved for weight reduction or weight management in individuals with obesity or overweight, when used alongside a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity. Common side effects vary depending on the drug but may include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, and headaches. They can also cause serious side effects. 

The best way to find out which weight loss medication is best for you is to talk to a weight loss provider.