Highlights
- Semaglutide is the active ingredient of three brand name medications—Wegovy, Ozempic, and Rybelsus—yet only Wegovy has FDA approval to treat weight loss.
- A prescription is required in order to take semaglutide for weight loss.
- Healthcare providers can prescribe semaglutide through an online semaglutide program if deemed appropriate after reviewing your medical history and test results.
- Semaglutide shortages have increased the appearance of compounded semaglutide, which does not have the safety and efficacy guarantee that Wegovy does.
Obesity is an
Despite the health risks posed by obesity, losing weight remains a challenge, but semaglutide may offer a solution to start a weight loss journey. Medical practitioners at MEDvidi are able to prescribe this weight-loss medication after a detailed assessment, but there are eligibility criteria, side effects, risks, and shortages to be aware of.
What Is Semaglutide?
Semaglutide is a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist that is available under brand names Wegovy, Ozempic, and Rybelsus. Wegovy is FDA-approved for weight loss while other two can be prescribed for it off-label. As a GLP-1 receptor agonist, semaglutide injections and oral semaglutide function by mimicking GLP-1, an appetite control hormone that is released in the gut in response to eating. This results in a lower appetite and reduced cravings, which then leads to a decrease in calories consumed.
Also, Ozempic and Rybelsus are approved for the treatment of Type 2 diabetes because semaglutide can prompt the body to produce more insulin, reducing blood sugar levels.
Who Qualifies for Semaglutide (And Who Shouldn’t Take It)
The FDA has approved Wegovy for use in three groups of people:
- Adult patients with a body mass index (BMI) that is 30 or higher.
- Adult patients with a BMI of 27 or higher and one weight-related health condition.
- Pediatric patients who are 12 or older with an initial BMI in the 95th percentile for their age and gender.
In some cases, Ozempic or Rybelsus may be prescribed off-label as a weight loss treatment. Eligibility requirements also include having a BMI of 30 or higher or 27 or higher with weight-related health conditions.
Some people should avoid semaglutide for weight management, including those with a personal or family history of pancreatitis, medullary thyroid cancer, or gallbladder disease or those with multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2). Your healthcare provider can share more information on whether this medicine is right for you.
Furthermore, this medication may cause harm to an unborn child. If you are planning a pregnancy or trying to get pregnant, it is not recommended to take semaglutide for weight management. If you become pregnant while taking this weight loss medication, talk to your doctor about safely discontinuing it.
Semaglutide Limitations
There are some limitations for semaglutide that can also affect who should take it for weight management. For example, Wegovy should not be taken with any other semaglutide-containing products or any other GLP-1 receptor agonists.
Additionally, there are limitations regarding the safety of this medication in those with a history of pancreatitis or those who are currently taking other weight loss medications.
If you have any concerns regarding whether semaglutide for weight loss is safe for you to take, discuss them with your doctor.
How to Get a Semaglutide Prescription
To get prescribed semaglutide, it’s necessary to consult with a healthcare professional who can assess your health status and determine if you meet the requirements for this medication. If you are eligible, you may be able to get an online prescription for semaglutide using the steps listed below. However, not everyone who is looking to lose weight is eligible for semaglutide, nor is the medication a good choice for them. Your doctor can help determine if it is the most appropriate option or recommend alternative treatments.
- Step 1: Sign up for MEDvidi and fill out the basic form and other documentation to join the platform and be able to book an appointment.
- Step 2: Upload your lab test results, including your CBC, CMP, TSH, HbA1c, HCG (female patients with childbearing potential), and cholesterol panel.
- Step 3: Book an appointment with a qualified healthcare professional by choosing the date and time that are most convenient for you.
- Step 4: See a healthcare provider through telehealth for a consultation about semaglutide. During a video call, they will analyze your health history and devise a treatment plan, including an online prescription if deemed appropriate.
- Step 5: If you get prescribed semaglutide, receive the medication from your pharmacy and begin taking it according to the prescription instructions.
- Step 6: Have follow-up appointments to discuss any concerns and renew your prescription as needed.
Booking an appointment does not guarantee a prescription—this decision is made at the discretion of your healthcare provider.
How Much Does Semaglutide Cost?
Wegovy currently costs $1550 to $1780, which provides roughly one month of treatment. This price reflects the out-of-pocket costs of Wegovy, or how much is paid if insurance does not cover the cost. A monthly supply of Ozempic and Rybelsus costs $1070 to $2070 depending on the pharmacy.
Many people do not have to pay the listed price of Wegovy because their insurance covers some of the costs. If your insurance offers coverage, it is important to follow the steps required to receive it. This may include prior authorization—if your insurance requires it, consult with your healthcare provider about assistance.
However, insurance companies are not required to cover weight loss medication, so Wegovy may be excluded from your health insurance coverage—look into your health insurance policy to see if you are eligible for coverage and what steps must be taken to receive it.
Side Effects and Risks
The most common side effects of semaglutide include:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Abdominal pain
- Constipation
- Fatigue
- Headache
- Dizziness
- Dyspepsia
- Eructation
- Abdominal distension
- Flatulence
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease
- Gastroenteritis
Additionally, semaglutide delays gastric emptying, which may affect how oral medications taken at the same time are absorbed.
Clinical trials have also revealed that taking Wegovy comes with an increased risk of:
- Acute pancreatitis
- Acute gallbladder disease
- Hypoglycemia (when taken alongside insulin)
- Acute kidney injury
- Diabetic retinopathy complications in diabetic patients
- Heart rate increase
- Suicidal behavior and ideation
Is Semaglutide Available at Pharmacies?
As for where to get semaglutide, you can get legitimate semaglutide online or in-person from a pharmacy with a prescription in any of its branded forms—
With the
Compounded semaglutide medications are not FDA-approved, which means that their safety and effectiveness have not been proven. As a result, there is no guarantee that you will see the same results when taking compounded semaglutide as you can when taking an FDA-approved product.
As for why some pharmacies are compounding semaglutide, it’s in response to the shortage of several FDA-approved products—compounding allows people to still access treatment even if their medication is unavailable. In times of a shortage, the FDA may allow semaglutide to be compounded if the pharmacy meets certain requirements, such as:
- Purchases semaglutide base from FDA-registered facilities.
- Uses the same form of semaglutide as the FDA-approved medications.
- Follows state and federal regulations for compounding.
- Dispenses compounded medications with a prescription from a licensed healthcare professional.
However, in addition to a lack of FDA testing, compounded semaglutide also tends to follow a different recipe than the brand-name formulas and may even contain extra ingredients. These changes produce greater uncertainty in the possible risks or benefits of using the product. According to the company that produces Wegovy, compounded semaglutide products that they tested contained unknown impurities up to 33%.
Other risks of compounded pharmaceuticals include:
- Inappropriate ingredients
- Potential contamination, leading to an increased number of recalls
- Impurities
- Dosing errors
- Less strict quality control processes
Still, some compounding pharmacies are registered with the FDA. The FDA inspects these outsourcing facilities and requires that they follow the same strict regulations as drug manufacturers. As such, the quality of compounded medications can vary across pharmacies.
Ultimately, it’s not possible to say for certain whether compounded semaglutide is safe and effective since it hasn’t undergone rigorous testing by the FDA. However, that does not mean that it is dangerous or ineffective—it just has its own unique set of risks.
What Other Medications Can MEDvidi Providers Prescribe for Weight Loss?
In addition to an online semaglutide prescription (Wegovy, Ozempic, and Rybelsus), healthcare providers at MEDvidi can prescribe these weight loss medications:
- Tirzepatide (Zepbound, Mounjaro)
- Phentermine-topiramate (Qsymia)
- Topiramate (Topamax)
- Metformin
- Liraglutide (Saxenda, Victoza)
- Naltrexone-bupropion (Contrave)
- Phentermine (Lomaira, Adipex-P)
- Dulaglutide (Trulicity)
- Orlistat (Xenical, Alli)
Note that any of the above-mentioned medications can be prescribed only according to the eligibility requirements and after a thorough assessment by a healthcare provider.
If you’re concerned about your weight, you can discuss treatment options and lifestyle changes accompanying them with your MEDvidi practitioner.
The Bottom Line
You can get prescribed semaglutide if a doctor determines that you are a good fit after an evaluation. During an appointment, your doctor may order tests, review test results, listen to your challenges, and offer a course of action for weight management that may include medication.
If you’re interested in starting your weight loss journey, schedule a visit with a healthcare professional at MEDvidi.
