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Semaglutide

Ozempic / Wegovy

GLP-1 injection for weight loss and blood sugar control

Weight LossPeptide · 31 AAFDA-APPROVEDRoute · SubQ / oralReviewed Apr 2026
01 — OVERVIEW
SYSTEMSHow Semaglutide affects you

GLP-1 agonism recalibrates appetite and insulin.

Activates the GLP-1 receptor on pancreatic β-cells and in the brainstem, boosting glucose-dependent insulin and telling the hypothalamus you're full.

HbA1c
−1.5%
68-week trial
Fasting glc
−35 mg/dL
Onset
3–4 d
  • Slows gastric emptying — food sits longer, hunger fades sooner.
  • Lowers glucagon when blood sugar is already normal.
  • Also approved for reducing major cardiovascular events in T2D.

Semaglutide copies a gut hormone called GLP-1 that your body releases after eating. It signals your brain to feel full, slows how fast your stomach empties, and steadies your blood sugar. The effect is reduced appetite and smaller portions without feeling restricted. Sold as Ozempic for diabetes and Wegovy for weight loss.

02 — PHARMACOKINETICS

How long it stays, how it leaves.

Half-life
7 d
Default concentration
5000 mcg
Common vial sizes
5000 / 10000 mcg

Fixed dosing — not weight-adjusted. The calculator handles reconstitution math for common vial sizes so you inject the right volume every time.

03 — DOSING PROTOCOL

Three tiers, three goals.

beginner4 weeks cycle
Dose
250250 mcg
Frequency
Once weekly
Cycle
4 weeks

This is just the starting dose — standard titration goes: 250 mcg (wks 1-4) → 500 mcg (wks 5-8) → 1 mg (wks 9-12) → 1.7 mg (wks 13-16) → 2.4 mg max

intermediate4-8 weeks per step cycle
Dose
5001000 mcg
Frequency
Once weekly
Cycle
4-8 weeks per step

Only increase by 250–500 mcg every 4 weeks if nausea is tolerable

advancedOngoing cycle
Dose
17002400 mcg
Frequency
Once weekly
Cycle
Ongoing

FDA-approved max for weight loss (Wegovy) is 2.4mg/week — most people never need to go this high

04 — SIDE EFFECTS

What people actually report.

  • Nausea (very common — 44%)
  • Vomiting
  • Diarrhea or constipation
  • Stomach pain
  • Muscle loss if you don't exercise and eat enough protein
05 — WARNINGS

Before you start.

  • FDA-approved as Ozempic (diabetes) and Wegovy (weight loss) — one of the most studied peptides in existence
  • Never skip titration steps — jumping up in dose too fast is why people quit from nausea
  • Standard titration: 250 mcg → 500 mcg → 1 mg → 1.7 mg → 2.4 mg, moving up only every 4 weeks
  • See a doctor immediately for severe stomach pain (pancreatitis risk)
  • Don't use if you have a personal or family history of thyroid cancer
  • Lift weights and eat 0.7–1g of protein per lb of body weight to prevent muscle loss
06 — STACKING & INTERACTIONS

Combinations worth knowing.

Dual Fat Loss

Semaglutide kills your appetite while AOD-9604 breaks down stored fat directly. You eat less AND burn more.

Weight Loss + Gut Protection

BPC-157 may help protect your gut from semaglutide's harsh stomach side effects while keeping your digestive system healthy.

07 — CITATIONS & Q&A

Research behind the claims.

Wilding JPH, Batterham RL, Calanna S, et al. · New England Journal of Medicine · 2021
STEP-1 trial (n=1,961): 2.4 mg/wk semaglutide produced mean 14.9% weight loss vs. 2.4% placebo over 68 weeks.
Lincoff AM, Brown-Frandsen K, Colhoun HM, et al. · New England Journal of Medicine · 2023
SELECT trial (n=17,604): semaglutide reduced major cardiovascular events by 20% in obese adults without diabetes over ~3 years.

Ask anything, get cited answers.