Rybelsus
What is Rybelsus (Semaglutide Daily Tablets)?
You may have seen the press coverage in February 2021. Semaglutide has shown promosing weight loss results in clinical trials, with 75% of participants losing over 10% of their body weight. Semaglutide can currently be prescribed for weight loss in the UK by a medically qualified clinician as a weekly injection.
Does it work the same as the injections?
In short, yes. Just like the weekly injection, it mimics a natural hormone already found in your body (GLP-1). It works in three key ways to reduce your appetite.
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It blocks a key hunger hormone telling your brain that you are hungry, whilst also helping to reduce leptin resistance (a hormone which can help off-set weight gain by increasing satiety aka fullness, and speed up your metabolism to help regulate the levels of fatty tissue in your body). This also helps stop the weight from coming straight back on when you stop the jab.
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It slows down the gastric emptying process, meaning that your body takes longer to process food and it is fuller for longer. This means your body does not need as much intake as normal as it works off the food it has.
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The medication helps to speed up your metabolism and increase fat burning by reducing glucogen & reducing insulin resistance. This promotes normal blood glucose levels, the liver metabolism of glucose and helps adipose tissue burn fat in a safe and controlled method without causing a sugar-crash. This avoids the urges for quick-fix sugary foods.
How do I use it?
This comes as a daily tablet. Whilst it is the same medication as the weekly jab, it needs to be taken daily as our body acts much faster at metabolising oral medication than injections.
Any side effects?
Like any new medication introduced to your body, your body will have to adjust to it. Some people get mild side effects, such as headaches, nausea, dry mouth or tiredness. These side effects are generally mild and are transient - which means they will go after a few days once your body has adjusted.
Some clients experience no side effects, whilst the majority of our own clients experience LESS side effects than the jabs. During the consultation we go through the side effects & how to deal with them. We also send you aftercare information on how to deal with any potential side effects, along with the Patient Information Leaflet which goes into greater detail.
Where can I get this from?
This is a prescription-only medication and must be prescribed by a qualified pharmacist following a consultation. Your full medical history and circumstances should be taken into account to ensure safety & suitability.
We prescribe and dispense only from within the UK, who source the medication directly from the manufacturer.
PLEASE NOTE: This medication is currently licensed for diabetes. It is not yet licensed for weight loss but it can be prescribed off-label for weight loss.
Can I use it?
We take into account a range of factors such as:
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BMI
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Medical History
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Current Medication
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Body measurements
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Eating habits
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Past diets
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Current exercise levels
The programme is not suitable for:
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Under 18's
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Ladies who are breastfeeding, pregnant or actively trying to get pregnant.
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Type 1 diabetics
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Anyone with a history of pancreatitis or thyroid tumours
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Anyone with direct family members who have had thyroid cancer
How much can I lose with Rybelsus?
According to the manufacturer's clinical trials, the average weight loss has been calculated as between 10lbs and 16lbs. But please know that everyone is different, so your weight loss may be more or it could be less.
Can I drink alcohol whilst on the programme?
Although alcohol does not directly interact with the medication, we do advise people to avoid alcohol if possible. If you do have a drink whilst using the pen, do not drink on an empty stomach & limit it to 1 small glass of wine or one 25ml spirit with a light mixer. Alcohol is also empty calories and may reduce the potential achievable weight loss.
How many courses of tablets will I need?
Each course of tablets lasts for 30 days. This depends on what dose you are on, how well you take to the medication and your overall target weight.
How much is it?
Please see our prices page (below).