Semaglutide

Semaglutide is a GLP-1 receptor agonist, originally developed for type 2 diabetes and now widely used for weight loss. It works by mimicking the incretin hormone GLP-1, which tells your brain you're full and slows down gastric emptying. The result is less hunger and fewer cravings without the white-knuckle willpower most diets require.

You start low at 0.25 mg per week, then titrate up over several weeks. Most people land somewhere between 1 mg and 2.4 mg depending on how they respond and what side effects (mostly nausea) they can tolerate. It's a once-weekly subcutaneous injection.

The branded versions are Ozempic (for diabetes) and Wegovy (for weight loss), but compounded semaglutide from pharmacies has become the more common route for most people sourcing it themselves.

Appetite suppression usually kicks in within the first week, even at the starting dose. Noticeable weight loss typically shows up by weeks 3 to 4. The real results compound over months though.

Most clinical trials measured outcomes at 68 weeks, where average weight loss was around 15% of body weight. You'll likely feel the nausea before the weight loss, especially in the first couple of weeks or after each dose increase.

Nausea is the big one, especially during titration. It usually fades as your body adjusts to each dose. Other GI effects include constipation, diarrhea, and occasional vomiting. Eating smaller meals and avoiding greasy food helps.

Less common but worth knowing: some people report sulfur burps, hair thinning (typically temporary, related to rapid weight loss rather than the drug itself), and fatigue. There's a boxed warning about thyroid C-cell tumors based on rodent studies, though this hasn't been observed in humans.

Compounded semaglutide vials should be stored in the refrigerator (36 to 46°F). Once reconstituted with bacteriostatic water, it's good for about 28 days refrigerated. Don't freeze it. Keep it out of direct sunlight.

Reconstitution is straightforward: add bacteriostatic water to the vial, swirl gently (don't shake), and let it dissolve. The amount of water determines your concentration, which determines how many units you draw for each dose.