Semaglutide: Benefits, Dosage & FDA Status
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy)
A GLP-1 receptor agonist and the gold standard for evidence-based weight loss peptide therapy. Demonstrated 14.9–16.9% mean body weight reduction in the landmark STEP trials.
FDA Status
FDA-approved for weight management and type 2 diabetes
Typical Dose
0.25–2.4 mg weekly (subcutaneous injection)
Evidence Grade
A+Strong RCT evidence + FDA approval
Half-Life
~7 days
Routes of Administration
subcutaneous, oral (Rybelsus)
First Synthesized
2012
Clinics Indexed
2,285 providers have offered Semaglutide in our tracked directory.
Mechanism of Action
Long-acting GLP-1 receptor agonist — slows gastric emptying, increases glucose-dependent insulin secretion, suppresses glucagon, and acts centrally to reduce appetite.
Key Reported Benefits
- ✓Significant weight loss
- ✓Appetite suppression
- ✓Blood sugar control
- ✓Cardiovascular benefit
Benefits listed reflect commonly reported effects from clinical trials and practitioner use. Individual response varies. Evidence-grade A+ indicates strong rct evidence + fda approval.
Reported Side Effects
- •Nausea
- •Constipation or diarrhea
- •Gastroparesis
- •Injection-site reactions
- •Pancreatitis (rare)
Contraindications
- ⚠Personal/family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma
- ⚠MEN-2 syndrome
- ⚠Pregnancy
Commonly Stacked With
Regulatory & Safety Context
FDA status: FDA-approved for weight management and type 2 diabetes
This page is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Peptide use outside of an FDA-approved indication should be discussed with a licensed medical professional. Source quality, cold-chain storage, and injection hygiene all materially affect safety outcomes.
See state-by-state legality: US peptide legality by state →
References
Selected primary literature on Semaglutide. Full PubMed records linked. Additional citations are available on request.
Last reviewed: 2026-04-30
Related Peptides
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Liraglutide
A+The original once-daily GLP-1 receptor agonist. Lower weight-loss magnitude than semaglutide but a longer real-world track record across diabetes and obesity.
Retatrutide
ATriple agonist at GLP-1, GIP, and glucagon receptors. Phase 2 produced 24.2% mean weight reduction at 48 weeks — the highest ever in a clinical obesity trial.
Cagrilintide
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Survodutide
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AOD-9604
C+A modified fragment of human growth hormone (hGH 176-191) that stimulates fat breakdown without the growth-promoting or diabetogenic effects of full HGH.