I have had quite a few patients ask me recently if I would support them being prescribed semaglutide. You may not be familiar with the name, but you may well have heard of it as a weight loss wonder drug. The reason I thought I would write about it today is that the FDA (US food and drug administration – similar to our own NICE body in the UK) have approved it for use in overweight or obese adults with cardiovascular disease.
Firstly, what is semaglutide? It comes from a family of drugs called GLP-1 agonists. An agonist is something that causes a physiological effect when combined with a receptor. GLP-1 stands for glucagon-like peptide-1. GLP-1 is a hormone released into the gut when you eat. It caused a rise in insulin, and therefore a reduction in glucose level. It also has effects in the brain, where it causes a feeling of fullness and satiety. A GLP-1 agonist therefore is a medication which binds with a receptor in the body and has the same effect as eating – raised insulin and feeling full – without a person having consumed any food. Clever.
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