How does Rybelsus work?
Semaglutide acts like a hormone called GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) that our bodies naturally produce. Rybelsus activates receptors in your body called GLP-1 receptors, which are found in different parts of your body, like the pancreas, brain, and stomach.
Rybelsus tells your pancreas to release more insulin, a hormone that helps lower blood sugar levels after you eat. It also sends signals to your brain to reduce your appetite and make you feel fuller for longer. This can help you eat less and make healthier food choices, like sticking to a low-calorie diet. Rybelsus can slow down the emptying of food from your stomach. This means that the food stays in your stomach for a longer time, which can make you feel satisfied and help control your appetite.
What dose of semaglutide does Rybelsus come in?
Rybelsus comes in three strengths of semaglutide for type-2 diabetes. The starting dose of Rybelsus is one 3 mg tablet once a day, for one month. This will then increase to one 7 mg tablet a day. If a 7 mg dose isn’t enough to manage your blood sugar effectively, your clinician may increase your dose to 14 mg once a day.
What other medications use the active ingredient semaglutide?
Both Wegovy and Ozempic contain semaglutide as their active ingredient. While Wegovy is specifically licensed for weight loss, Ozempic is only approved for treating type-2 diabetes (though it may be prescribed off-label for obesity if you meet certain criteria).
Both medications are administered through injections once a week and are available in different dosages. Typically, patients start with the lowest dose and gradually increase it to a manageable level. Wegovy comes in five strengths: 0.25mg, 0.5mg, 1mg, 1.7mg, and 2.4mg, while Ozempic has four strengths: 0.25mg, 0.5mg, 1mg and 2mg.
