Risks of Semaglutide Used for Weight Loss

Semaglutide, which has now effectively become "the medicine for thinness", is increasingly in fashion: in 2024 the Italian Medicines Agency recorded an increase of 78,7 percent, compared to last year, in private sales of medicines based on semaglutide, Born to treat diabetes and obesity, but increasingly misused for weight loss. But with the boom in sales, doubts also increase, raised also by significant scientific research, on the possible damages, contraindications and on the side effects of using semaglutide for lose weight.

Index of topics

Kidney and pancreatic problems

Researchers at Washington University, in the United States, in a study published in Nature Medicine, they recall that now one in eight Americans is taking or has already taken one of the drugs based on semaglutide, which acts as an agonist of the GIP-1 receptor, a hormone produced by the intestine that stimulates the secretion of insulin.

And from here the researchers started to create a survey of 2 million people treated with this substance. While on the one hand the risk of cardiovascular disease is reduced, on the other hand, however, possible problems affecting the kidneys and pancreas are reported, in addition to the already known gastrointestinal problems.

Gastrointestinal problems

Some side effects of semaglutide they are now known, like the Diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and tiredness), while very little is still known about interactions with other drugs and the risks of using semaglutide during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Excessive weight loss and metabolic disorders

According to the first investigations on patients taking semaglutide to lose weight, and according to some expert doctors, such as Professor Angelo Avogaro, president of the Italian Society of Diabetes, this substance, used by healthy people who do not have problems related to diabetes, can lead to excessive weight loss, with a significant loss of muscle mass and a disruption of metabolism, which in the long run can generate serious metabolic alterations.

Eye problems

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) has opened an investigation to determine whether semaglutide may cause eye damage. Specifically, its use has been associated with an increased risk of a rare eye condition called non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION). The EMA explained that the Committee for Safety and Health (PRAC) initiated this review after receiving reports of a possible association with NAION, based on two recent observational studies. However, two other studies did not show an increased risk. You can read more about what NAION is exactly, and what the risks are for the eyes, in this article.

Semaglutide dependence

At the moment, we cannot speak of a real dependence on this drug, as happens with other medicines.

But one thing is certain: Stopping semaglutide medications may lead to weight gain.

This happens because:

appetite returns to normal levels.
Metabolism may slow down during the period of use.
The drug semaglutide does not permanently alter hunger mechanisms.

How is semaglutide administered?

Semaglutide, along with medications containing it, is administered via subcutaneous injections into the abdominal fat. It should not be taken intravenously or intramuscularly. The dose is typically 0,25 milligrams per week, and after four weeks, it can be increased to 0,5 milligrams. However, never exceed 2 milligrams per week. Meanwhile, a new development is emerging that will further expand the market for semaglutide for weight loss: the pill version which is now alongside the more uncomfortable and annoying injection versionAnd with the pill version, as it becomes more widespread, there will certainly be further contraindications and side effects, also because this will mean, for many people, an increase in semaglutide consumption, in the hope of losing weight "by popping pills."

What are semaglutide-based drugs and how much do they cost in Italy?

The most common semaglutide-based drugs in Italy are:

Ozempic vials
Rybelsus pills
Wegovy vials

A vial of Ozempic costs around 180 euros; with Wegovy, prices start at 220 euros. These prices vary, of course, based on the dosage. Rybelsus pills, on the other hand, cost around 500 euros for a pack of 30 5 mg pills. Considering that this is a weight-loss therapy that requires one vial per week for several months, and even for more than a year, you can calculate the costs of this special weight-loss treatment. Semaglutide-based drugs, used outside of prescriptions for diabetes care, are not reimbursable by the National Health Service, and therefore no contribution is foreseen.

Risks, side effects, and contraindications of semaglutide used for weight loss