First, we want to assure you that Semaglutide is NOT a stimulant, so you do not have to worry about unpleasant side effects like being unable to sleep or having the jitters.

Semaglutide is a small protein (peptide) that activates metabolic pathways in the body to increase blood sugar metabolism and reduce appetite. It imitates a hormone called glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1). You may have heard of Semaglutide before. It has been used to help treat type 2 diabetes under the brand names Ozempic ® and Saxenda®. 

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Semaglutide to be used to treat type-2 diabetes in 2017. Further research and studies have shown that Semaglutide is also suitable for losing weight, and in June of 2021, it was FDA-approved for weight loss under the brand name Wegovy®.

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We do not prescribe Semaglutide under the brand names associated with treating type 2 diabetes or weight loss listed above. We start all of our patients off at a lower, compounded dose for the first month and then increase the dosage for the second and third months. Our compounded medication also includes Vitamin B-6 to help with potential side effects.

Semaglutide is injected subcutaneously (under the skin) and not into a muscle. Please be assured that the needle is relatively small, and the injection is painless. 

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Benefits of the Semaglutide Weight Loss Program

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Semaglutide reduces your appetite and makes you feel fuller for extended periods. It also keeps you in "fat-burning" mode. Because Semaglutide targets fat cells and regulates blood sugar, so you don't have to worry about losing muscle mass or dehydration (water weight loss).

Semaglutide has also been shown to help stop plaque production in blood vessels.

Our program is three months long. There are no food restrictions. However, if you are not eating a healthy diet, you will not feel good while on the diet. Eating healthier will make you feel much better and have higher energy levels. We recommend incorporating proteins and nutrient-dense foods into your daily diet. While exercise is not mandatory with this program, we recommend you start incorporating an exercise regime into your lifestyle because of the health benefits. Walking can be the perfect way to start if you aren't used to exercising. 

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The physical benefit of Semaglutide is that it WILL reduce your appetite and make you feel fuller, so you eat less. 

Other Benefits Include:

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• Physical hunger is gone

• Better sleep

• Higher energy levels

• It helps with insulin pathways and blood sugar levels

• The more momentum you gain, the better you will feel

• On average, you can expect to lose 15% of your body weight

 

At Best IV Miami, we believe that good health encompasses mind, body, and soul. We want to help you balance your brain so that you can mindfully create healthier lifestyle choices after the diet period ends.

Patients typically see a weight loss of 1 to 3 pounds per week. However, that can vary depending on the weight of the patient. Patients who have more weight to lose can see more significant results.

 

Can the Program be Repeated?

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Because there are no food or calorie restrictions with the Semaglutide Weight Loss Program, you absolutely can repeat it! For those who are only wanting to lose 20 or 30 pounds, you may not need to repeat the program. If you're going to lose more weight, we suggest taking a month or so off between the three-month programs and repeating as needed. For those wanting to lose a lot of weight, it could take you as long as six to eight months.

It's All About Balance

If you are overweight or obese, you can quickly get stuck in a vicious cycle that affects your organs and endocrine system. For example, if you have a fatty liver, you will be more prone to putting on weight. The liver is one of the body's detox organs. If it becomes overwhelmed by toxins, it signals your body to increase fat, especially around the abdominal area. The reason for this is that toxins are stored in fat tissue.

Insulin Resistance can be a root cause of metabolic syndrome and virtually every chronic disease. It can go hand in hand with high blood sugar and is a precursor to type 2 diabetes. The biggest "tell" for Insulin Resistance is the amount of belly fat that you carry, so yes, even thin people can have it. If you are female and your waist measurement is over 35 inches, you likely have Insulin Resistance. If you are male and your waist measurement is over 40, the same holds true.

 

Side-Effects and Contraindications

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The most common side-effect of Semaglutide is nausea and possibly other digestive issues. But we take proactive measures to ensure that the chances of this happening to you are slim.

For your first month, we will start you at a lower dose of Semaglutide to allow your body to get used to it. We typically increase incrementally at month two and month three. However, everyone is different. The goal is for you to lose a few pounds a week with no nausea.

If you find you are not losing any weight initially, we can increase your dosage slightly until we find the "sweet spot" of what is suitable for you.

Additionally, the medication is compounded with Vitamin B-6, which will also help to curb any nausea.

Absolute Contraindications to the Semaglutide Weight Loss Program are:

• Personal or family history of medullary thyroid cancer

• Type-1 diabetes (an auto-immune condition)

• MEN – multiple endocrine neoplasia

• Pancreatitis

• Decreased kidney function