How the New Oral GLP-1 Weight Loss Medications Work

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3 Min Read
Wegovy (semaglutide) is at the moment FDA-approved as a every day GLP-1 capsule for adults who’re obese or overweight and have a minimum of one associated well being situation.

This new type bypasses the intestine’s pure defenses with a “penetration enhancer” referred to as SNAC, permitting the drug to work successfully with out needles. As soon as the pill reaches the abdomen, SNAC quickly raises the native pH, stopping the pill from breaking down too shortly, Velayati says.

As a result of the gut is a tough setting for absorption, the oral dose of semaglutide is far greater than the usual weekly 2.4 mg injection, at 25 milligrams (mg) per day.

“Even when the oral dose is massive, solely a small portion truly enters the bloodstream,” says W. Timothy Garvey, MD, professor of drugs and director of the College of Alabama at Birmingham Diabetes Analysis Middle.

Velayati stated the physique absorbs solely about 0.4 to 1 % of semaglutide taken orally. “So even should you take 100 models, lower than one unit truly reaches your bloodstream. However even that small quantity is sufficient to have a significant medical impact,” she says. Growing the oral dose of semaglutide ensures {that a} ample quantity of the drug tolerates abdomen acid.

Administration timing

In the event you’re considering of attempting a brand new weight reduction drug slightly than weekly injections, chances are you’ll have to rethink your morning routine. Not like injections, which might be given at any time, capsules require a strict fasting interval. Tackle an empty abdomen with not more than 4 ounces of plain water and wait a minimum of half-hour earlier than consuming breakfast or consuming a cup of espresso.

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“The SNAC matrix adjustments the pH domestically towards the liner of the abdomen, which permits for absorption,” says Dr. Garvey. “Meals interferes with this interplay.”

In the event you eat quickly after taking a capsule, meals surrounds the capsule in your abdomen. This prevents the drug from touching the abdomen lining, which is important for it to be efficient, Velayati says. Equally, consuming an excessive amount of water dilutes the SNAC buffer and the medication is solely digested and wasted.

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