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When Does Semaglutide Start Working?

Ever wondered when Semaglutide starts working? We explain how long it will take for you to see results for yourself.
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Depending on what you’re taking Semaglutide for, it can take different amounts of time to start working for you.

If you’re using Semaglutide for diabetes, it should start to help with blood glucose control within a week of reaching your therapeutic dose. 

Everyone’s therapeutic dose is different. For some, this could be 0.5mg weekly, and for others, it could be higher. 

It may take up to eight weeks to notice the full effects of Semaglutide for diabetes.

This is because Semaglutide (the medication in the injections) is a long-acting medicine. 

If you’re taking weekly GLP-1 receptor agonist injections for weight loss, the timeframe shifts a little.

It’s important to remember that weeks 1-8 of treatment are a titration period.

This means that you’ll be taking lower doses of the active ingredient to help your body get used to it.

Whilst some people do see great results during the titration period, it shouldn’t be expected. 

It’s generally advised that by week 12 of being at a therapeutic dose, you should have lost at least 5% of your starting weight.

This is 20 weeks of treatment in total, including the 8-week titration period.

How long does it take for Semaglutide to start working? 

If you haven’t seen any improvement in your first couple of months, don’t lose faith!

GLP-1 receptor agonists have a titration period of at least 8 weeks, so you won’t even reach the theraputic dose until week 9.

Most people need this to see any significant weight loss. 

Everyone reacts to medications differently.

One of the important things to remember is that Semaglutide is a prescription medicine, meaning that you should follow the dosing schedule given to you by your prescriber.

This might mean that your titration period lasts longer than usual, or that it could be shorter, your prescriber will be able to give you a better idea of where you are up to in your treatment plan.

However, a gradual increase is recommended and is more sustainable in the long term.

We would recommend trying weekly injections (if you’re able to tolerate the side effects) for at least three full months before making a decision either way.

You should also be able to increase your rate of weight loss by reducing how many calories you eat each day, or exercising more.

Many people that try weight loss treatments expect them to work quickly.

Unfortunately, there is no healthy fast-track to weight loss.

GLP-1 receptor agonists can support you by making it easier to eat less food, which should make a low-calorie diet easier.

However, you should always aim for a steady and sustained loss rather than quick results.

If you still haven’t seen any results after the end of your third month taking Semaglutide, please speak to one of our prescribers.

They may be able to give you more guidance or suggest increasing your dosage for a while. 

Content Written By

Laura Henderson

Laura Henderson

Reviewed & Fact-Checked By

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Content Written By

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James O'Loan

James O'Loan

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