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Only 40% of 2023 initiators remained on therapy after a year compared to 34% of 2022 initiators and 33% of 2021 initiators

Take 4 capsules with 16 oz (500ml) of water 30 minutes before your largest meal of the day

Once opened, compounded semaglutide typically lasts 28 days in the fridge

OptumRx coverage of Zepbound depends on the specific plan or employer contract using OptumRx as the pharmacy benefit manager.

Its designed to support your everyday wellness routine and help you feel satisfied and energized throughout the day

Cardiometabolic Risk Reduction Beyond weight loss and glycemic control, semaglutide provides several cardiometabolic benefits: Reduces systolic blood pressure (ETD -4.2 mmHg versus placebo at week 104)[6] Improves lipid profiles, including reductions in total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, VLDL cholesterol, and triglycerides[6] Decreases C-reactive protein, a marker of inflammation[6] Reduces waist circumference (ETD -9.2 cm versus placebo at week 104)[6] Maintenance of Weight Loss A critical aspect of semaglutide's clinical value is its ability to maintain weight loss over extended periodssomething that has challenged previous weight management approaches: Similar mean weight loss at weeks 52 and 104 in STEP 5 (-15.6% and -15.2%, respectively), suggesting minimal weight regain with continued therapy[6] In contrast, discontinuation studies have shown substantial weight regain once treatment stops, with patients regaining approximately two-thirds of their original weight loss one year after discontinuation[1] This pattern strongly supports the view of obesity as a chronic disease requiring ongoing treatment[6] Safety Profile and Adverse Effects Gastrointestinal Effects The most common adverse effects of semaglutide are gastrointestinal disorders: In STEP 5, 82.2% of semaglutide-treated participants experienced gastrointestinal adverse events versus 53.9% with placebo[6] Most common symptoms include nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, and constipation[6][7][8] Typically mild-to-moderate in severity and transient, often occurring during dose escalation[6][7][8] Led to treatment discontinuation in 3.9% of participants in the semaglutide group versus 0.7% in the placebo group in STEP 5[6] Other Safety Considerations Several additional safety considerations are relevant for semaglutide treatment: Gallbladder Disorders: Increased risk of gallbladder-related problems, particularly cholelithiasis (gallstones)[7][8] Thyroid C-Cell Tumors: Carries a boxed warning regarding the risk of thyroid C-cell tumors based on animal studies, though a causal relationship in humans has not been established[7] Pancreatitis: Potential risk of pancreatitis, though no cases were reported in the STEP 5 trial, and overall risk appears low[6][7] Diabetic Retinopathy: Patients with pre-existing diabetic retinopathy may experience complications, particularly if also treated with insulin[7] Acute Kidney Injury: Cases have been reported, necessitating monitoring of renal function[7] Hypoglycemia: Risk is generally low but increases when combined with insulin or insulin secretagogues[7] Malignancies: No significant difference in overall cancer risk between semaglutide and placebo groups in clinical trials[1][6] Mental Health: A 2024 FDA review found no evidence that semaglutide causes suicidal thoughts or actions, despite earlier concerns[1] A systematic safety review confirmed that most adverse effects are mild-to-moderate, transient, and primarily gastrointestinal in nature, with an overall favorable risk/benefit profile given the substantial clinical benefits[7][8]