There is news of relief for people troubled by increasing weight. Weight loss medicine 'Wegovy' has arrived in the market, which has to be taken once a day. This medicine can now be bought privately in England from high street and online pharmacies, but it is still not available on the NHS (National Health Service).
It contains the same thing – Semaglutide which is in Vegovi Weight Loss Injection, despite this it is still advised to take this medicine along with a healthy diet and more physical activity. So, what is different in this tablet version of 'Skinny Jab' i.e. weight loss injection?
According to BBC report, some caution has to be exercised before taking this medicine. Many strict guidelines have been made to ensure that the tablet dissolves well in the body.
Before taking the tablet, you will not have to eat anything for at least 8 hours i.e. the medicine has to be taken on an empty stomach. After this, you will have to eat something for about half an hour before taking the second tablet. To take the medicine, it must be swallowed whole with up to 120ml of water (just plain water, not tea or coffee).
The important thing about taking the medicine is that it should be taken at the same time. So that the routine remains. Now, if you forget to take the medicine on any day while taking the medicine, then skip the dose of that day and take the dose at the scheduled time the next day.
The medicine now comes in 2 different forms, one in tablet form and the other in injection form, and both treatments work well. Trials so far show that they are equally effective.
If someone does not like to take medicine by injection, then he can take the tablet option. There will be no need to fast for 8 hours to take the dose by injection. This injection will have to be taken once a week, and it can be taken any time during the day. The only special thing about this is that it is necessary to keep it in the refrigerator.
This medication is available to people who have a BMI of 30 and above (usually considered obese) or a BMI of 27-30 (overweight) if they also have certain weight-related health problems, such as type 2 diabetes or high blood pressure.
This is actually the same criteria as for people taking injections. Like injections, it's important to consult a doctor to make sure the pill is right for you.
Many online and local pharmacies say that they will have stock available soon. Some people suggest signing up for a waiting list or mailing list to receive information. Also, to avoid fraud, people are being advised to visit trusted websites to avoid buying fake medicines.
Semaglutide, present in injections and tablets, works like a hormone called GLP-1 (glucagon-like-peptide-1), which is released from the intestine after eating food. It also works on the receptors in the brain that control appetite, due to which people feel full, hence their appetite decreases and the desire to eat decreases.
Both types of treatments have very common side effects, including stomach problems, such as nausea, vomiting, constipation, and diarrhea. Whereas in case of injections, there may be slight redness, itching or slight swelling on the skin where the injection is given.
Also, some people taking tablets or taking injections may feel stomach ache, headache and fatigue. Whereas in very few cases, this may also increase the problem. People may suffer more serious problems, such as low blood sugar, pancreatitis or severe allergic reactions.
If the person taking the medicine is under 18 years of age, or if a woman is pregnant or breastfeeding, then she should not take this medicine. Also, if you have any other disease or are taking any other medicine, then doctor's advice should be taken for the same.
The starting dose is one 1.5mg tablet taken continuously for a month and then, after consulting your doctor, the dose will usually be increased every month until the recommended maximum dose of 25mg once daily is reached.
Like injections, it may take several months to see the benefits and there is a risk of regaining weight after stopping the drug. Patients who are currently taking 2.4mg semaglutide injections privately can switch to 25mg semaglutide tablets daily under medical supervision.
Also, patients should seek advice before trying to switch similar medications, as the correct dosage and method of treatment may differ from person to person.
Whether the tablet is now cheaper or more expensive than the injection will depend on where it is being purchased. Some pharmacies have special offers for some time, in which initially some doses are sold at a lower price. However, the price also depends on how many doses are being taken. Higher doses will cost more.
Some pharmacies are currently pricing a month's supply at £99 for the lowest dose (1.5mg) and £199 for a 30-day supply at the highest dose (25mg). When this drug was launched in the US, the manufacturer set the price for a starting dose of 1.5mg at $149 (about £110) per month.
It is expected that in the long run this pill will be cheaper than the injection, but nothing can be said. Whereas some pharmacies are currently charging almost the same price for both.
Earlier this month, it was the first pill of its kind to receive approval from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). But nothing is known about when the medicine will be available on the NHS in England.
Do these pills work for a short period of time? So experts say that GLP-1 medicines have not been made for the purpose of short-term weight loss or just for show.
In a recent trial, people took Wegovy or a placebo (dummy pill) along with a low-calorie diet and more physical activity for 64 weeks. Those who took Wegovi tablets lost an average of 13.61% weight, while the placebo group lost only 2.18%.
The BBC quoted Suzanne Jebb, professor of diet and population health at Oxford University, as saying that these medicines can be used for a long time, like blood pressure or cholesterol medicines. But she admits that she is worried about relying on all these things to solve the problem of obesity.
Regarding counterfeit pills, Burt said the sale of counterfeit pills is a “huge concern,” but he also said Novo Nordisk has taken several measures to prevent the distribution of such drugs. This also includes monitoring online spaces, especially those where people may come into contact with websites selling counterfeit or adulterated medicines.
