The reason most prescribers recommend a gradual reduction is behavioural rather than pharmacological: stepping down gives you time to monitor how your appetite changes at each stage and to bed in the habits youll rely on once the medication is out of your system
Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR) offers a deeper insight by measuring the calories your body burns at rest to maintain essential functions, highlighting the importance of muscle mass in boosting metabolism and overall vitality
GLP-1 receptors are widely distributed throughout the central nervous system, including brain regions involved in reward processing, motivation, and addictive behaviorsparticularly the mesolimbic dopamine system, which includes the ventral tegmental area and nucleus accumbens
Commonly reported side effects included: Nausea (the most frequently reported, particularly at higher doses) Vomiting Diarrhoea Decreased appetite Constipation Eructation (belching) At the 12 mg dose, gastrointestinal adverse events were reported in a higher proportion of participants compared with lower doses, though most did not lead to treatment discontinuation
Compounded versions of semaglutide contain varying ingredients, and theyre not approved by the U.S