How to use it
Compounded oral semaglutide dissolving tablets should be taken as prescribed by your health care provider. They are typically taken daily.
Place a tablet under the tongue or between the gum and cheek and let it dissolve—it takes about one minute. No water is needed. Don’t swallow the dissolving tablets.
For best results, don’t eat or drink anything with calories or carbonation for 30 minutes after taking oral semaglutide dissolving tablets.
Dosing for compounded semaglutide is different from brand-name semaglutide. Follow your provider’s instructions for dosage.
Store compounded oral semaglutide dissolving tablets in the bottle they came in. Don’t use a pill organizer. Store them at room temperature in a dry place away from heat, light, and humidity. Do not keep them in the bathroom.
Dosing
Dosing depends on your specific prescribed medication, your medical history, and your care provider’s instructions. Please read the insert that comes with your medicine.
Side effects
Commonly reported side effects of compounded semaglutide include:
- Nausea and/or vomiting
- Stomach pain
- Diarrhea or constipation
- Decreased appetite
Black Box Warning
Compounded semaglutide oral dissolving tablets contain semaglutide, the active ingredient in brand name drugs like Ozempic, Wegovy, and Rybelsus.
The FDA warns not to take Ozempic, Wegovy, or Rybelsus if you have a personal or family history of medullary thyroid cancer or if you have multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2
Although rare, semaglutide caused thyroid C-cell tumors in animal studies. All brand-name GLP-1s with semaglutide as the active ingredient have a “black box” warning of the risk of these tumors. If you have trouble swallowing, develop hoarseness, or feel swelling or a lump in your neck, contact your health care provider immediately.
Compounded semaglutide has warnings and side effects similar to brand-name products that list semaglutide as the active ingredient.
Precautions
Rapid or significant weight loss can lead to excessive muscle loss. It’s important to start a strength training program and exercise regularly to protect your muscles while taking compounded semaglutide.
Tell your health care provider if you have severe stomach problems that won’t go away, including abdominal bloating or pain, acid reflux, a feeling of fullness after eating just a few bites of food, nausea, and vomiting, including vomiting undigested food eaten a few hours earlier. These may be symptoms of gastroparesis (stomach paralysis).
Use effective birth control while taking this medication. If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or planning to become pregnant, do not take compounded semaglutide.
Compounded semaglutide isn’t appropriate for those with insulin-dependent diabetes or diabetic ketoacidosis. So, if that’s you, compounded semaglutide isn’t the right fit.
Interactions
Some drugs can also interact with semaglutide, including:
- Insulin
- Sulfonylureas (when combined, these can cause blood sugar levels to drop dangerously low)
- Some birth control pills
- Other GLP-1 or GLP-1/GIP receptor agonist medications such as liraglutide, dulaglutide, or tirzepatide
- Levothyroxine
Talk to your health care provider for more details about how this medicine might interact with other products and if you're taking any of these products.
Before taking this medication, talk to your health care provider if you have:
- A history of pancreatitis
- A history of kidney or liver problems
You should not drink alcohol while taking this drug because it can lower blood sugar. Combining alcohol with semaglutide may cause blood sugars to fall too fast, leading to fainting and dizziness.
If you are going under general anesthesia or deep sedation, GLP-1s may make you accidentally breathe food or liquid into your lungs (pulmonary aspiration).
Do not use this medication if you are, or suspect you may be, allergic to any of the ingredients in this compounded product.