If you’re wondering, “Just how long does it take for semaglutide to suppress appetite?” Then you’re not alone. Many people are interested in this quick and effective way to manage their hunger and, ultimately, their weight.

 

The guide explores how fast semaglutide can help you reach your weight loss goals, how this popular medication works, and which telehealth services—like ReflexMD—offer you Ozempic alternatives.

What Is Semaglutide? 

Before we talk about how long it takes for semaglutide to curb appetite, let’s first figure out exactly what it is. Semaglutide is a synthetic hormone designed to act like the glucagon-like peptide-1 (a.k.a. GLP-1)—a naturally occurring hormone that helps control several aspects of your appetite.

 

This medication was originally approved to treat type 2 diabetes and is the active ingredient in the weight loss drug Ozempic. It works to manage insulin secretion, glucose metabolism, and, most importantly, appetite regulation.

 

Since these factors make it easier for you to achieve long-lasting weight loss results, semaglutide has become a sought-after solution for those who want to shed extra pounds. Semaglutide gained FDA approval for weight management in obese and overweight people in 2014.

How Does Semaglutide Work?

To understand how long it takes for semaglutide to suppress appetite, you must first learn how this medication works.

 

Semaglutide interacts and binds with the GLP-1 receptors in your brain and the digestive system. This hormone—which is produced in your gut—signals to your brain when your stomach is full after eating. 

 

The medication triggers the following responses that could help you lower your body weight:

• Appetite Suppression. By targeting the parts of your brain that regulate appetite, semaglutide makes you feel full earlier as you eat and keeps you from getting hungry right away [1]. This could lead to the consumption of fewer calories making semaglutide one of the best appetite suppressants.

• Delayed Gastric Emptying: Semaglutide slows down gastric emptying, which is how fast your stomach empties [2]. Because the food you eat stays in your stomach longer, you’ll also feel satisfied longer (so you won’t crave your next meal soon after!).

• Glucose Regulation: Semaglutide also helps keep blood glucose levels in check while boosting insulin sensitivity, possibly aiding in weight loss [1]. Regulating blood sugar levels could also rev up your metabolism.

How Fast Does Semaglutide Kick In?

The results can vary from person to person. However, most users have reported noticeable changes within the first few weeks after they begin taking semaglutide.

How Long Does It Take to Lose Weight With Semaglutide?

How quickly you’ll start to lose weight with the help of semaglutide depends on how fast your body adjusts to it. This will be affected by different factors—like your metabolism, lifestyle choices, and how strictly you stick to the treatment plan laid out by your doctor. In general, here’s what you can expect:

1. Short-Term Effects of Semaglutide

During the first one to four weeks of use, semaglutide patients often show early signs of weight loss. Some report that they feel fuller after meals and that they also have a reduced appetite.

2. Medium-Term Effects of Semaglutide

Once your body starts to get used to the dosages of semaglutide, doctors usually suggest gradually increasing the amount you can take. Users frequently say their appetite is reduced within five to twenty weeks of using the medicine.

 

At this point, most people also report that they lose body weight steadily. This is mostly due to the fewer calories they consume because of appetite suppression.

3. Long-Term Effects of Semaglutide

But how long does it take for semaglutide tablets to suppress appetite in the long run? After 20 weeks, semaglutide may help you sustain weight loss efforts and support your metabolic health, especially if you stick to a healthy diet and lifestyle.

How Fast Can You Increase Your Semaglutide Dose?

Semaglutide’s dosage—usually measured in mg—is carefully measured so your body can easily tolerate it. At first, the medication is given at a lower dosage, then gradually increased over several weeks to reach the maintenance dose. It usually takes around 17 weeks for most people to reach the maintenance dose of semaglutide. 

 

There are two main reasons why the dosage is increased gradually:

• Minimizing Side Effects: Your body needs to time adapt to most medications, which is why doctors suggest starting at a lower dosage. This will minimize some of the common side effects of the drug (like diarrhea or nausea).

• Reaching Therapeutic Levels: Doctors raise the dosage amount so that it builds up to the optimal level in your body; this gives the medication a chance to produce the needed effects to encourage weight loss.

What Are the Side Effects of Semaglutide?

There are a handful of mild and manageable side effects that some users report, including:

• Nausea
• Diarrhea
• Constipation

For the most part, these gastrointestinal side effects usually crop up during the first few weeks of starting semaglutide or when the dosage is increased. Then, they are likely to subside as your body adjusts to the medication.

6 Factors That Influence How Fast Semaglutide Works

How long does it take for semaglutide to curb hunger? Well, here are some things that can affect this medication’s timeline.

1. Patient’s Overall Health Status

Your health status—including your age, medical conditions, and metabolic rate—plays a role in how quickly this medicine begins to suppress your appetite.

2. Dosage

Because the dosage starts off low, you may not feel huge appetite changes or significant weight loss until you reach the maintenance dose. Even then, your doctor’s final dosage can impact how soon you’ll see your weight loss results.

3. Administration Route

How long does it take for semaglutide to reduce appetite in your case? Well, how you take semaglutide also has an impact on how fast you can see results. The most common way is an injection; this helps your body to absorb and distribute the medication quickly.

 

Some companies also offer an oral version of semaglutide, which has shown promising results compared to the injection [3]. However, oral tablets need to be taken daily, whereas injections are only needed once a week.

4. Lifestyle Choices

If you stick to a healthy, calorie-conscious diet and regular activity in addition to using semaglutide, you have a better shot of experiencing quicker (and more sustainable!) weight loss results.

5. Individual Metabolism

Your metabolic rate—or how much energy your body uses to sustain itself—can also affect how swiftly your body responds to semaglutide. People with higher metabolic rates may need larger doses of the medication or more frequent administration. 

6. Adherence to Treatment Plan

You must be consistent with the prescribed dosage and treatment plan to maximize your weight loss potential through semaglutide. Skipping doses or stopping the medication early can slow down the results of this medication.

Best Semaglutide Brand Alternatives to Ozempic

If you’re looking for alternatives to Ozempic, check out the best telehealth services to find great options in the broad world of weight loss supplements and popular prescription-required medications.

1. ReflexMD

ReflexMD is a telehealth platform that focuses on weight management and diabetes control. It offers you a semaglutide treatment plan based on a virtual consultation. From there, the doctors will recommend and prescribe a semaglutide treatment based on your individual needs as a patient. 

 

ReflexMD has a strong score of 4.2 out of five on Trustpilot, with 68% currently giving the company five stars out of five. Generally, reviewers describe the platform as a convenient way to contact doctors and receive orders for prescriptions.

 

The pricing for ReflexMD, however, is quite high. While you first need to fill out a form on the official website to get a quote, a Redditor on r/grandrapids shared that the first month cost them $300, and they paid $500 for each subsequent month.

2. Strut

Like ReflexMD, Strut provides online consultations and prescriptions, including semaglutide products. The platform has a simple three-step process for reviewing your health and medical information, which a doctor evaluates before prescribing a treatment plan. You can choose between the injectible version of semaglutide or tablets (if you don’t like needles!).

 

When it comes to how long it takes for semaglutide to suppress appetite, the Reddit thread r/CompundedSemaglutide features a user who claims that he lost four pounds five days after he started taking the Strut meds; he does clarify that he made major changes to his diet during this time as well which would have also contributed to their results.

 

On the other hand, another Reddit participant in the same thread isn’t sure yet if Strut is right for him, so he asks fellow Redditors for advice.

3. Maximus

Maximus is a health platform designed specifically for men’s wellness. It showcases a variety of products—including injectable semaglutide and some of the best ED pills—that help optimize your health.

 

The company offers telehealth consultation that assesses and monitors prescriptions based on your results. Plus, the community-based coaching system provides dietary guidance.

 

Maximus Tribe mostly has positive feedback on Trustpilot, but it doesn’t hurt to ask around from friends and colleagues who may have used it for first-hand testimonies.

4. Henry Meds

Henry Meds presents another straightforward approach to weight loss: providing personalized treatment plans on the platform. The company features one-on-one video appointments with clinicians who prescribe needed medications. You’ll get your medication shipped directly to your door, and you can make monthly payments.

 

When answering the question, “How long does it take for semaglutide to suppress appetite?” one Redditor shares, in r/henrymeds, that she finally saw results during the second month, when she noticed she had lost five pounds. A different Reddit user in the same thread says she initially lost six pounds, but she’s considering requesting a higher dose after plateauing.

5. G-Plans

G-Plans combines access to medical professionals with customizable meal plans plus coaching to take a holistic approach to weight loss. To start with, you can take a quiz to find out what your metabolic type is. Even better, G-Plans also provides prescriptions for semaglutide and other medications; just take another five-minute quiz to get approval.

 

G-Plans has a fair number of good reviews on many online review sites. Some users share that they used to be skeptics but are now glad they tried it and saw results. However, users often mention issues with customer support.

FAQs on Semaglutide and Appetite Suppression

You probably still have other questions about semaglutide. Below are the most common ones, along with their answers.

Can You Lose Weight During the First Week of Semaglutide Use?

Some users have reported experiencing impressive weight loss during the first week, as the medication can suppress appetite quickly. However, it takes most patients several weeks or months for significant, sustainable weight loss to occur.

Do I Need to Take Semaglutide for the Rest of My Life?

For some people, semaglutide medications like Wegovy need to be taken for the rest of their lives. Certain studies have shown that when users stop taking semaglutide, they regain much of the weight they lost [4]. However, because every person has a different body type and mindset, it may not be necessary for you to take it throughout your lifetime, but after consulting with your doctor, of course.

Can I Lose 20 Pounds in a Month With Semaglutide?

While this medication can help you lose significant weight, losing 20 points in a single month may be an ambitious goal, if not unhealthy. It’s better to shoot for a healthy, realistic goal of half up to two pounds a week.

How Long Do I Need to Take Semaglutide to See Results?

The results timeline may vary, but most users report experiencing noticeable changes in appetite and then weight within the first few weeks. After a longer time (around four to five months), you may start experiencing the full weight loss potential of semaglutide.

How Much Weight Can I Lose With Semaglutide?

Reports suggest that people who consistently use semaglutide can expect to lose 15% to 20% of body weight by the time they reach their maintenance dose [5]. However, how much weight you lose depends on multiple factors, like how well you diet, your starting weight, and how strictly you follow the plan.

How Quickly Does Semaglutide Reduce Appetite?

You may begin noticing changes in your appetite within the first week and month of using semaglutide. Your appetite might grow even smaller over several weeks and months as your dosage is increased.

Why Am I Still Hungry After Taking Semaglutide?

There are many factors that can affect how well semaglutide works, like your metabolic rate. If you’re still hungry while taking this medication, your doctor may need to adjust the dosage or modify your treatment plan.

What Does Compounding Mean in Semaglutide Use?

Compounding is the process of mixing or adjusting your medication to customize treatments for your specific needs as a patient. When it comes to semaglutide, compounding could mean adding additional ingredients (like B12) or adjusting the dosage to match your weight loss goals.

How Do You Know if Semaglutide Is Working?

There are many signs that show your medication is working:

• Being fully and easily satisfied with the smallest of meals
• Fewer hunger pangs
• Gradual and consistent weight loss
• Lower blood sugar levels
• Increased energy levels

How Do I Learn How to Speed up Weight Loss on Semaglutide?

One of the key ways you can lose weight and keep it off is to pair the medication with a comprehensive lifestyle plan. Here are some weight loss tips:

• Adopt a diet of balanced, low-calorie, and nutrient-dense foods
• Exercise regularly
• Get enough sleep 
• Avoid stressors as much as possible
• Stay hydrated
• Follow the recommended dosage, and make a chart to track your intake

Final Thoughts on How Long Does It Take for Semaglutide to Suppress Appetite?

Semaglutide offers people who struggle with obesity a promising way to regain control of their health. While timelines can vary, you can look forward to experiencing noticeable changes within the first few weeks of starting the medication, as most people do.

 

Since you now know the answer to the popular internet question, “How long does it take for semaglutide to suppress appetite?” the next step is to explore your options—whether you plan to get Ozempic or high-quality semaglutide alternatives from ReflexMD and other online telehealth services.

References

1. Gabery S, Salinas CG, Paulsen SJ, Ahnfelt-Rønne J, Alanentalo T, Baquero AF, Buckley ST, Farkas E, Fekete C, Frederiksen KS, Helms HCC, Jeppesen JF, John LM, Pyke C, Nøhr J, Lu TT, Polex-Wolf J, Prevot V, Raun K, Simonsen L, Sun G, Szilvásy-Szabó A, Willenbrock H, Secher A, Knudsen LB, Hogendorf WFJ. Semaglutide lowers body weight in rodents via distributed neural pathways. JCI Insight. 2020 Mar 26;5(6):e133429. doi: 10.1172/jci.insight.133429. PMID: 32213703; PMCID: PMC7213778.
2. Roh E, Choi KM. Hormonal Gut-Brain Signaling for the Treatment of Obesity. Int J Mol Sci. 2023 Feb 8;24(4):3384. doi: 10.3390/ijms24043384. PMID: 36834794; PMCID: PMC9959457.
3. Chubb, B., Gupta, P., Gupta, J. et al. Once-Daily Oral Semaglutide Versus Injectable GLP-1 RAs in People with Type 2 Diabetes Inadequately Controlled on Basal Insulin: Systematic Review and Network Meta-analysis. Diabetes Therapy 12, 1325–1339 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13300-021-01034-w
4. Rubino D, Abrahamsson N, Davies M, et al. Effect of Continued Weekly Subcutaneous Semaglutide vs Placebo on Weight Loss Maintenance in Adults With Overweight or Obesity: The STEP 4 Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA. 2021;325(14):1414–1425. doi:10.1001/jama.2021.3224
5. Wilding, J. P. H., Batterham, R. L., & Calanna, S. (2021). Once-Weekly Semaglutide in Adults with Overweight or Obesity. The New England Journal of Medicine, 384(11), 989–1002. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa2032183