Comprehensive Guide to Fitaro Semaglutide: Uses, Dosages, and Benefits of Fitaro Injections

Fitaro (Semaglutide) is an anti-diabetic drug used to lower blood sugar levels in patients with diabetes. Fitaro Semaglutide is also used for weight loss as it has shown benefits in reducing weight in obese people. For maximum benefit from Fitaro, it is important to know its uses, how to use it, and its side effects.

Here is a comprehensive guide on Fitaro Semaglutide, Fitaro injection for weight loss, side effects of Fitaro, Fitaro 1.7 mg, Fitaro dosage and administration, different strengths of Fitaro, Fitaro 0.25 mg injection, and more.

What is Fitaro (Semaglutide)?

It is an anti-diabetic drug like Jardiance which reduces blood sugar levels. Fitaro Semaglutide is a GLP-1 receptor agonist. It activates the GLP-1 receptors and increases the secretion of the hormone insulin. Insulin is the main hormone that decreases blood sugar levels after a meal. Thus, Semaglutide decreases blood sugar levels.

Uses of Fitaro Injection

Understanding the uses of Fitaro (Semaglutide) will help you decide whether this treatment is right for you. Here is a list of uses of Fitaro:

1. Fitaro Injection for Diabetes: Semaglutide (Fitaro) is used alongside diet and exercise to bring blood sugar levels within normal range in patients of type 2 diabetes mellitus.
2. Fitaro Injection in Cardiovascular Events: It is used to decrease the risk of cardiovascular events such as cardiovascular death, non-fatal myocardial infarction, or non-fatal stroke, in patients with and without type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and established cardiovascular disease.
3. Fitaro Injection for Weight Loss: Fitaro injection for weight loss has been recently approved for use in obese patients with or without T2DM.

Available Strengths

Semaglutide is available to use in the following strengths:

• Multiple Dose Injection Pens: Semaglutide is available as prefilled multiple dose injection pens in strengths of 2 mg/3 mL (3 mL), 4 mg/3 mL (3 mL), and 8 mg/3 mL (3 mL).
• Single Dose Injection Pens: Semaglutide is available as prefilled single-dose injection pens as 0.25 mg/0.5 mL (0.5 mL), 0.5 mg/0.5 mL (0.5 mL), 1 mg/0.5 mL (0.5 mL), 1.7 mg/0.75 mL (0.75 mL) and 2.4 mg/0.75 mL (0.75 mL).

Dosage and Administration

Understanding the correct dosage and administration methods for Fitaro semaglutide is crucial for effective treatment. Here’s an overview of how to manage your dosage and follow the correct administration practices.

Administration

Fitaro is administered subcutaneously into the upper arm, abdomen or thigh. Patients should rotate injection sites within the same body region (e.g., upper arm) to avoid injecting in the same spot each week. Although the injections can be administered in the same body region, using the same injection site should be avoided.

Dosage Chart

Fitaro Dosage for Type 2 Diabetes and reduction of cardiovascular risk:

• Initially Fitaro 0.25 mg weekly for 4 weeks.
• Increased to 0.5 mg weekly after that
• Increased to Fitaro 1 mg injection weekly if blood sugar levels are not controlled after 4 weeks on 0.5 mg weekly.
• Increased to 2mg (maximum dose) weekly if blood sugar levels are not controlled after 4 weeks on 1 mg weekly.

Dosage for weight reduction:

• Its dosage should be administered 0.25 mg weekly for the first 4 weeks.
• Its dosage should be increased to 0.5 mg weekly for weeks 5 through 8.
• Its dosage should be further increased to Fitaro 1 mg weekly for weeks 9 through 12.
• Its dosage should be further progressed to 1.7 mg weekly for weeks 13 through 16.
• Finally, it should be maintained at a dosage of 2.4 mg weekly thereafter.

Side Effects

Semaglutide may cause side effects that can be dangerous if not addressed early. Understanding the potential side effects of Semaglutide will help you in safely using Semaglutide. Here is a list of side effects that can occur with the use of Semaglutide:

1. Allergic Reaction: This medicine may cause allergic reactions in some people. If you have a history of allergic reactions to medicine similar to Semaglutide, you should avoid it or at least use it with caution.
2. Gallbladder problems: Semaglutide use is associated with cholecystitis (inflammation of gall bladder) and gallstones. How Semaglutide causes these issues is however not fully known yet.
3. Pancreatitis: It is the inflammation of the pancreas (The organ responsible for making insulin). Semaglutide use has been observed to cause acute and chronic inflammation of pancreatitis.
4. Thyroid Cancer: Animal studies have shown the development of thyroid cancer with Semaglutide. So, there may be a risk of thyroid cancer in humans using Semaglutide.
5. Gastrointestinal Disturbance: Gastrointestinal disturbances like nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea and abdominal pain are the most common side effects of Semaglutide.
6. Kidney Damage: Nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea caused by Fitaro may lead to dehydration. Dehydration increases the risk of acute kidney injury. In such conditions, Semaglutide is discontinued or dosage is decreased.
7. Hypoglycemia: High doses of Semaglutide or using it with another anti-diabetic agent like Jardiance can cause the blood sugar level to become too low (hypoglycemia). Hypoglycemia is a medical emergency and can be very dangerous if not treated urgently.
8. Retinal Damage: Diabetes causes retinal damage known as diabetic retinopathy. Semaglutide increases the risk of diabetic retinopathy or may exacerbate its progression in patients with pre-existing diabetic retinopathy.
9. Miscellaneous: Semaglutide may cause other adverse effects like fatigue, headache, rash, alopecia, vitreous haemorrhage in patients with diabetic retinopathy, anxiety, dizziness, discomfort at the injection site, and erythema at the injection site.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Fitaro Semaglutide

1. What are the benefits of Fitaro injection for weight loss?

Fitaro 2.4 mg injection once weekly combined with diet and exercise is very effective in significant and sustained weight loss in obese patients. Studies have shown up to 15 kg weight loss in obese patients without any significant or long-term side effects.

2. Are there any side effects of using Fitaro injections?

Fitaro injection may cause side effects like allergic reactions, pancreatitis, gall stones, cholecystitis, hypoglycemia, acute kidney injury, retinal damage, thyroid cancer, fatigue, headache, rash, alopecia, vitreous haemorrhage in patients with diabetic retinopathy, anxiety, dizziness, and discomfort and redness at the injection site.

3. How is Fitaro administered?

Fitaro is administered subcutaneously into the upper arm, abdomen or thigh. Patients should rotate injection sites within the same body region (e.g., upper arm) to avoid injecting in the same spot each week.

4. What is the recommended dosage of Fitaro?

The recommended dosage of Fitaro for diabetes is Fitaro 0.25 mg weekly for 4 weeks then 0.5 mg weekly. It can be further increased up to 2mg depending on the blood sugar levels. The dosage of Fitaro injection for weight loss is 0.25mg weekly for 4 weeks gradually increasing to 2.4 mg weekly in the next 12 weeks.

5. Who should avoid using Fitaro?

People who have a family or personal history of thyroid cancer should not use it. It should not be used by pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers. It should not be used in patients with type 1 diabetes. People who had an allergic reaction when using Semaglutide or a similar drug should also avoid it.

References:

1. Kommu S, Whitfield P. Semaglutide. [Updated 2024 Feb 11]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2024 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK603723/
2. Kommu S, Whitfield P. Semaglutide. [Updated 2024 Feb 11]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2024 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK603723/
3. Smits, M. M., & Van Raalte, D. H. (2021). Safety of semaglutide. Frontiers in endocrinology, 12, 645563. https://doi.org/10.3389/fendo.2021.645563
4. Wilding, J. P., Batterham, R. L., Calanna, S., Davies, M., Van Gaal, L. F., Lingvay, I., … & Kushner, R. F. (2021). Once-weekly semaglutide in adults with overweight or obesity. New England Journal of Medicine, 384(11), 989-1002. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2032183
5. Lincoff, A. M., Brown-Frandsen, K., Colhoun, H. M., Deanfield, J., Emerson, S. S., Esbjerg, S., … & Ryan, D. H. (2023). Semaglutide and cardiovascular outcomes in obesity without diabetes. New England Journal of Medicine, 389(24), 2221-2232. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2307563
6. Chao, A. M., Tronieri, J. S., Amaro, A., & Wadden, T. A. (2023). Semaglutide for the treatment of obesity. Trends in cardiovascular medicine, 33(3), 159-166. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tcm.2021.12.008

Post by:

 Dr.Marcella Jiovanni

Health and Beauty Expert

“Marcella Jiovanni actively promotes the importance of maintaining healthy skin, she envisions the future of dermatology as moving away from pure medical, pharmacological dermatology and flowing more toward a holistic approach to wellness and skincare.”