Three ways semaglutide is prescribed

All three use semaglutide, a GLP-1 receptor agonist. What differs is the route, the dose, and how much evidence exists for each.

Standard weekly injection

A once-weekly injection under the skin, with the dose increased gradually over several months. This is how FDA-approved semaglutide was given in large clinical trials such as STEP 1. Compounded semaglutide was not studied in those trials, and individual results vary.

Sublingual drops

Daily under-the-tongue drops, an option for people who prefer to avoid needles. The trade-off: daily routine instead of weekly, and absorption through oral tissue rather than direct subcutaneous delivery. Sublingual absorption of semaglutide has not been established in published clinical trials, and how well it works compared with injection is unknown.

Microdosing

A lower-dose injection protocol with a slower dose increase. Side effects such as nausea are linked to how quickly the dose is raised, which is why some clinicians increase it more slowly. Lower-dose protocols have not been studied in clinical trials, and their effectiveness is not established.

Your provider decides which form and dose, if any, is appropriate for you, based on your health history, your goals and how you respond. The FDA-approved injection was studied in large trials; compounded versions, sublingual forms and lower-dose protocols were not.

Whichever form is prescribed, a licensed provider reviews your history first, and your dose is adjusted based on how you respond.

Matched by a provider.

Your provider uses your assessment to decide whether a treatment is appropriate, and which form and dose. Explore the protocol →