GLP-1 RA FAQ

Frequently asked questions about Semaglutide (Ozempic/Rybelsus/Wegovy), Liraglutide (Saxenda), and Dulaglutide (Trulicity)

This page is intended to answer common questions that people have about the class of medications known as glucacon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists, or GLP-1 RAs. If you have specific questions not answered here, or if you would like personalised advice from a professional regarding the use of these medications, please contact our NOVI team. Existing clients can use the NOVI app or drop us a WhatsApp message, while new clients will need to start with a consultation.

Frequently asked questions

Semaglutide (Ozempic/Rybelsus/Wegovy)

Liraglutide (Saxenda)

Dulaglutide (Trulicity)

Semaglutide (Ozempic/Rybelsus/Wegovy) FAQ

Is Semaglutide (Ozempic/Rybelsus/Wegovy) over the counter in Singapore?

GLP-1 RAs are not available over the counter in Singapore. These weight loss medications can only be obtained with a doctor’s prescription. Different forms of semaglutide are approved for use in people with diabetes, or for weight loss in people who are significantly overweight.

How does Semaglutide (Ozempic/Rybelsus/Wegovy) help with diabetes?

Semaglutide mimics a natural hormone known as glucagon-like peptide 1, or GLP-1. This hormone has a variety of functions in the body. It acts to stimulate the body to produce insulin, so GLP-1 RAs may increase the body’s production of insulin. It also signals the brain to feel full, and slows down the rate at which the stomach empties. This causes people taking GLP-1 RAs to feel full for longer on less food, so they tend to eat significantly less than they used to without feeling hungry. If they lose weight, then this will also have positive effects on their blood sugar control and diabetes outcomes.

Is Semaglutide (Ozempic/Rybelsus/Wegovy) good for weight loss?

There are multiple different forms of semaglutide. Wegovy is an injectable form of semaglutide that’s specifically approved in Singapore for weight loss, while Ozempic and Rybelsus are only approved for the treatment of diabetes.

What are the benefits of Semaglutide (Ozempic/Rybelsus/Wegovy)?

Because semaglutide helps with blood sugar control as well as weight loss, it has been shown to have numerous benefits for a person’s health. These include reducing the risk of heart attack and stroke, slowing the decline of kidney function, and reducing the accumulation of damaging fat tissue in the liver.

How much does Semaglutide (Ozempic/Rybelsus/Wegovy) cost in Singapore?

In Singapore, Ozempic costs S$400 to S$430 per pen, while the cost for Rybelsus is S$280 to S$400 per box. Our GLP-1 RA program costs S$432 per month or S$1080 for three months, and is inclusive of medication, physician and dietitian consultation, and digital health coaching.

What are the bad side effects of Semaglutide (Ozempic/Rybelsus/Wegovy)?

Like any medication, semaglutide and other GLP-1 RAs can have side effects. Most of these are unpleasant, but are not dangerous. Some common side effects include nausea, abdominal pain and bloating, heartburn, constipation, and diarrhea. These often resolve on their own over a period of a few weeks, and simple lifestyle changes can often help to manage them.

How much weight can you lose with Semaglutide (Ozempic/Rybelsus/Wegovy)? 

One placebo-controlled study of semaglutide showed that the average weight loss was about 15% of a person’s starting body weight after about a year. Weight loss with semaglutide after one month was about 2%, while weight loss with semaglutide after three months was about 6%. This means that, if you started semaglutide weighing 100kg, you would expect to lose about 2 kg in the first month, 6kg by the end of the third month, and 15kg after about a year. However, it’s important to keep in mind that this is only an average, and results on semaglutide vary. Some people lose more weight than average, while others lose less.

How long do I have to take Semaglutide (Ozempic/Rybelsus/Wegovy)?

Semaglutide is considered to be safe for long-term use. If you’re not experiencing any serious side effects, there’s no reason that you need to stop using it. Semaglutide is effective for both weight loss and blood sugar control, but it will only work while it’s being used. After stopping the medication, people may regain some of the weight that was lost. To help prevent this, a healthy lifestyle is crucial. If you stop taking semaglutide, support from your nutritionist and health coach will help you to develop and stick to the best healthy lifestyle plan to maintain your weight loss.

What foods should I avoid with Semaglutide (Ozempic/Rybelsus/Wegovy)?

Eating certain foods, such as fried and fatty foods, may tend to worsen the digestive side effects of semaglutide, such as nausea and bloating. Sugary foods and beverages may also lead to digestive troubles, and it’s also recommended to avoid large amounts of sugar if you’re experiencing diabetes or prediabetes. It’s also better to minimize or avoid alcohol, as alcohol can lead to low blood sugar, which may be worse when taking semaglutide. Take a look at what an ideal diet for semaglutide (Ozempic/Rybelsus/Wegovy) looks like so you could improve blood sugar profiles while minimizing adverse side effects.

What happens when you stop Semaglutide (Ozempic/Rybelsus/Wegovy)?

When people stop taking a GLP-1 RA, studies have shown that they commonly regain an average of about two-thirds of the weight that they lost while on the medication. Although this is common, there are methods that can help to avoid this weight rebound after stopping a GLP-1 RA. It’s important to work with your nutritionist and health coach to create and stick to the best healthy lifestyle plan for you, to help prevent weight regain after stopping semaglutide.

Does Semaglutide (Ozempic/Rybelsus/Wegovy) help with belly fat?

Semaglutide helps to reduce body fat in many areas of the body, including the belly. A recent study showed that people taking semaglutide experienced a reduction of about 40% of abdominal visceral fat, which is the most dangerous type of belly fat, in a little over a year.

Is Wegovy available in Singapore?

In March 2023, Wegovy, an injectable form of semaglutide, was approved in Singapore specifically for weight loss. People with a BMI of 30 or greater, or those of a BMI between 27 and 30 who are experiencing weight-related health issues, may be candidates for treatment with this medication. However, due to a global shortage of the Wegovy, it is not yet available for use in Singapore. We expect Wegovy to be available in Singapore some time in 2024.

Liraglutide (Saxenda) FAQ

Is Liraglutide (Saxenda) legal in Singapore?

Liraglutide is approved for use in Singapore, both for treating diabetes and for weight loss. It can only be obtained with a doctor’s prescription. You cannot get liraglutide over the counter in Singapore.

How much does Liraglutide (Saxenda) cost?

The price for liraglutide in Singapore is between S$130 and S$160 for a single injection pen. Each pen will last for several days. Once they’ve worked up to the full dose, most people use a full pen in six days, meaning that you’ll need about five pens each month.

How does Liraglutide (Saxenda) help diabetes?

Liraglutide, like other GLP-1 RAs, mimics a natural hormone called glucagon-like peptide 1, or GLP-1. This hormone has a few different actions in the body. One of these is to stimulate the release of insulin, which helps with blood sugar control. In addition, the weight loss stimulated by liraglutide may help to improve blood sugar control and outcomes from diabetes.

How does Liraglutide (Saxenda) work for weight loss?

Liraglutide mimics a natural hormone known as GLP-1. This hormone acts in the brain to produce a feeling of fullness. It also slows down the emptying of the stomach, so food stays in the stomach for longer. These effects help to keep a person feeling full for longer, so they will tend to eat significantly less than they did before taking the medication. As a result, weight loss is common.

How much weight can you lose on Liraglutide (Saxenda)?

A placebo-controlled study of liraglutide found that people lose an average of about 10% of their body weight after a year. Weight loss in one month with liraglutide was about 2%, and weight loss in three months with liraglutide was about 6%. This means that if you weigh 100kg when you start liraglutide, you can expect to lose about 2kg after a month, 6kg after three months, and 10kg after a year. Keep in mind that these are averages, and individuals may lose more or less weight than this.

Do you gain weight back after stopping Liraglutide (Saxenda)?

Studies have shown that, after stopping a GLP-1 RA, people gain back an average of two-thirds of the weight that they lost while on the medication. Although this weight gain is common, that doesn’t mean that it can’t be prevented. It’s important to work with your nutritionist and health coach to develop and stick to the best healthy lifestyle plan for you, to help you maintain your weight loss. Our NOVI Health clients receive ongoing support, including nutrition and health coaching, to help them maintain the weight loss that they achieved on a GLP-1 RA as much as possible.

What foods should I avoid while taking Liraglutide (Saxenda)?

The side effects of liraglutide are mainly related to the digestive system, like nausea and bloating. Eating fried or fatty foods will tend to make these side effects worse. Sugary foods or beverages may also lead to digestive side effects, and these are also not recommended for people with diabetes or prediabetes. Alcohol can lower blood sugar, and when taking liraglutide, there’s a risk that your blood sugar could go too low. Because of this, it’s best to minimize or avoid alcohol.

How long can I stay on Liraglutide (Saxenda)?

Liraglutide, along with other GLP-1 RAs, is considered safe for long-term use. As long as you’re not experiencing significant adverse effects, there’s no reason that you need to discontinue using the medication.

Is Liraglutide (Saxenda) safe long term?

Liraglutide is considered to be safe for long-term use. As these are newer medications, they have only been studied for a few years, but very few serious side effects have been found. Researchers will continue to monitor people taking liraglutide to ensure that long-term use doesn’t lead to complications, but currently, it appears that liraglutide is safe long-term.

Dulaglutide (Trulicity) FAQ

What are the benefits of Dulaglutide (Trulicity)?

Dulaglutide has been shown to significantly improve blood sugar control. It has also been found to slow the progression of kidney disease, reduce liver fat content and improve liver function, and reduce the risk of a heart attack in people with diabetes.

Is Dulaglutide (Trulicity) an insulin?

Like other GLP-1 RAs, dulaglutide is not a type of insulin. Instead, it mimics a natural hormone in the body known as glucagon-like peptide-1, or GLP-1. One of the effects of this hormone is to stimulate the release of insulin, so even though dulaglutide is not itself a type of insulin, it may lead to a rise in insulin levels in the body.

Does Dulaglutide (Trulicity) lower blood sugar?

Dulaglutide is approved for treating diabetes, and is effective for lowering blood sugar. It’s generally given by injection once a week. In one study, a single injection of dulaglutide lowered fasting glucose by about 20 mg/dL (1.1 mmol/L), and after-meal glucose levels by about 30 to 50 mg/dL (1.67 to 2.78 mmol/L), compared to the same people’s measurements before taking dulaglutide.

How effective is Dulaglutide (Trulicity)?

Dulaglutide is approved for treating diabetes, and is effective at lowering blood sugar. One study showed that dulaglutide can lower Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), a measure of average blood sugar, by about 1.5 to 1.8% over the course of a year. (HbA1c of 6.5% or higher indicates diabetes, while 5.6% or less is considered normal.) It has also been shown to lower fasting glucose by about 20 mg/dL (1.1 mmol/L), and after-meal glucose levels by about 30 to 50 mg/dL (1.67 to 2.78 mmol/L).

What are the side effects of Dulaglutide (Trulicity)?

The side effects of dulaglutide, like those of other GLP-1 RAs, are mostly related to the digestive system, and include nausea, abdominal pain and bloating, diarrhea, and constipation. Serious side effects are rare. The side effects of dulaglutide may be uncomfortable, but they often go away after a few weeks of using the medication, and can usually be managed with lifestyle changes.

Is Dulaglutide (Trulicity) better than insulin?

One study comparing dulaglutide and insulin therapy found that both treatments achieved good blood sugar control, but dulaglutide produced a lower risk of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) and was better at slowing the progression of kidney failure.

Does Dulaglutide (Trulicity) affect the kidneys?

Overall, dulaglutide has been found to have a protective effect on the kidneys. It reduces the risk that a person with diabetes will experience a decline in kidney function. Damage to the kidneys is a common complication of diabetes, and dulaglutide seems to help protect against this. However, there are a few people who experience kidney failure after taking dulaglutide, so it’s important to be monitored carefully for this uncommon side effect.

Does Dulaglutide (Trulicity) reduce liver fat?

Dulaglutide has been shown to significantly reduce liver fat content. It has also been found to have a beneficial effect on liver function. Because fat tissue in the liver can interfere with liver function and can even lead to liver failure, this is a highly significant finding.

What foods should you avoid when taking Dulaglutide (Trulicity)?

The most common side effects of dulaglutide are related to the digestive system. People may experience issues like nausea and bloating when taking this medication. Eating fried or fatty foods tends to worsen these issues. Sugary foods or beverages may also make digestive issues worse, and these foods are also not recommended for people with diabetes. In addition, it’s best to minimize or avoid alcohol while taking dulaglutide. This is because alcohol can lower blood sugar, and when you’re taking dulaglutide, there’s an increased risk that your blood sugar will go too low, leading to hypoglycemia.

How long does it take for Dulaglutide (Trulicity) to work?

Dulaglutide has been shown to start working after the first dose. The effects on blood sugar control have also been shown to be maintained at a stable level when using dulaglutide over a period of a few years.