Semaglutide: A Comprehensive Review of Efficacy, Risks, and Clinical Applications in Obesity and Type 2 Diabetes
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17458994Keywords:
Semaglutide; GLP-1; Obesity; Type 2 diabetes; Off-label use; Pharmaceutical care.Abstract
Semaglutide, a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist, has emerged as an innovative therapeutic agent in the management of obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Beyond its approved clinical indications, its use has expanded significantly, particularly in Brazil, for aesthetic purposes and other off-label applications. This study aims to analyze the available evidence regarding semaglutide’s clinical efficacy, safety, off-label use, and the role of pharmaceutical care in its rational utilization. This is an integrative literature review conducted through a structured search in the PubMed, Scopus, LILACS, and SciELO databases. Eight articles published between 2019 and 2024 were selected based on predefined eligibility criteria. Findings reveal consistent clinical benefits, including improved glycemic control and significant weight reduction. However, concerns are raised about the unsupervised use of semaglutide, especially for rapid weight loss, which may lead to adverse effects such as nausea, vomiting, and hypoglycemia. It is concluded that the rational use of semaglutide requires multidisciplinary monitoring, with an emphasis on the pharmacist’s role in ensuring therapeutic safety and preventing inappropriate or unsupervised practices.
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