REVIEW OF SEMAGLUTIDE: AN OVERVIEW AND MECHANISM OF ACTION

D. Bharathi*, N. Deepa, J. Jaisudha, D. Gnanasekaran and T. Devi

A revolutionary treatment for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and obesity is semaglutide, an agonist of the glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor. Semaglutide was first created for glycemic management, but it has shown significant weight loss effectiveness, especially at higher dosages, making it a dual-purpose drug. Glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), fasting plasma glucose levels, and body weight have all been demonstrated to significantly decrease in T2DM patients in clinical trials. Likewise, semaglutide promotes significant weight loss in non-diabetic individuals that are overweight or obese; in long-term studies, participants saw reductions of up to 17% of their starting body weight. It works by imitating endogenous GLP-1, which increases insulin secretion, postpones stomach emptying, and decreases hunger via pathways in the central nervous system. Although semaglutide is usually well tolerated, temporary gastrointestinal problems such nausea and diarrohea are frequent side effects. Careful patient selection and monitoring are necessary for uncommon but major side effects such pancreatitis and gallbladder disease. Evidence of better cardiovascular outcomes in high-risk populations supports semaglutide's usage in lowering cardiovascular risk, demonstrating its flexibility. Its effectiveness and good safety record highlight its potential as a mainstay treatment for metabolic diseases. In order to firmly establish semaglutide's place in contemporary pharmacotherapy, future studies will investigate long-term effects and innovative uses.