Alkem Laboratories has produced a pen-type, prefilled, single-use injection pen of Hepaglide 0.25 mg Injection which has semaglutide 0.68mg/mL, and comes in 1.5mL vials. The injection vials contain 1mg semaglutide in overall. However, the prescribed starting dose is 0.25 mg given once in a week. Current Indian product information lists Hepaglide for chronic weight management alongside diet and physical activity.
For Australian medical information, the TGA has registered semaglutide 0.25mg products, including Wegovy 0.25mg, for chronic weight management.
What Is Hepaglide 0.25 mg Used For?
Hepaglite contains semaglutide, a GLP-1 receptor agonist intended to be used in a weight-manage programme.
For adults, semaglutide could be prescribed for chronic weight management when:
- One’s BMI is 30 kg/m² or more
- One’s BMI is between 27 kg/m² and less than 30 kg/m² and, at the same time, one has at least one health condition that is related to weight.
The treatment, however, does not replace a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity.
Hepaglide 0.25 mg is the presentation of the lowest strength, which is given during the start of the dose-escalation programme for semaglutide. It should be used only under the direction of a qualified healthcare professional.
How Does Hepaglide Work?
Semaglutide acts on GLP-1 receptors, which are involved in appetite regulation, digestion and blood glucose control.
For weight management, semaglutide can help:
- Reduce hunger
- Increase feelings of fullness
- Reduce overall food intake
- Slow gastric emptying
- Support weight loss when combined with lifestyle changes
Because it affects the digestive system, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea and constipation can occur, particularly during the early stages of treatment or after a dose increase.
How To Use Hepaglide 0.25 mg
Hepaglide is given as a subcutaneous injection once a week.
The injection can generally be administered under the skin of the:
- Abdomen
- Thigh
- Upper arm
Semaglutide can be injected at any time of day and with or without food. The injection should not be administered into a vein or muscle.
Your healthcare professional should show you how to use the particular Hepaglide pen before you administer it yourself.
Use a new needle as instructed and never share your injection pen or needles with another person.
Hepaglide 0.25 mg Dosage for Weight Loss
For semaglutide weight management, treatment is normally increased gradually:
| Treatment period | Weekly dose |
| Weeks 1–4 | 0.25mg |
| Weeks 5–8 | 0.5mg |
| Weeks 9–12 | 1mg |
| Weeks 13–16 | 1.7mg |
| Maintenance | 2.4mg |
The 0.25mg dose is generally used for the first four weeks before moving to the next dose when appropriate. The gradual increase is designed to improve tolerability and reduce gastrointestinal problems.
If a higher dose causes significant side effects, your healthcare professional may delay the next increase or use a lower dose for longer.
Do not increase the dose yourself.
If You Miss a Hepaglide Dose
If you miss your scheduled weekly semaglutide injection, follow the missed-dose instructions provided with your prescription and product information.
For Australian Wegovy, a missed dose can generally be taken within 5 days of the scheduled day. If more than 5 days have passed, the missed dose is skipped and the next injection is taken on the regular day.
Do not take two injections together to make up for a missed dose.
Possible Side Effects
Common side effects of semaglutide include:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhoea
- Constipation
- Abdominal pain or discomfort
- Headache
- Dizziness
- Tiredness
- Injection-site reactions
Digestive symptoms are very frequently reported whenever medication first begins or if the dosage is escalated.
Contact a doctor immediately if severe or continuous stomach pain comes up and especially if the pain radiates to the back.
Ongoing vomiting or diarrhea may lead to fluid loss and potentially impact the function of kidneys.
Precautions
Tell your doctor before using Hepaglide if you have:
- A history of pancreatitis
- Severe stomach or intestinal problems
- Delayed stomach emptying
- Kidney problems
- Gallbladder disease or gallstones
- Diabetic eye disease
- A history of serious allergic reactions to semaglutide
- A personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma or MEN 2
- A planned operation or procedure involving anaesthesia or deep sedation
Do not use semaglutide for weight management while pregnant. If you are planning pregnancy, speak to your doctor about stopping medication well before conceiving.
GLP-1 medicines may slow down the emptying of the stomach, hence, notify your doctor, surgeon or anaesthetist about the use of semaglutide prior to any procedure involving general anaesthesia or deep sedation.
Hepaglide and Other Medicines
Inform your physician about all kinds of medicines including prescription drugs, diabetes medicines, supplements and weight-loss treatments that you are taking.
Special caution might be necessary if semaglutide is used in tandem with insulin or sulfonylureas as these combinations may lead to a higher risk of hypoglycemia.
In addition to that semaglutide is known to delay gastric-emptying it might also impact on the absorption of certain orally-administered drugs.
You should avoid taking Hepaglide in combination with other semaglutide products or otherGLP-1 receptor agonists unless your healthcare provider has advised you to do so.
Storage
Hepaglide should be stored according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
Available product information states that Hepaglide should be:
- Stored in a refrigerator at 2°C to 8°C
- Protected from freezing
- Kept away from excessive heat
- Kept out of reach of children
Australian Healthdirect information for registered semaglutide products also specifies refrigeration at 2°C to 8°C, protection from light and not freezing.
Always check the leaflet supplied with your particular Hepaglide pen for instructions about storage after the pen is removed from refrigeration.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Hepaglide 0.25 mg be used by someone who is not overweight or obese?
The aim of using semaglutide for weight loss is that these people have the related medical issues rather than trying to lose weight just because they want to look better. Australia’s drug usage details are using BMI thresholds and presence of weight-related health conditions as an indicator where appropriate.
Why does appetite reduction differ from person to person?
People can respond differently to semaglutide. Changes in appetite may depend on individual factors, treatment duration, dose, eating habits and other health conditions. A lack of an immediate change in appetite does not necessarily mean the medicine will not have an effect.
Can I travel with my Hepaglide pen?
If it is in your plan to travel, be sure the pen is always in the storage condition the manufacturer has recommended and also is shielded from freezing and extreme heat conditions. For longer journey’s, check with your local pharmacist if there is a safer way to keep and carry the pen that is different from your usual practice and not to leave it at room temperature or exposure to direct sunlight.
Can Hepaglide be used in someone with established heart disease?
Semaglutide has cardiovascular effects and certain Australian semaglutide products have specific cardiovascular indications. However, whether Hepaglide is appropriate for someone with established heart disease depends on the individual’s medical history and the indication for which the medicine is being prescribed. Discuss this with your doctor rather than using it specifically for heart protection.
Does Hepaglide 0.25 mg contain enough medicine for several injections?
The 1.5mL Hepaglide presentation contains 1mg of semaglutide in total, while the prescribed 0.25mg starting dose is administered weekly. The number of usable doses depends on the specific pen design and manufacturer’s instructions, so the pen should be used only according to its supplied instructions.
References
- TGA – Wegovy FlexTouch 0.25mg ARTG 424390
- TGA – Australian Public Assessment Report for Wegovy
- Healthdirect – Wegovy / Semaglutide
Medical Disclaimer
Hepaglide 0.25 mg is a prescription medicine and should be used only under the supervision of a qualified healthcare professional. This information is intended for general educational purposes and does not replace medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
