Hepaglide 1.7 mg Injection contains semaglutide 6.8mg/3mL (2.27mg/mL) and is administered once weekly by subcutaneous injection. The product shown is manufactured by Alkem Laboratories and is part of Alkem’s semaglutide range marketed in India under the brands Semasize, Obesema and Hepaglide. Alkem states that its semaglutide injection was approved for chronic weight management as an adjunct to diet and exercise.
For weight management, semaglutide is used together with a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity. Australian TGA information for Wegovy provides detailed information on semaglutide 1.7mg, including its place in the gradual dose-escalation schedule.
What Is Hepaglide 1.7 mg Used For?
Hepaglide is a medication which contains semaglutide. Semaglutide is a drug that mimics the hormone glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), and therefore it is classified as a GLP-1 receptor agonist. GLP-1 receptor agonists are medicines that slow down the movement of the stomach and also cause the release of insulin.
They are used in weight-management programmes as a way to help patients get off drugs and eat more responsibly. In fact, the drugs themselves are prescribed only when the patients are part of a comprehensive programme of changes related to weight management. Patients must be willing and able to commit themselves to following through with the lifestyle modification part of this programme in addition to receiving the medication.
Semaglutide may be prescribed for chronic weight management to adults who satisfy one of the following criteria:
- Having a body mass index (BMI) of 30 kg/m² or higher (obesity), or
- Having a BMI of 27 kg/m² or higher, in conjunction with a condition that is associated with weight in at least one aspect (weight-related health conditions).
The main goal of the treatment is to promote an eating regimen with fewer calories, alongside an increase in physical activity.
Hepaglide 1.7 mg is a prescription medicine and should be used only under medical supervision.
How Does Hepaglide Work for Weight Loss?
By acting on GLP-1 receptors, semaglutide modulates appetite, food intake as well as blood glucose level.
Semaglutide can assist with weight loss by：
- Toning down the feeling of hunger
- Enhancing the sense of being fed
- Saving calorie intake throughout the day
- Controlling the emptying of the stomach
- Helping achieve sustainable weight loss if used with diet and exercise
As the drug’s impact is on the gastrointestinal tract, some of the side effects that commonly occur are, for instance, nausea, vomiting and changes in bowel habits. These are especially prevalent in the phase of increasing the dose.
How To Use Hepaglide 1.7 mg
Hepaglide is administered once weekly as a subcutaneous injection.
It is injected under the skin of the:
- Abdomen
- Thigh
- Upper arm
It can be administered at any time of day, with or without food.
The product on display is 3mL in size and has been diluted to contain 2.27mg/mL of semaglutide from the total concentration of 6.8mg of semaglutide. Based on these levels, a 1.7mg dose will be one of the larger injections within the normal progression of increasing the semaglutide dosage for managing weight.
In case you are using the pen of which multiple doses or a single-use pen, you have to refer to the guide that is included with the pen and follow the instructions given. The injection procedure should be well-understood through demonstration by a healthcare worker prior to attempting it on one’s self.
Hepaglide 1.7 mg Dosage for Weight Management
The standard semaglutide weight-management schedule gradually increases the dose:
| 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 1.7mg dose is normally used during weeks 13–16 before progressing to the 2.4mg maintenance dose, provided the higher dose is tolerated. If significant gastrointestinal symptoms occur, dose escalation may be delayed.
For people who do not tolerate 2.4mg, Australian product information allows 1.7mg once weekly as a temporarily reduced dose, with re-escalation to 2.4mg when appropriate.
Do not increase, decrease or repeat doses yourself. Your prescriber should determine the appropriate dose according to your response and tolerability.
What If You Miss a Hepaglide Dose?
If you miss a weekly dose of semaglutide, weight-management therapy guidelines recommend that up to 5 days later is fine to take the makeup injection.
Otherwise, after that time if the day is long after the missed dose, then it’s best to just forget about catching up and continue with the next regular dose the scheduled way.
Don’t go ahead and double up on the missing injection with 1 dose or so in order to balance it out!
If you have already missed several injections and it’s a while since you have been taking your semaglutide, your physician might advise you to begin all over again at a reduced dosage level and not go straight back to 1.7mg.
Possible Side Effects
Common side effects of semaglutide include:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhoea
- Constipation
- Abdominal pain or discomfort
- Headache
- Dizziness
- Fatigue
- Reduced appetite
Digestive symptoms are most frequent with dosage increment.
See a physician as soon as possible in the case of severe persistent stomach ache, especially if the ache spreads towards the back.
Vomiting and diarrhea over a short time may lead to dehydration. Dehydration in a significant way can impair kidney function.
Precautions Before Using Hepaglide
You should alert your doctor if any of the following issues has a part in your medical history:
- Previous episodes of pancreatitis
- Severe gastrointestinal illness or delayed stomach emptying
- Issues with the kidneys
- Gall bladder disease or gallstones
- Diabetic retinopathy
- A history of serious allergic reactions to semaglutide
- A history personally or in the family of medullary thyroid carcinoma or MEN 2
- Surgery or a procedure under general anaesthesia or deep sedation is planned
We would advise that semaglutide is not used as a weight management tool while one is pregnant. Therefore if you are thinking of getting pregnant you should talk to your doctors about the treatment first.
GLP-1 drugs may be known to slow down gastric emptying, hence, it is imperative that you inform your healthcare team that you are currently using semaglutide before undergoing any surgery or a procedure that requires general anaesthesia or deep sedation.
Hepaglide and Other Medicines
Inform your doctor of all prescription medicines, medicines for diabetes, supplements and weight-management treatments that you are currently taking.
It is very important that if semaglutide is combined with insulin or sulfonylureas you should be particularly careful as this might cause a high risk of hypoglycemia. The doctor may have to alter the doses of medications.
Hepaglide is to be mixed with another semaglutide product or another GLP-1 receptor agonist only when instructed by the doctor so that it does not cause interactions and unwanted side effects.
Storage
Hepaglide should be stored according to the product 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 direct heat
- Kept out of reach of children
Because storage instructions can vary according to the particular pen or cartridge presentation, follow the instructions supplied with your specific Hepaglide pack.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Hepaglide 1.7 mg the first dose of semaglutide?
No. 1.7mg is not normally the starting dose. Semaglutide is gradually increased from 0.25mg through 0.5mg and 1mg before reaching 1.7mg during the standard weight-management schedule.
Can Hepaglide 1.7 mg be used if I have gallstones?
Gallbladder problems should be discussed with your doctor before starting semaglutide. Treatment may require closer monitoring because gallbladder-related problems have been reported with GLP-1 medicines.
Why might my doctor keep me on 1.7mg instead of increasing to 2.4mg?
If you experience significant gastrointestinal symptoms or do not tolerate the higher dose well, your doctor may keep you at a lower dose temporarily. Australian product information specifically allows 1.7mg weekly as a temporary reduced dose when 2.4mg is not tolerated.
Can Hepaglide 1.7 mg be taken at different times on different weeks?
The injection is generally taken once weekly, preferably on a consistent day. If the weekly injection day needs to be changed, Australian semaglutide product information allows a change when at least 72 hours have passed between doses.
Does Hepaglide 1.7 mg affect blood sugar even when it is being used for weight management?
Yes. Semaglutide affects GLP-1 receptors involved in blood glucose regulation as well as appetite. This is one reason people with diabetes may need their other diabetes medicines reviewed when starting or increasing semaglutide.
References
Medical Disclaimer
Hepaglide 1.7 mg is a prescription medicine and should only be used under the direction of a qualified healthcare professional. This information is provided for educational purposes and does not replace personalised medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
