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Rybelsus medications belong to the family of drugs known as glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1).
The most prominent active ingredient in Rybelsus is semaglutide; although unlike some other semaglutide medications, Rybelsus isn’t used in weight loss treatment plans.
Rybelsus’ primary indicated use is as a method to control your blood sugar levels, either on its own or in combination with another diabetes medication, alongside a healthy diet and exercise regimen.
Technically, the generic name for this medication is semaglutide, while Rybelsus pills are simply the brand name for this treatment. If you’re curious how much semaglutide is in Rybelsus, it’s less than weight loss treatments (specifically 3, 7, or 14 mg of semaglutide in each oral Rybelsus tablet).
If you’d like to learn more about how a Rybelsus prescription functions, you can click here for more information.
Rybelsus works by helping to encourage your body to increase insulin production, when your blood sugars are high.
In turn, this helps prevent blood sugars from reaching unsafe levels, and they can help you manage your blood sugar day-to-day, avoiding unnecessary spikes.
This also helps lower appetite, slows down how quickly your stomach empties, as well as increases your insulin production, so that you eat less and feel fuller for longer.
This makes Rybelsus useful for weight loss, control of blood sugar levels, and reducing your risks of cardiovascular disease.
What is Rybelsus® used to treat?
If you’ve been wondering what a Rybelsus medication is used for, Rybelsus prescriptions are only indicated as a treatment for people living with type 2 diabetes, who are unable to control their blood sugar levels using a healthy diet and exercise alone.
Depending on your practitioner’s recommendations, they may suggest oral Rybelsus (semaglutide) tablets either by themselves, or in combination with another medication used for treating diabetes.
SIDE NOTE: Although Rybelsus tablets contain semaglutide like many weight loss treatments, Rybelsus is not indicated for use as this type of treatment.
How long does Rybelsus® last after you take it?
There are some side effects of Rybelsus that you could experience while taking this medication, including:
- Nausea or indigestion
- Diarrhea
- Low blood sugar (when used with an sulfonylureas or insulin)
- Vomiting
- Heartburn or acid reflux
- Bloating, burping, or gas
- Change in food or drink taste
- Loss of appetite
- Stomach pain
- Gastritis
- Constipation
- Tiredness or fatigue
- Dizziness
- Increase in pancreatic enzymes or pancreatitis
- Weight loss
- Gallstones
- Racing heart
- Itching, rashes, or hives
- Lleus (a bowel obstruction)
If you start to experience any of the side effects of Rybelsus severely, be sure to let your practitioner know right away, as they may be able to suggest an alternative medication to Rybelsus without interactions, or adjust your dosage of Rybelsus to reduce side effects.
There are a number of people who shouldn’t use Rybelsus as interactions may occur, including:
- Patients under the age of 18
- Patients allergic to Rybelsus (semaglutide) or any of the other ingredients in Rybelsus pills
- Patients who have had or have a family history of medullary thyroid cancer (MTC)
- Patients who have Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2)
- Patients who are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, breastfeeding, or planning to breastfeed
In addition to these concerns, there are certain other factors that may potentially cause interactions with Rybelsus. Be sure to let your practitioner know ahead of starting a prescription for Rybelsus if you:
- Have type 1 diabetes
- Develop diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA)
- Have ever had an allergic reaction to Rybelsus pills in the past
- Have a high pulse rate
- Have ever had pancreatitis
- Have end-stage renal disease
- Have gastrointestinal problems (i.e., severe diarrhea, vomiting, and/or dehydration)
- Have liver or gall bladder issues
- Take blood thinners (i.e., Warfarin, Coumadin, etc.)
- Have diabetic retinopathy
- Regularly operate heavy machinery
- Start to experience hypoglycemia
Apart from these concerns, if you’re wondering what medications should not be taken with Rybelsus, there are a few to keep in mind, such as:
- Insulin
- Sulfonylurea
- Levothyroxine (your practitioner may need to check your thyroid levels in order for you to take this medication with oral Rybelsus [semaglutide] tablets)
Your practitioner will want to know if you’re taking any of these medications, and may suggest an alternative medication to Rybelsus if you are. In addition, there are some medications that can cause negative interactions with Rybelsus, including medications for:
- Congestion
- Hypertension
- Heart failure
- HIV
- ADHD
- Appetite suppressants for weight loss
- Asthma
Be sure to let your practitioner know if you’re planning to take any medications for treating the conditions above, as they may need to suggest an alternative to your Rybelsus prescription in Canada.
Is It Safe to Take Rybelsus During Pregnancy?
No, it isn’t safe to use Rybelsus during pregnancy. At this time, it’s unknown if there could be any negative interactions with Rybelsus and unborn children, so it’s not recommended to use this treatment if you’re pregnant or planning to become pregnant.
In addition, it’s not recommended to take oral Rybelsus (semaglutide) tablets if you’re breastfeeding or planning to breastfeed, as Rybelsus has been shown to pass through breast milk to nursing infants.
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