GLP-1 Receptor Agonists - An Anaesthesiologist’s Perspective – A Comprehensive Review

Abstract

GLP-1 receptor agonists help in regulating blood sugar levels and encouraging weight reduction in individuals with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus who adhere to dietary guidelines and exercise regularly. Semaglutide is a commonly utilized type of GLP-1 receptor agonist. The injection is usually administered once every seven days subcutaneously, beginning at 0.25 mg, with the highest weekly dosage is between 2.0 and 2.4 mg (larger doses are employed to promote weight loss instead of regulating blood sugar). Semaglutide’s half-life is approximately one week, indicating it remains active in the body for a long duration. So, it requires roughly five weeks to reach its stable level in the body, and it also takes the same amount of time for its effects to cease after discontinuation. There is now an oral formulation, and its effects might resemble those of the injection (1,2)