SubSema: Advantages and Disadvantages

What is SubSema?

SubSema stands for sublingual semaglutide. Semaglutide is a medication primarily used in the management of type 2 diabetes and obesity. Sublingual semaglutide offers a painless, alternative route to the injectable option. Our SubSema is taken by dropping solution under the tongue and should be held for 90 seconds minimum and swallowed to absorb into the bloodstream. This method of delivery presents a range of advantages and disadvantages worth considering.

What are disadvantages of SubSema?

1. Daily administration: While injectable semaglutide is a weekly Injection, this oral alternative requires daily dosing. However, as long as you can fit one to two minutes into your daily routine, this drawback is easily overcome by other advantages the sublingual formulation has to offer.
2. Accessibility: While availability is abundant here at Preston’s Pharmacy, sublingual formulations are a novel innovation, and availability may have a limit to select pharmacies, potentially limiting ease of access.
3. Other administration drawbacks: Patients are not to consume food or drink for 30 minutes after use of the medication. This is to ensure the most complete absorption occurs into the oral mucosa. This could potentially be a burden to patients and their schedules.

What are advantages of SubSema?

1. Improved absorption: Sublingual delivery allows for rapid absorption of semaglutide directly into the bloodstream, bypassing the digestive system. This results In less medication to be consumed compared to commercial oral tablets which show roughly 1% bioavailability, resulting in the need for much higher dosing (7-14 mg).
2. Reduced side effects: By bypassing the digestive system, sublingual semaglutide may reduce gastrointestinal side effects commonly associated with semaglutide such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.
3. Pain-Free Convenience: For patients who have difficulty swallowing pills, have gastrointestinal issues, or a fear of needles, sublingual semaglutide offers a convenient alternative.

Where can I get SubSema?

Preston’s Pharmacy is offering SubSema at a strength of Semaglutide 3 mg/ mL #30mL. We are offering this product for $300 per bottle through patient prescription only and will last 60 days.

Dosing:

• 0.2 mL once daily for 7 days
• Titrate up to 0.3 mL once daily for 7 days
• Titrate up to 0.4 mL once daily for 7 days
• Titrate up to 0.5 mL once daily thereafter

For more information or to submit a prescription, contact Preston’s Pharmacy today!