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Rybelsus is an oral prescription medication primarily used with diet and exercise to treat adults with type 2 diabetes. It is the first and only glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist available in pill form, offering an alternative to injectables like Ozempic and Wegovy.
Key Uses
Blood Sugar Control: Rybelsus helps to improve blood sugar (glucose) levels and A1C in adults with type 2 diabetes.
Contact UsIt is approved to reduce the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events such as heart attack, stroke, or death in adults with type 2 diabetes who are at high risk for these events. Weight Loss (Off-label): While not FDA-approved as a weight loss drug, patients often experience weight loss as a side effect due to the medication slowing gastric emptying and reducing appetite. Some healthcare providers may prescribe it off-label for weight management.
For Rybelsus to work effectively, specific instructions must be followed carefully: Take it once daily on an empty stomach immediately upon waking up. Swallow the tablet whole with a small amount of plain water (no more than 4 ounces). Do not crush, chew, or split the tablet. Wait at least 30 minutes before eating, drinking, or taking any other oral medications to ensure proper absorption. If a dose is missed, skip it and take the next dose at the regular time the following day.
The most common side effects are gastrointestinal in nature and tend to be most prevalent when first starting the medication or increasing the dose:Nausea, Diarrhea, Vomiting, Abdominal pain, Decreased appetite, Constipation. Rybelsus has a boxed warning from the FDA (the agency's most serious warning) regarding the risk of thyroid C-cell tumors, including cancer, observed in rodent studies. It is not known if this occurs in humans. Patients with a personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) or Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2) should not use this medication.
