Rybelsus Before and After: Average Loss by Month
Rybelsus was studied mainly for its effects on blood sugar. In STEP 1, which tested Wegovy, the same medicine at a higher dose, people on semaglutide 2.4 mg weekly lost 14.9% on average over 68 weeks, against 2.4% on placebo.
- Average loss, top dose
- 14.9%
- On placebo
- 2.4%
- Trial length
- 68 weeks
- Trial
- STEP 1
A quick look at Rybelsus
Its half-life is about 1 week: after 7 d, half is gone, and after five half-lives (35 d), about 3% remains.
In PIONEER 1, people with type 2 diabetes lost 3.7 kg over 26 weeks, compared with 1.4 kg on placebo.
Monthly prices in US dollars include list prices and self-pay offers, all taken from the manufacturer's price page.
Sources: FDA label (DailyMed), healthsystemtracker.org, Novo Nordisk pricing, Novo Nordisk.
Rybelsus before and after: the numbers first
Rybelsus was studied mainly for its effects on blood sugar. The weight trials shown here looked at Wegovy, which has that same medicine in a higher dose.
| Trial | Dose group | Average weight lost | Placebo or comparison | Weeks | Who was in it |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| STEP 1 | Semaglutide 2.4 mg weekly | 14.9% | 2.4% | 68 | Adults with obesity or overweight, without diabetes |
| OASIS 4 | Wegovy pill 25 mg daily | 13.6% | 2.4% | 64 | Adults with obesity or overweight, without diabetes |
| STEP 2 | Semaglutide 2.4 mg weekly | 9.6% | 3.4% | 68 | Adults with obesity or overweight who also have type 2 diabetes |
Sources: STEP 1 (FDA label (DailyMed)) and STEP 2 (PubMed).
Rybelsus before and after: the numbers first
The trial's 14.9% average was used with three different starting weights. This is arithmetic, not a prediction about any one person: some people lose more, some lose less.
| Starting weight | Average loss on semaglutide 2.4 mg weekly | Average loss on placebo |
|---|---|---|
| 180 lb | about 27 lb | about 4 lb |
| 220 lb | about 33 lb | about 5 lb |
| 260 lb | about 39 lb | about 6 lb |
Source: FDA label (DailyMed).
Week by week
- Stomach side effects occur most often during the first weeks, when the dose is low and being increased. After every dose increase, these effects often come back for a few days.
- STEP 1 ended in Week 68, when the earlier average loss was measured.
Based on health.clevelandclinic.org and PubMed.
What causes a stall and what helps
- See which of the dose steps you are on. Each trial listed above found less weight loss at lower doses.
- Over the past month, count each dose that you missed or took late.
- Keep a record of your food and drinks for a few days. Liquid calories and frequent snacks add up as your portion sizes shrink.
- Talk with your prescriber about checking your thyroid or blood sugar, and about changing medicines after months with no progress.