PAD - Prescribing Advisory Database
PLEASE NOTE : This is a development system.

For Surrey PAD, please go to https://surreyccg.res-systems.net/PAD.

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PAD Profile : Semaglutide (oral) - Diabetes Mellitus

Keywords :
GLP-1s, GLP1s, GLP 1s, glucagon like peptide-1, blood glucose lowering drugs, Type II
Brand Names Include :
Rybelsus

Traffic Light Status

Status 1 of 3.

Status :
Green (see narrative)
Important
Formulations :
  • Tablets
Important Information :
Oral semaglutide is not a preferred route due to poor availability and gastrointestinal side effects. Use may be appropriate in a small cohort of patients where injection isn't suitable.
Trust Alignment :
Primary Care
ASPH
RSFT
SASH
SABP
Links :
Comments :
No comments returned.
Documents :

Status 2 of 3.

Status :
See narrative
Formulations :
  • Not Specified
Trust Alignment :
Primary Care
ASPH
RSFT
SASH
SABP
Links :
Comments :
No comments returned.
Documents :

Status 3 of 3.

Status :
N/A
Formulations :
  • Not Specified
Trust Alignment :
Primary Care
ASPH
RSFT
SASH
SABP
Links :
Comments :
No comments returned.
Documents :

Guidelines

The following guidelines are available for this indication.

Other Drugs

Other Indications

Additional Documents

Committee Recommendations

Date
Committee Name
Narrative
03 May 2023
Surrey Heartlands Integrated Care System Area Prescribing Committee (APC)

Do not prescribe semaglutide tablets (Rybelsus) for the treatment of obesity.

Guidelines for weight management can be found here: Guidelines : Weight management in adults (res-systems.net)

For use in diabetes - see recommendations below.

05 May 2021
Surrey Heartlands Integrated Care System Area Prescribing Committee (APC)

The Surrey Heartlands integrated care system Area Prescribing Committee (APC) approve the use semaglutide (oral formulation) with a GREEN (see narrative) traffic light status.

If a GLP-1 receptor antagonist is clinically indicated,the primary care prescriber after discussion with the patient should strongly recommend initiation of a GLP-1 RA injection because of the evidence for cardiovascular benefit for that formulation.

Semaglutide (oral) is available for patients in a niche group where a GLP-1 RA injection cannot be used (due to clinical reasons or patient preference).  [Link here to semaglutide injection page on PAD here:

 https://surreyccg.res-systems.net/PAD/Search/DrugConditionProfile/6238]

Oral formulation is not the preferred route of administration, due to poor bioavailability and a high incidence of gastrointestinal side effects.


The patient should be advised about the advantages of the injectable form of semaglutide over the oral form because of improved outcomes data and greater certainty that the correct dose will be administered.

Oral semaglutide should be reserved only for those few patients for whom a GLP-1 Receptor Agonist is the treatment of choice and who are:

  • unable to tolerate, or unsuitable for an SGLT-2 inhibitor
  • unable to tolerate the injectable preparation eg allergy to an ingredient in the injection
  • psychologically unable to consider administration of a s.c. injection (even if someone else administers it)
  • unable to self-administer the injection, due to physical disability or dexterity problems.

An alternative oral option for ths group of patients for consideration is a SGLT2 inhibitor, In line with current NICE guidance for managing type 2 diabetes, patients should be assessed after 6 months at the maximum tolerated dose. If the patient does not achieve targets of a 1% reduction in HbA1c and 3% reduction in weight, the treatment should be reviewed with a view to discontinuation of treatment and switching to another appropriate therapy.

Associated BNF Codes

06. Endocrine System
06.01.02. Antidiabetic drugs
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