Noveltreat 2.4 mg Pre-Filled Pen is an injectable medication that contains semaglutide 2.4mg/0.75mL which, in a class of GLP-1 receptor agonists. It is primarily a medicinal support for a patient who cannot rely solely on diet changes or exercise but also on medication to help manage the loss and prevention of weight gain.
One of the main functions of semaglutide is to activate a group of pathways in the brain that are responsible for signaling the feeling of appetite as well as food intake. It works by suppressing the need to eat, making you feel more comfortable after a meal. That is why, through this mechanism, semaglutide can lead to decreased overall calorie intake and help achieve both weight loss and the maintenance of it.
What is Noveltreat 2.4 mg used for?
Noveltreat 2.4mg is a semaglutide injection used in combination with an overall weight-management programme by a prescriber for the treatment of obesity or overweight in adults who have comorbidities.
It is intended for the chronic weight management in adults, and can be used in combination with reduced-calorie diets and increased physical activity. It is the product in the strengths of 0.25mg, 0.5mg, 1mg, 1.7mg, 2.4mg.
Semaglutide can help people:
- To reduce their food intake
- To feel satiated after having only small amounts of food
- Lessen their food cravings
- Consume smaller portions, thus fewer calories
- Reduce their overall weight
- Keep on weight loss with treatment and other lifestyle factors being active.
How does It work?
Noveltreat is a medicine that contains semaglutide, a substance that works like GLP-1, a hormone in your body that plays a role in appetite regulation and blood glucose control.
Semaglutide acts on GLP-1 receptors and can:
- Increase feelings of fullness
- Reduce hunger
- Reduce food cravings
- Slow gastric emptying
- Reduce overall calorie intake
These effects can make it easier for some people to follow a reduced-calorie diet.
Noveltreat is not intended to replace healthy eating or physical activity.
How to use Noveltreat 2.4mg Pre-Filled Pen
Noveltreat 2.4mg is administered as a subcutaneous injection once a week.
It can be injected under the skin of the:
- Abdomen
- Thigh
- Upper arm
The medicine should not be injected into a vein or muscle.
Use the pen exactly as instructed by your doctor or pharmacist.
Important points
- Use Noveltreat once weekly on the prescribed day.
- Follow the prescribed dose.
- Do not change the dose without medical advice.
- Rotate injection areas when appropriate.
- Check the pen before injection.
- Do not use a damaged pen.
- Dispose of the used pen or needle according to the instructions supplied with your particular pack.
The product shown is a single-dose pre-filled pen, so follow the specific instructions supplied with the Noveltreat pack rather than treating it like a reusable pen.
Dosage
2.4mg once weekly is the maintenance dose specified by Sun Pharma for Noveltreat. Treatment is normally started at a much lower dose and increased gradually.
The dose-escalation approach for semaglutide weight management is designed to help the body adjust to treatment:
| Treatment stage | Typical weekly dose |
|---|---|
| Starting dose | 0.25mg |
| Next step | 0.5mg |
| Further escalation | 1mg |
| Further escalation | 1.7mg |
| Maintenance | 2.4mg |
Medication intake at higher dosage must strictly be guided by the doctor’s prescription. Should gastrointestinal effects get too unbearable, the physician may either temporarily stop dose advancement, or choose to give you a lower dosage until your intolerance gets resolved.
The only circumstance when you take 2.4 mg of the pill is when your physician explicitly authorizes it.
How long does Noveltreat 2.4mg take to work?
After taking semaglutide the drug starts to bind to the so called GLP-1 receptors soon. However, changes in appetite or body weight are gradual things that are not happening immediately.
On the one hand, people find themselves less hungry or more easily satisfied with food during treatment, on the other hand weight loss happens gradually. The outcome is dependent on different variables such as the kind of food one eats, level of physical activity, amount of initial weight, treatment time and whether one experiences unpleasant effects while using the drug.
Slow and progressive dose increase helps the body slowly adapt up to the dose required for keeping the treatment effective.
What if you miss a Noveltreat 2.4mg dose?
For semaglutide weight-management treatment, a missed dose can still be taken 5 days after the scheduled day according to the Australian Wegovy product information.
However, if it is more than 5 days since the missed dose, you should omit the missed dose and resume your regular dose on your next usual scheduled day. Never double your dose to make up for missing a dose.
If it turns out that lots of your prescribed doses were missed, we recommend that it is a good idea to consult your doctor before starting again because the lower dose can also suit you some of the time.
Common side effects
Digestive side effects are common with semaglutide, particularly during dose escalation.
Possible side effects include:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhoea
- Constipation
- Abdominal pain or discomfort
- Indigestion
- Bloating
- Headache
- Reduced appetite
These effects can become more noticeable when moving to a higher dose.
Eating smaller meals and maintaining adequate fluid intake may help with some gastrointestinal symptoms.
Serious symptoms requiring medical attention
Contact a healthcare professional promptly if you develop:
- Severe or persistent abdominal pain
- Repeated vomiting
- Severe diarrhoea
- Signs of significant dehydration
- Symptoms suggesting gallbladder disease
- A serious allergic reaction
- Sudden or significant changes in vision
Severe abdominal pain can be a warning sign of pancreatitis. Persistent vomiting or diarrhoea can also lead to dehydration and kidney problems.
Precautions
Tell your doctor if you have:
- Previous pancreatitis
- Gallstones or gallbladder disease
- Severe gastrointestinal problems
- Gastroparesis or delayed stomach emptying
- Kidney disease
- Liver disease
- Diabetic retinopathy
- A history of serious allergic reactions
- A personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma
- Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2)
Your doctor should also be aware of all drugs and medications, both prescription and over the counter, that you use.
Semaglutide has the side effect of slowing down the stomach’s emptying which could change the way some medicines are absorbed. One needs to be extra cautious while using it with insulin or sulfonylureas since such combinations may significantly increase the risk of low blood sugar levels.
Noveltreat 2.4mg and pregnancy
Noveltreat should not be used during pregnancy.
Before you decide to have a baby, talk things over with your doctor if you intend to use a preparation containing semaglutide. Australian semaglutide medicine advice states that it is advisable to discontinue the medication at least 2 months prior to planning a pregnancy.
Contact your healthcare professional if you become pregnant while using Noveltreat.
Noveltreat 2.4mg and breastfeeding
The safety of semaglutide during breastfeeding should be discussed with a healthcare professional.
Do not start or continue Noveltreat while breastfeeding unless your doctor has specifically advised you to use it.
Noveltreat 2.4mg and other medicines
Tell your doctor about all prescription medicines, over-the-counter products, vitamins and supplements you take.
Particular care may be required with:
- Insulin
- Sulfonylureas
- Other diabetes medicines
- Other GLP-1 receptor agonists
- Other weight-management medicines
- Oral medicines whose absorption could be affected by delayed gastric emptying
Do not combine Noveltreat with another semaglutide-containing product or another GLP-1 receptor agonist unless your healthcare professional specifically directs you to do so.
Noveltreat 2.4mg and surgery
You should inform your doctor, surgeon and anaesthetist that you are a semaglutide user in the preoperative phase or the period preceding general anaesthesia or deep sedation procedures.
This is because semaglutide can delay the stomach emptying that may lead to the persistence of stomach contents despite fasting. Australian regulators have issued safety information about the potential aspiration risk associated with GLP-1 medicines.
Your healthcare team will decide how your medicine should be managed before the procedure.
How to store Noveltreat 2.4mg
Noveltreat 2.4mg should be stored in a refrigerator at 2°C to 8°C.
Important storage points include:
- Do not freeze.
- Protect the pen from direct light.
- Keep it in its original carton.
- Keep it out of the reach of children.
- Follow the storage instructions supplied with your specific pack.
Current pharmacy information states that Noveltreat should be refrigerated at 2°C to 8°C and not frozen.
If the pen has been exposed to temperatures outside the permitted range, ask your pharmacist whether it can still be used.
Noveltreat 2.4mg and weight maintenance
Noveltreat is intended for chronic weight management, which includes both weight loss and weight maintenance.
Treatment’s sole objective is not necessarily to achieve a certain figure on the scale, stop it right there and end treatment. A specialist can determine on the basis of your response, side effects, underlying health conditions and other factors whether weight-related treatment should continue.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Why is Noveltreat 2.4mg called the maintenance dose?
The 2.4mg dose is considered the maintenance dose because it is the dose reached after gradual escalation during semaglutide weight-management treatment.
2. Can Noveltreat 2.4mg increase my heart rate?
Semaglutide can cause a small increase in resting heart rate in some people. Your healthcare professional may monitor your pulse if you have a cardiovascular condition or develop persistent palpitations or a noticeably faster resting heartbeat.
3. What should I do if the Noveltreat pen looks cloudy?
Do not use the pen if the solution does not have the expected clear appearance or if you notice unusual particles, discoloration or visible contamination. Keep the pen and contact your pharmacist or healthcare professional for advice rather than injecting a questionable product.
4. Can Noveltreat 2.4mg be used by someone with established heart disease?
Semaglutide weight-management treatment may have cardiovascular benefits in certain adults with established cardiovascular disease and overweight or obesity. The Australian Wegovy indication includes reduction of major cardiovascular events in eligible adults with established cardiovascular disease and BMI ≥27 kg/m² who do not have established type 1 or type 2 diabetes.
Whether Noveltreat is appropriate for an individual with heart disease should be decided by their doctor.
5. How many injections are in the Noveltreat 2.4mg pack?
The exact pack configuration can vary. The product shown is a single-dose pre-filled pen, and the supplied pack should be checked for the number of pens included.
Medical disclaimer: This information is for educational purposes only and does not replace advice from a doctor or pharmacist. Always follow the prescription, current product information and instructions supplied with your medicine.
References
- TGA – Wegovy registration and weight-management indication (Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA))
- Healthdirect Australia – Wegovy (Healthdirect)
- Healthdirect Australia – Weight loss medicines (Healthdirect)
- TGA – Australian Public Assessment Report for Wegovy (Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA))
