What to Know About GLPs-1s for Weight Loss

4. GLP-1 Safety and Side Effects

Like many drugs, GLP-1s can have common side effects, but they usually aren't very serious. The most common issues are nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach pain. There's a chance of headaches, dizziness, and a faster heart rate, too. Your doctor will start you on a low dose and slowly raise it if your body tolerates the medication. If side effects are too much, you might try a lower dose, smaller meals, avoiding fatty foods, or another GLP-1.

5. GLP-1s and Chronic Therapy

If you stop taking GLP-1s, there's a chance you'll gain back some weight. These meds are considered chronic therapy, which means you can take them long term — just like you might take drugs for cholesterol or high blood pressure. If you've started eating healthy meals and regularly exercising, sometimes you can slowly taper off them and not have a lot of weight gain.

6. GLP-1 Shots vs. Pills

Until recently, the only way to take GLP-1 medications was through a shot. For some, you have to give yourself a shot once a day. For others, it's once a week. You typically inject yourself in your belly, upper buttocks, the backs of your arms, or your outer thighs. Now there's also a semaglutide pill that is taken once daily. If you hate using needles, this might be a good choice.

7. Costs and Discount Programs

GLP-1s can be expensive, though some insurance companies will pay a percentage of the cost. If you have to pay out of pocket, some drug companies offer discount programs. The cost can still be hundreds of dollars a month.

8. What Is Microdosing?

Microdosing GLP-1s is a popular topic, especially on social media. Microdosing is when you take smaller doses of the drug than prescribed. People may try this so the treatment costs less and they have fewer side effects. Some also believe it can help them start making healthy habits or lose just a little weight, but this is risky.

There's no strong research that shows that microdosing works well, and it isn't approved by the FDA, which means the agency hasn't reviewed it for safety.

9. What Are Compounded Weight Loss Medications?

Compounded meds are unregulated drugs that are custom made by a licensed pharmacist or doctor. You may have heard that compounded GLP-1s are cheaper than their prescribed counterparts. These versions may be more affordable, but since they aren't FDA approved, they haven't been reviewed for safety, quality, or effectiveness. Though they may have risks, compounded drugs are still useful for many people.

10. GLP-1 Weight Loss and Muscle Mass

When you lose weight on GLP-1s, a lot of that weight can be lost muscle mass. Some studies say that as much as half of the weight you lose comes from the loss of lean muscle. It's important to both eat plenty of protein and do strength training exercises to build muscle and keep fat off. Losing lean muscle mass, especially as you age, can make you more likely to fall and lead to lower bone density.