Key Concepts
Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1)
This is a hormone your small intestine releases after you eat. GLP-1 makes your pancreas pump out more insulin, which lowers your blood sugar level. It also slows digestion to make you feel full sooner after eating. GLP-1 agonist medicines work like this hormone in your body.
Subcutaneous
This means under the skin. Some GLP-1 agonists, like Saxenda and Zepbound, come as a subcutaneous shot. You inject them under the skin of your belly, thigh, or upper arm. Wegovy comes as both a subcutaneous shot and a once-daily pill.
Satiety
A term that means you feel full. GLP-1 agonists increase satiety. They slow the movement of food from your stomach into your intestine, so you stay full longer and you eat less.
Hypoglycemia
It’s a word for low blood sugar. GLP-1 medicines can sometimes lower your blood sugar too much. If that happens, you’ll have symptoms like shaking, weakness, sweating, and hunger.
Hypersensitivity Reaction
A hypersensitivity reaction is an allergy that some people have to certain medicines. Anaphylaxis is a very serious allergic reaction that causes trouble breathing, hives, dizziness, and swelling of the face.
BMJ Open Access: "An Overview of GLP-1 Agonists and Recent Cardiovascular Outcomes Trials."
Cleveland Clinic: "GLP-1 Agonists," "Hypoglycemia (Low Blood Sugar)."
Columbia Surgery: "The Ozempic Effect: Everything You Need to Know About Medical Weight Loss."
Diabetes: "Glucagon-Like Peptide 1 Secretion by the L-Cell: The View from Within."
Diabetes Care: "GLP-1 Receptor Agonists and the Risk of Thyroid Cancer."
FDA: "Highlights of Prescribing Information: Saxenda," "Highlights of Prescribing Information: Zepbound," "Highlights of Prescribing Information: Wegovy," "Highlights of Prescribing Information: Rybelsus."
Harvard Health: “GLP-1 diabetes and weight-loss drug side effects: "Ozempic face" and more.”
JAMA: "Continued Treatment with Tirzepatide for Maintenance of Weight Reduction in Adults with Obesity: The Surmount-4 Randomized Clinical Trial," "Risk of Gastrointestinal Adverse Events Associated with Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists for Weight Loss."
New England Journal of Medicine: “A Randomized, Controlled Trial of 3.0 mg of Liraglutide in Weight Management,” ”Once-Weekly Semaglutide in Adults with Overweight or Obesity,” “Tirzepatide Once Weekly for the Treatment of Obesity.”
Jefferson Health: "What To Know About How Weight Loss Medications Work."
KFF: "KFF Health Tracking Poll May 2024: The Public's Use and Views of GLP-1 Drugs."
Mayo Clinic: "Anaphylaxis," "Prescription Weight-Loss Drugs," "Semaglutide (Oral Route)."
NAIC: "Does Insurance Cover Weight Loss Injectables?"
National Association of Insurance Commissioners: "Does Insurance Cover Weight Loss Injectables?"
National Library of Medicine: "Psychological Issues Associated with Obesity."
NHS: "Overview: Diabetes Medicines: GLP-1 Agonists."
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases: “Health Risks of Overweight and Obesity."
Obesity Action Coalition: "Benefits of 5-10 Percent Weight Loss."
Obesity Medicine Association: "Top Weight Loss Medications."
StatPearls: "Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists," “Compare and Contrast the Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists (GLP1RAs).”
UC Davis Health: "Can Weight Loss Medications Really Help You Lose Weight?"
UCLA Health: "Semaglutide for Weight Loss – What You Need to Know."
American Cancer Society: “Deciding Whether to Be Part of a Clinical Trial.”
Drug Design, Development and Therapy: “Comparison of the Efficacy of Anti-Obesity Medications in Real-World Practice.”
Eli Lilly: “Savings and Support for Mounjaro," “Savings Options for Zepbound.”
Novo Nordisk: “Save on Ozempic (Semaglutide) Injection,” “Wegovy Savings Card,” “Saxenda Savings Card,” “Your Savings and Support Resource for Victoza,” "Novo Nordisk A/S: Wegovy® pill approved in the US as first oral GLP-1 for weight management."
Frontiers in Endocrinology: “Use of GLP-1 Receptor Agonists and Occurrence of Thyroid Disorders: a Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.”
Endocrinology: “GLP-1 Receptor Agonists and the Thyroid: C-Cell Effects in Mice Are Mediated via the GLP-1 Receptor and not Associated with RET Activation.”
Toxicologic Pathology: “On-target Effects of GLP-1 Receptor Agonists on Thyroid C-cells in Rats and Mice.”