GLP-1 Treatments
GLP-1 receptor agonists are the class of medicine behind the biggest shift in weight management in decades. They now come as weekly pens, daily pens and daily tablets.
Mounjaro
Once-weekly dual-action injection (tirzepatide)
Wegovy Injection
Once-weekly semaglutide pen for appetite control
Wegovy Pill
Once-daily oral semaglutide, no needles, no fridge
Foundayo Pill
Once-daily orforglipron, take it any time, with or without food
Saxenda
Once-daily liraglutide injection with flexible dosing
Nevolat
Daily liraglutide injection, the lower-cost Saxenda alternative
What is a GLP-1 receptor agonist?
Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) is a hormone your small intestine releases when food arrives. A GLP-1 receptor agonist is a medicine that binds to the same receptors and produces the same signals, but lasts far longer in the body than the natural hormone, which is broken down within minutes.
What they do
- Slow gastric emptying, so food stays in the stomach longer
- Act on the hypothalamus to reduce hunger and increase satiety
- Stimulate insulin release when blood glucose is high
- Suppress glucagon, which reduces glucose output from the liver
The dual-agonist step forward
Mounjaro (tirzepatide) goes a step further: it activates both the GLP-1 receptor and the GIP receptor. In head-to-head trial data this dual mechanism produced greater average weight loss than GLP-1 activation alone.
Titration matters
Every GLP-1 treatment starts at a low dose and steps up gradually over several months. This is deliberate, it gives your digestive system time to adjust and dramatically reduces nausea. Do not be tempted to skip ahead.