These medicines work in the kidneys where they help take extra sugar out of the blood that then goes out of the body in urine. But the risk of low blood sugar typically only goes up when a person also is taking another medicine that's known to lower blood sugar. More common side effects often improve after taking the medicine for a while. But it's not clear exactly how GLP-1 agonists lead to weight loss. When blood sugar starts to rise after a person eats, these medicines cause the body to make more insulin. Here's an introduction to prescription weight-loss pills. Get 1-to-1 support from a health coach and chat with our nutrition experts anytime via the Oviva app. With learning content on nutrition, exercise, and motivation, you’ll become a weight-loss expert yourself. At Oviva, it’s about finding what works for you — with the right mix of treatment and everyday support. For this reason, they are the most likely type of corticosteroid to cause side effects. Corticosteroids that you take by mouth affect your entire body. When you know what side effects are possible, you can take steps to control their impact. Depending on your relationship to food, it may be best to approach weight loss from a more comprehensive perspective that addresses the physical and the emotional. Finally, individuals with a history of disordered eating should discuss the drugs with their doctor and therapist before starting. While these folks may talk a lot about their success with Ozempic for weight loss, it’s important to remember that no one strategy is a magic bullet for shedding pounds. Treatment You may be eligible for prescription weight loss injections via the NHS. Losing weight can reduce your risk of a number of health issues, including cardiovascular disease. Once weekly semaglutide in adults with overweight or obesity. This offer is valid for up to 48 months from the date of enrollment and is specifically intended for diabetes management, not weight loss. The once-weekly injection helps lower blood glucose and promotes weight loss. ‘We are advocating for funded access to treatment, as a first step, for people with a body mass index over 40 with three weight-related health impairments or at least one severe weight-related health impairment,’ he told newsGP.Whether it’s due to an ingredient allergy or other reasons, compounding pharmacies can help tailor a custom-made medication to meet your needs.On week 5, your healthcare care team will likely raise your Zepbound dosage to 5 mg once a week for another 4 weeks.It should be used with caution in patients with hypertension, history of cardiac arrhythmias, or seizures.11 Careful monitoring of blood pressure should be performed while the patient is on phentermine.That's an average of about 34 pounds over 16 months, before their weight plateaued — roughly triple what's achieved with other drugs on the market.“Right now we use BMI combined with other medical conditions to determine eligibility for a medication,” says Gudzune.Your care team might ask you to check your blood sugar while taking Wegovy (semaglutide), especially if you have Type 2 diabetes. Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. This medicine may cause some people to be agitated, irritable, or display other abnormal behaviors. This medicine may increase the risk of having thyroid tumors. But corticosteroids also carry a risk of side effects. Weigh the benefits and risks of corticosteroids, such as prednisone, when choosing a medicine. GLP-1 therapies are revolutionizing obesity and diabetes care, but they also reshape physiology in ways that demand attention. It tends to lead to the largest amount of weight loss in the highest percentage of people.This improves overall health and lowers the risk of developing complications related to obesity.Up to 25% lost at least 10% of their body weight.It’s a Type 2 diabetes medication that also has heart and kidney benefits.Like Wegovy, it’s approved for use in adults and adolescents ages 12 and older who are considered obese.Although they work the same way in the body, their results may be different.Age can also affect which medication is prescribed. If cost is a barrier to accessing treatment, generic Victoza may be an option to consider. Victoza can lower the risk of MACE if you also have heart disease. Victoza comes in a multi-dose prefilled pen. You can inject your dose at any time of day, without regard to food. How much does Wegovy cost with GoodRx? Clinical trials have shown that these medications reduce the risk of major cardiovascular events, including heart attack and stroke.Catania said she hadn't experienced any negative side effects.Wait 30 minutes before eating, drinking, or taking other medications."Some of the people who need it the most are unable to access it," Robinson says, pointing out that people with low incomes experience obesity at disproportionately higher rates.It originally launched as a once-weekly injection that’s administered under the skin.That's how tirzepatide, the active ingredient in Lilly's blockbuster obesity and diabetes injections, works. A total of 54 over-weight, active duty adult employees of the US Air Force (age of 18 to 46 years, BMI 25.2 to 35.6 kg/m2) participated in this quasi-experimental control design study. McDoniel et al, (2008) evaluated the efficacy of a weight management program using indirect calorimetry to set energy goals. There is a lack of reliable evidence that indirect calorimetry measurements result in improved clinical outcomes in obesity management. Published studies of indirect calorimetry in weight management have focused on its accuracy (Frankenfeld et al, 2010; Henes et al, 2015; Wilms et al, 2010). Liraglutide is a daily injectable prescription medication that acts on hormones from the gut to send signals to the brain that help patients feel full more quickly while decreasing hunger signals. One of the other best shots for weight loss is Tirzepatide, a unique dual action on GLP-1 and GIP receptors. It is not recommended for people with type 1 diabetes, diabetic ketoacidosis, or a history of pancreatitis or a certain type of thyroid cancer. Semaglutide is underneath the GLP-1 receptor agonists, which help with appetite regulation while helping you feel fuller, longer, which can result in significant weight loss. At least as important, Wegovy raised none of the alarm bells with the FDA or obesity doctors that it might trigger serious side effects of the sort some people experienced by taking fen-phen or other previous medical treatments for obesity.We also offer 6- and 12-month plans for select treatment types, enabling us to pass additional savings on to the patient.But Stevens said the treatment patients take will segment according to the other health conditions a person has on top of obesity, such as fatty liver disease, chronic kidney disease and cardiovascular disease.When starting Zepbound or Wegovy, your dosage is slowly raised over time to help manage side effects and find the right dose.Sometimes health care professionals use medications in a way that’s different from what the FDA has approved.The medication improved her adherence to caloric restriction, and she achieved weight loss of 5 kg. Phentermine has been the most commonly used weight-loss management medication in Australia and the US for decades.12 Historically, it has been approved as a short-term therapy, but for treating obesity, a chronic condition, this is illogical. Body mass index (BMI), when adjusted for age and sex, is generally an excellent measure of percentage body fatness in the population.4,5 BMI is an accepted measure to screen for the health risks of obesity and provide cut-off points as indication for more intensive therapies. Naturally, all medications have their risks and side effects and, as clinicians, we are always weighing the risks and benefits of therapy with the risks and severity of the disease. But the fact that people may need to stay on Wegovy indefinitely in order to maintain the weight loss has raised concerns about long-term use. According to the FDA, people are eligible if they have a BMI of 27 or higher and also have at least one "weight-related ailment" such as hypertension, diabetes, or high cholesterol. Since Wegovy was approved by the FDA in 2021, some insurance plans have begun to cover the medication for people who meet the clinical prescribing guidelines. "If I gain more weight, I will be on more medications," says Hamilton. In fact, a study found that most people gain back most of the weight within a year of stopping the medicine. Also, carry an ID card in your wallet or purse that says that you have diabetes and a list of all of your medicines.If this sounds unsettling, it's a reminder of how high the stakes are to combat obesity.Despite being so common in the U.S., having a BMI 30 or higher poses some serious health risks that take a toll on your whole body.But it’s not currently approved for this use yet.As an injectable drug initially used for diabetes treatment, semaglutide’s repositioning as a weight management solution marks a notable shift in addressing chronic weight issues.At week 9, your healthcare team may raise your dosage again, depending on why you’re using Zepbound and your response to it.Members of Ivy RX branded medications were paid for their testimonials. Semaglutide is not recommended if you're pregnant, trying to get pregnant or breastfeeding or have certain health conditions. It is not recommended if you're pregnant, trying to get pregnant or breastfeeding or have certain health conditions, such as liver or kidney problems. You can only take liraglutide if it's prescribed for you by a specialist weight management service. Most people should get all the nutrients they need by having a varied and balanced diet, but if you are less hungry and eating less food, you may need to take extra supplements. So it could delay the absorption of oral medications. It’s likely your healthcare team will suggest alternatives if this dosage causes too many side effects. But keep in mind that 5 mg per week is considered the lowest effective dosage for weight loss. No, there aren’t any recommended Zepbound dosage adjustments for people with certain health conditions, such as kidney or liver disease. A total of 11 trials were included, from which 5 presented low risk of bias. These researchers conducted a meta-analysis of RCTs, to examine if individuals assigned to replace at least 5 g of dietary LCTs with MCTs for a minimum of 4 weeks show positive modifications on body composition. Bueno and colleagues (2015) examined the effect of replacing dietary long-chain triacylglycerols (LCTs) with medium-chain triacylglycerols (MCTs) on body composition in adults. Although these absolute changes in appetite were small, they occurred within the context of energy restriction, which is known to increase appetite in obese people. These researchers explored the variability of empirical prediction equations used in BIA estimations and evaluated the validity of BIA estimations in adult surgical and oncological patients. How to save on semaglutide The investigators posited that a possible reason why experimental individuals experienced greater weight loss from measured resting metabolic rate may be that the individualized nutrition message influenced psycho-behavioral constructs (i.e. motivation, self-efficacy, etc.) for weight loss change. Investigators reported that treatment participants lost significantly more weight than usual care participants (p ≤ 0.05). Usual care participants received a nutritional message using a standard care equation (25 kcal/day × body weight) to set energy intake goals. Clinicians supposedly can screen for abnormally low metabolic rates, teach energy balance, and identify the precise caloric intake needed for weight loss. Lilly's Skovronsky said pills will also serve as a way for patients to "deescalate their therapy" after taking injections. The "real growth" and uptake of the pills is going to come from primary care physicians, who write the majority of prescriptions for Americans and typically prefer pills to injections, said Ray Stevens, the CEO of obesity market hopeful Structure Therapeutics. "There is so much aligned exactly with this market expansion story … because there is a huge number of patients that are simply not interested in losing weight at the cost of injecting themselves," Doustdar said. In an interview at the conference, Doustdar said it could also include people who travel frequently and can't easily refrigerate injections. A lipotropic injection entails a solution of nutrients that are made up of 1 or more of the following fat-burning compounds (e.g., choline, inositol, methionine, vitamin B12, and vitamin B complex). There were no significant changes in fat mass, blood pressure (BP), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) or high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) with SGLT2 inhibitor treatment. The random effects standardized MD (SMD) ± 95 % CI was calculated as the effect size. It appeared that the weight-lowering effect of boron may be mediated via an increase in the energy metabolism, thermogenesis, lipolysis and inhibition of adiposeness. "We can double the weight loss on GLP-1s in combination," Bolno said, referring to what the company is seeing in preclinical research. But Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla said the company is also developing an in-house oral drug that blocks the GIP receptor, which can significantly reduce side effects when combined with GLP-1. Pfizer inherited several experimental injections and pills with combination potential from its roughly $10 billion acquisition of the obesity biotech Metsera last year. Starting this injection is the best decision I ever made.However, topiramate in combination with phentermine was approved for the treatment of obesity by the FDA in 2012.You can find out whether your Medicaid program covers Ozempic by checking your state’s preferred drug list, or formulary.When people stop treatment, "rapid weight regain" can happen, a 2026 review of studies found.Weight loss injections can be self-administered in the stomach, upper arm or the front of the thigh.They take longer to start working (about 6 hours), but their effects last for 36 hours or longer.Many insurance companies and employers that provide healthcare coverage don’t consider weight-loss medications medically necessary. Both Pfizer's Bourla and Lilly's Skovronsky said upcoming Medicare coverage of obesity drugs should also move the needle with coverage. The newly acquired treatment is a clear potential competitor to retatrutide because it similarly uses a three-pronged approach to promoting weight loss and regulating blood sugar. Bolno said the company is developing the injection, called WVE-007, as a monotherapy or a potential maintenance treatment that patients can switch to and take far less frequently after being on GLP-1s. These tables present key information concerning the quality of the evidence, the magnitude of the effects of the interventions examined, and the sum of the available data for the main outcomes (Schunemann 2011a). Data will be pooled using the random‐effects model but the fixed‐effect model will also be used to ensure robustness of the model chosen and susceptibility to outliers. Evaluation of important numerical data, such as screened, randomised patients as well as intention‐to‐treat, as‐treated and per‐protocol populations, will be carefully performed. “I lost weight already in just 14 days” However, since Qsymia contains phentermine, this medication is considered a controlled substance. It’s often filled as a brand-name product, but a generic version has also been approved. Qsymia (phentermine / topiramate ER) is another combination weight-loss pill. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so. Use this medicine on the same day each week, at any time of the day, with or without meals. Normally when you eat, the body releases the GLP-1 hormone which helps signal to your brain that you are full. This means it makes your body’s own glucagon-like peptide-1 hormone, called GLP-1 for short, work better. And what are the potential risks – and costs – for those who use it? So how does Wegovy work and how much weight can you expect to lose while taking it? Liraglutide was commenced, with a starting dose of 0.6 mg, and gradually escalated to 1.8 mg daily. A previous clinical trial, funded by Eli Lilly, found people lost 24% of their body weight after 48 weeks on the drug. In a phase 2 trial funded by the pharmaceutical company, people lost up to 20% of their body weight after taking the medication for almost a year. In a late-stage trial funded by the pharmaceutical company, people lost 20% of their body weight on average after taking the drug for a year and four months. Some people might tolerate amylin analogs better than GLP-1 drugs, or the new option could help people overcome a weight-loss plateau, Jay notes. Hundreds of medications are needed for the treatment of a chronic disease like obesity, says Dr. Ania Jastreboff, director of the Yale Obesity Research Center. Evidence has shown that weight loss can be more successful if it involves other strategies, alongside diet and lifestyle changes. You may need to exercise for longer each day to prevent obesity or to avoid regaining weight if you've been obese. Your GP, weight loss adviser or staff at your local sports centre can help you create a plan suited to your own personal needs and circumstances, with achievable and motivating goals. For example, it can help prevent and manage more than 20 conditions, such as reducing the risk of type 2 diabetes by 40%. As well as helping you maintain a healthy weight, physical activity also has wider health benefits. In addition, there were more reports of severe hypoglycemia among patients taking lorcaserin than placebo (0.4 percent vs 0.1 percent) (Echouffo Tcheugui and Ahima, 2019). FDA's analysis of the study found that during the course of the trial, 462 (7.7 percent) patients treated with lorcaserin were diagnosed with cancers compared to the placebo group, in which 423 (7.1 percent) patients were diagnosed with cancers (Eisai, 2020). More specifically, the FDA noted there was a numerical imbalance in the number of patients with malignancies. CAMELLIA-TIMI 61 was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial to study approximately 12,000 men and women over five years with established cardiovascular disease or at high risk for cardiovascular disease. Nowadays, medicinal plants and natural treatments are becoming more and more popular. Eli Lilly earlier this month registered a new clinical trial that will pit tirzepatide against Wegovy in 700 patients who have obesity or are overweight with weight-related health conditions. The findings from the trial "challenge the notion that patients living with obesity or overweight can achieve their weight loss goals with diet and exercise alone," according to Emmick. Compounded medications are custom-made alternatives to branded drugs designed to meet a specific patient's needs. Before having weight loss surgery, tell your healthcare team (including the anaesthetist) if you're taking liraglutide, semaglutide or terzepatide. Rapid-acting insulin analogs In the journey of losing weight, you may have come across many helpful (and not so helpful) solutions to better your health and find effective weight loss solutions. His company also is heavily lobbying Congress to pass legislation to allow Medicare to cover obesity medications. The challenge, says Douglas Langa, executive vice president of Novo Nordisk North America, is getting doctors, patients and politicians to recognize obesity as a disease — and that therefore insurance should cover the cost of medicine to treat it. Store semaglutide pens in the refrigerator (36°F to 46°F 2°C to 8°C).Do not freeze.Semaglutide pens may also be stored at room temperature for certain amount of time. Keep this medication in the container it came in and out of reach of children. Call your doctor if you have any unusual problems while using this medication. “And I get it — people don’t like it, people don’t applaud it, people aren’t whatever, but it’s a shot in your stomach once a week. Catania said she hadn't experienced any negative side effects. I went on semaglutide, which is the ingredient in Ozempic.” Other people can do it without, why can’t I? Oshry acknowledged that she was a "little embarrassed" when she first went on the drug. Available evidence does not support the use of whole body DEXA for managing obesity. Counsel patients regarding the potential risk of MTC and the symptoms of thyroid tumors (Novo Nordisk, 2020). However, Saxenda is not indicated for the treatment of type 2 diabetes, as the safety and efficacy of Saxenda for the treatment of diabetes has not been established (Novo Nordisk, 2020). The SCALE phase 3 clinical trial program of the safety and effectiveness of liraglutide for chronic weight management included three clinical trials that included approximately 4,800 obese and overweight patients with and without significant weight-related conditions (FDA, 2014). Aside from Semaglutide and Tirzepatide, there are other weight loss injections out there. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Tirzepatide for chronic weight management on November 8, 2023, and the drug was sold under the brand name, Consider this your ultimate guide to find what is the best weight loss injection for you. Here, we round up the best shots for weight loss and a list of weight loss injections so you can weigh your options, understand how they work, and see which may be appropriate for your situation. “As an athlete and as someone that has done everything, I just couldn’t get my weight to where I needed to be at a healthy place — and believe me, I don’t take shortcuts.” (If you are interested in trying a weight-loss medication, talk to your doctor first.) It’s hard to escape the numerous Ozempic before-and-after photos on social media of people who have seen drastic results while using the medication. (Novo Nordisk, the maker of Ozempic, previously told TODAY.com in a statement that it does not support off-label use of its medications.) It works similarly to semaglutide by helping you feel full faster and longer — but requires daily injections instead of weekly. That said, it’s often prescribed off-label for weight management due to its similar effects. You take it once a week via subcutaneous injection, gradually increasing the dose over time. What lifestyle changes should I make while taking Semaglutide for weight loss? Wegovy also comes as a pill for weight loss. The Wegovy injection is another once-weekly semaglutide injection. Wait 30 minutes before eating, drinking, or taking other medications. Rybelsus is an oral version of semaglutide used for Type 2 diabetes. Let’s get to know some of the differences between 11 GLP-1 drugs. The once-daily Wegovy pill is already approved and became available in the U.S. in January 2026. She expects retatrutide to become available on the market in 2027, but some online companies have been selling what they claim is the medication, prompting warning letters from the FDA. “For somebody who has a lower BMI of 30, this might be overpowering,” Levy noted. But both experts say not everyone needs to lose that much weight. The most common side effects were nausea, diarrhea, constipation and vomiting. It’s also approved to treat moderate-to-severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in people with a larger body size. Zepbound is the FDA-approved version of tirzepatide for weight loss. Mounjaro is being studied to see if it lowers the risk of MACE in people with diabetes and heart disease. Mounjaro (tirzepatide) is a once-weekly injection that’s closely related to GLP-1 receptor agonist drugs. It’s approved to lower blood sugar levels in people ages 10 and older with Type 2 diabetes. Before choosing a medicine for you, your health care provider thinks about your history and health challenges. You can't buy them off the shelf in a drug store like you can buy nonprescription medicines. If you answered yes to these questions, a prescription weight-loss drug may be a choice for you. Are you an adult who has serious health problems because of your weight? Study the pros and cons of medicines to treat obesity. North Carolina Medicaid preferred drug list (PDL). Mississippi Division of Medicaid universal preferred drug list. Minnesota fee-for-service and managed care Medicaid uniform preferred drug list. 2025 Delaware Medicaid preferred drug list (PDL). Preferred drug list (PDL). Among those who took the medication for the entire 15-month study period, the average weight loss was closer to 17%. These side effects are common when starting or increasing the dose, but they should improve as your body adjusts. But an oral pill version of semaglutide is now available for weight loss in adults as well. But your healthcare professional could also prescribe a different pill, such as metformin or topiramate, for off-label use in weight loss. Zepbound Mounjaro’s side effects are similar to those of GLP-1 agonists. It’s the first and only medication in a class called GIP/GLP-1 agonists. It works like a GLP-1 agonist and can cause similar side effects. Nausea, diarrhea, and headache are also common side effects. Combining insulin with a GLP-1 agonist can increase the risk of hypoglycemia. Kushner's office is helping Hamilton appeal the insurance denial, but as she waits, she's worried that stopping the medication will also influence her blood pressure and blood sugar. "I'm losing my energy" as the weight comes back, she says. "What the pharmaceutical companies have done is taken this hormone that is naturally occurring and restructured it into a drug," he explains. Wegovy's active ingredient — semaglutide — is a GLP-1, or glucagon-like peptide-1, which mimics the GLP-1 satiety hormone in our bodies. Using this medicine with any of the following medicines may cause an increased risk of certain side effects, but using both drugs may be the best treatment for you. In clinical studies, people using weight loss medications like Mounjaro lost an average of 20% of their body weight over 72 weeks, and up to 25% in some cases. Many people are turning to medications such as Ozempic (semaglutide), Wegovy (semaglutide), and Zepbound (tirzepatide) to aid with weight loss. Depending on the patient and their other diseases, anti-obesity medications can also help with other weight-related medical problems, such as improving blood pressure or cholesterol levels, improving blood sugar levels in patients with diabetes, and delaying the onset of type 2 diabetes. The goal of treatment with anti-obesity medications is to reset “the set point,” a term that describes a weight range the body tries to maintain, and one which is elevated in the setting of obesity, she explains. As a result, compounded semaglutide injections are largely being phased out. As of February 2025, the semaglutide injection (Ozempic, Wegovy) shortage was resolved. Just keep in mind that cheaper doesn’t necessarily mean better with compounded medications. Patient access to drugs For instance, if you self-administer stomach injections for weight loss, you might notice mild redness on your stomach in the area you administered the injection. A GLP-1 weight loss drug should not be taken if you’re pregnant or planning to become pregnant in the near future. It can be especially beneficial for people who have struggled to achieve lasting weight loss and weight management through conventional means. Many insurance companies and employers that provide healthcare coverage don’t consider weight-loss medications medically necessary. A healthcare professional must evaluate you and decide whether the medication is appropriate based on factors such as your body mass index (BMI), medical history, and weight-related health conditions. Rybelsus is an oral version of semaglutide that’s also approved for blood sugar control in people with Type 2 diabetes. Medicare plans are prohibited by law from covering prescription medications taken solely for weight loss. However, Dr Terri-Lynne South, Chair of RACGP Specific Interests Obesity, told newsGP a weight-loss medication’s addition to the PBS would begin to tackle Australia’s health inequities. The PBAC has previously considered applications to list weight-loss medications on the PBS, but has knocked these back for various reasons, including submissions having ‘poorly justified the population access it had requested’ and that the listing ‘would not be cost-effective at the requested price’. ‘This may include, but not be limited to, the Australian population cohorts most likely to benefit from the potential future availability of Wegovy, or other anti-obesity medications such as tirzepatide, through the PBS,’ he said. In response to a petition calling for Wegovy to be added to the PBS, Minister Butler confirmed he wrote to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee (PBAC) in March, asking it to provide advice on equitable access to medicines for the treatment of obesity. Four of these drugs are approved for adults and children ages 12 and older. Possible side effects vary by medication and how it acts on your body. Most weight loss takes place within the first 6 months of starting the medication. Ozempic and Wegovy, aka semaglutide, and Mounjaro, aka tirzepatide, are FDA-approved injectable medications developed to treat adult-onset diabetes; Wegovy and Mounjaro can be prescribed for weight loss alone. If you have diabetes and are taking other medications to treat the condition, weight loss injections can increase the risk of your blood glucose dropping too low (hypoglycemia). The college said its position was updated due to a growing body of evidence that semaglutide medicines can be an effective way for patients to reduce their risk of developing the complex and chronic conditions that are linked to overweight and obesity. Experts are concerned that, in some cases, the side effects of prescription medications that treat overweight and obesity may outweigh the benefits. If these lifestyle changes are not enough to help you lose weight or maintain your weight loss, your health care professional may prescribe medications as part of your weight-control program. MariTide brings a new approach to weight loss compared with the existing drugs on the market because it is a so-called peptide antibody conjugate, which refers to a monoclonal antibody linked to two peptides. Notably, Amgen said patients who received the highest dose of MariTide every other month experienced comparable weight loss to those who took it monthly, suggesting the potential for less frequent dosing of the drug. Wave is taking a different approach to weight loss, targeting how the body burns fat rather than suppressing appetite. That drug has proven to be more effective than semaglutide, the active ingredient in Novo Nordisk's rival injections, which only targets GLP-1. That's how tirzepatide, the active ingredient in Lilly's blockbuster obesity and diabetes injections, works. In a meta-analysis of 4 GLP-1 RA trials, GLP-1 RAs reduced risk of cardiovascular outcomes by 10%, and all-cause death by 12%(52). Robust cardiovascular safety data exists on the use of GLP-1 RAs with systematic reviews and meta-analyses demonstrating this class improves weight and glycemia, even when compared to dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors(46). Both phentermine and topiramate are cleared by the kidney, and the product label for phentermine-topiramate recommends a maximum dose of 7.5 mg/46 mg daily for moderate or severe kidney impairment, and avoiding its use in kidney failure (Table 3)(43, 45). Unfortunately, scant safety data exists on phentermine-topiramate and naltrexone plus bupropion in patients with CKD. Cardiometabolic effects were greatest for phentermine-topiramate (decreased waist circumference, modest decreased glycemia and blood pressure, minimal decreased cholesterol) and liraglutide (substantial decrease in waist circumference and glycemia, minimal effect on blood pressure and cholesterol). Wegovy is administered as a once-weekly injection and is approved specifically for weight management. The medication improved her adherence to caloric restriction, and she achieved weight loss of 5 kg. Modest weight loss of 5–10% could result in significant clinical benefit and improvement of Sally’s many obesity-related complications; unfortunately, the weight loss achieved with lifestyle modifications was not durable. They’ll check your body weight and ask you about side effects. As mentioned above, if you’re also prescribed other glucose-lowering medications, your risk of this side effect may be higher. Using the medication too often can raise your risk of side effects. But when combined with other medications that lower blood glucose, especially insulin, this risk goes up. This low dosage helps limit digestive side effects, such as nausea and diarrhea, while your body adjusts to the medication. If this sounds unsettling, it's a reminder of how high the stakes are to combat obesity. Generally, if you don't have a history of these conditions, "this medication is thought to be safe," he says. So, Kushner says doctors need to screen patients to find out if they have a family history of a specific kind of thyroid carcinoma, or another rare condition called multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2). The 5 mg and 10 mg doses are still very effective for weight loss and may cause fewer side effects. Your maintenance dose will be the one that provides ideal weight loss with minimal side effects. Your maintenance dose of Zepbound for weight loss depends on your response to the medication. For decades we had limited treatments, but several injectable medications have provided new options for chronic weight management. "I'm very frustrated about the weight coming back on in so little time," Hamilton says. And, after a few months of not taking the drug, she has gained back 20 pounds. She now works in a hospital ER registering patients, which requires her to sit most of the day. Her Aetna insurance plan covered the cost of the medication, but when she changed jobs last fall, her new insurance plan through Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois denied coverage. That’s why semaglutides have been used for several years to treat type 2 diabetes. Three months after surgery, Sally lost 20 kg (18.5% of her body weight). Sally was unable to tolerate higher doses because of gastrointestinal side effects. She was keen to lose weight to improve her health and overall wellbeing, and wished to explore other options to aid with her efforts to lose weight. Sally had previously tried to lose weight with lifestyle interventions, including VLEDs and structured exercise programs, and achieved modest weight loss of 5 kg, which was not sustainable. Get access to handpicked deals on your favorite national health and wellness brands. Get a personalized action plan and track progress toward your health goals. We’re committed to helping you eat healthy and get active so you can enjoy a healthier life. If you're new to using GoodRx for Ozempic and Wegovy savings, pay an introductory price of $199 per month for the first two fills (only available for certain doses). If your request for coverage is denied, speak with your healthcare professional about appealing the decision. To find out whether your state has added the medication to its formulary, you can For example, the medication is listed as a preferred agent in California and Delaware, but it’s listed as nonpreferred in North Carolina. In a systematic review and meta-analysis, Cho et al (20210 examined the effectiveness of sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors for the management of obesity in non-diabetic over-weight or obese patients. The authors concluded that the use of digital health in weight reduction interventions for employees with obesity has been web-based. In a systematic review, Lee et al (2022) examined the literature on RCTs on weight reduction interventions using digital health for employees with obesity. These devices are designed to promote healthy behaviors and decrease risk for chronic disease like cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Sometimes health care professionals use medications in a way that’s different from what the FDA has approved. Before taking any medication to treat obesity, talk with your health care professional about the possible risks and benefits. Some weight management medications that curb appetite, such as phentermine, are approved by the FDA only for use for a few weeks. You can keep taking these medications as long as you are benefiting from treatment and not experiencing serious side effects. Weight-loss medicines may not work for everyone, and the effects may wane over time. To lose weight — and keep it off — you must adopt healthy-eating habits that you can maintain over time. You may be tempted by fad diets that promise fast and easy weight loss. I started doing that about a year ago for my diabetes and that’s helped me lose the last 15 pounds or so,” she told Barrymore. “I’ve recently gone on Ozempic and everybody said, ‘Oh, she did it with Ozempic’ but that’s not true. “But I have to impress upon people out there that this was hard work for me, especially during the pandemic. “It’s funny because people assume, ‘Oh she must’ve been miserable, depressed, whatever,’ and I was like, ‘No I was not.’” If each medicine is used at a low dose, some of the adverse effects may be avoided. When to start drug treatment depends on the diet being used for the management of obesity. Clinical trials include diet and lifestyle interventions so patients still need to make lifestyle changes to benefit from drug treatment. However, topiramate in combination with phentermine was approved for the treatment of obesity by the FDA in 2012. It has not been approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration for the treatment of obesity in Australia because no one has applied to register it for treating obesity. Can Semaglutide be used long-term for weight loss? What are the potential side effects of Semaglutide oral and injection? Is Semaglutide safe for weight loss? But researchers haven't found that the drug causes liver injuries. In rare cases, people have had serious liver injury with orlistat. You need to follow a low-fat diet when taking this medicine. Orlistat can cause side effects such as passing gas and having loose stools. In addition, differences in weight loss between the AA genotype and TT genotype were significant in studies with a diet intervention only, adjustment for baseline BMI or body weight, and several other subgroups. The authors concluded that application of equations validated in healthy subjects to predict body composition performs less well in oncologic and surgical patients. Difference in weight loss between the treatment and usual care group were -4.3 kg ± 3.3 versus -1.8 kg ± 3.2, respectively. Clinical applications of indirect calorimetry include obesity treatment, as well as treating obesity related diseases such as diabetes, dysmetabolic syndrome X, hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, as well as sleep apnea. Mulholland et al (2012) stated that evidence from the literature supports the safe use of very-low-energy diets (VLED) for up to 3 months in supervised conditions for patients who fail to meet a target weight loss using a standard low-fat, reduced-energy approach. Typically, people can lose up to 3% to 17% of their body weight while taking one of these medications. All of these medications need to be combined with wider lifestyle changes, such as increased exercise and a healthy diet, in order to effectively promote weight loss. Your state Medicaid program may cover medications, such as Wegovy (semaglutide) and Saxenda (liraglutide), that are FDA approved for chronic weight management. Your state may also provide Medicaid coverage for Type 2 diabetes medications that cause weight loss as a side effect. The patients were then randomized to either continue taking the injection or switch to a placebo for an additional 52-week period. Patients took tirzepatide for 36 weeks and achieved 21.1% weight loss on average. Both trials followed adults who were obese or overweight with weight-related conditions, but excluded those with Type 2 diabetes. Explore Mayo Clinic studies testing new treatments, interventions and tests as a means to prevent, detect, treat or manage this condition. Also known as bariatric surgery, weight-loss surgery limits how much food you can eat. Weight-loss medicines are meant to be used along with diet, exercise and behavior changes, not instead of them. Steps to take include looking at your current habits to find out what factors, stresses or situations may have contributed to your obesity. Multi-agonist therapies combining GLP-1 with GIP or glucagon may amplify these benefits by improving fat metabolism and reducing cardiovascular risk even further.The once-daily Wegovy pill is already approved and became available in the U.S. in January 2026.Here’s what experts say about research on the effectiveness of semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy) and a similar GIP/GLP-1 medication, tirzepatide (Mounjaro, Zepbound) and when to consider them for weight loss.The theoretical risk of thyroid tumors may be unnerving.It was found that prediction equations for total body water, extracellular water and fat-free mass have been developed, but many require further testing and validation in larger cohorts.Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases.The company said it did not observe a plateau in either group of patients, which indicates the potential for further weight loss beyond 52 weeks.You’ll also follow different instructions if you’ve been prescribed compounded semaglutide, which usually comes in a vial with syringes. Also let them know what you’re willing to potentially spend on a weight-loss pill. The decision to start taking a weight-loss pill is a personal one. But it’s important to have a conversation with your prescriber about the potential risks of controlled substances like Qsymia. Based on data reported in clinical studies, Wegovy is likely the most effective prescription weight-loss pill. The active ingredient in Ozempic, semaglutide, is also approved to treat obesity under the name Wegovy. As weight-loss drugs have exploded in popularity this past year, part of the craze has been members of the public wondering which celebrities are on Ozempic. “The reason these new medications are such game changers is they really are effective, and it’s quite remarkable to help someone who’s tried oftentimes for years, decades, maybe their entire adult life, to lose weight.” Zepbound and other weight loss drugs are not covered by many insurance plans, but Eli Lilly's diabetes counterpart Mounjaro is. Before prescribing any weight loss medicine, your doctor will talk you through the benefits and limitations of starting treatment, including any side effects you might get. Tirzepatide (Mounjaro), semaglutide (Wegovy) and liraglutide (Saxenda) are weight loss medicines that are taken as an injection. Forum Health offers integrative medicine treatments to help you achieve healthy weight loss for the long-term.