Weight Loss Medications
Tried to lose weight but nothing seems to work? You’re not alone. If diet and exercise haven’t delivered lasting results, it might be time to try a different approach.
Doctor-supervised weight loss programs with prescription medications are helping people finally reach their goals. The most popular options today are GLP-1 medications, delivered through simple under-the-skin injections. These breakthrough treatments can:
- Boost metabolism
- Curb cravings
- Burn fat faster
The Origin Of Injectable
Weight Loss Medications
The weight loss injections available for use today were first created to help individuals with type 2 diabetes manage their blood sugar levels. But something unexpected happened during the clinical trials, and patients started losing weight while using them. This side effect turned out to be a big benefit for individuals dealing with weight-related health issues like the type 2 diabetes they were using the medication to manage, high blood pressure, etc. In many cases, the loss of weight helped improve or even eliminate these serious medical conditions altogether.
Today in the United States there are three injectable medications for weight loss, which include Saxenda (liraglutide), Wegovy (semaglutide), and Zepbound (tirzepatide).
How Do GLP-1 Medications Work
For Weight Loss?
Prescription weight loss injections are called GLP-1 medications because they closely mimic a natural hormone that your body makes and releases when you eat called glucagon-like peptide 1. Your natural GLP-1 hormone is responsible for making your metabolism run smoother by controlling your blood sugar, regulating your appetite, and helping you eat less and encouraging your body to burn more calories and store less fat so you can maintain a healthy weight.
Many people who suffer from obesity have underlying issues that are preventing their metabolism from functioning as it should. These GLP-1 weight loss injections work with your natural hormones to streamline efficiency and boost the effectiveness of your metabolism so that the other weight loss strategies you are using, like a low-calorie diet and daily exercise, begin to get some results.
These medications help you lose weight because they balance your hormone levels, regulate your blood sugar, and they also help shut down much of the “food noise” that drives your hunger levels and incites cravings. They also slow down how fast your body digests food, so you stay feeling full and satisfied for a longer time.
GLP-1 Medications
Used For Weight Loss
Semaglutide works by copying one hormone your body already makes called GLP-1 that helps control your blood sugar levels and regulates how full or hungry you feel after eating. By acting like your naturally made GLP-1, semaglutide helps slow down digestion, lowers your blood sugar, and makes you feel full longer. This means you naturally eat less without feeling like you are starving yourself, and it can help you gradually lose weight. Research shows that patients who used semaglutide for 15 months lost an average of between 45 and 50 pounds, or about 17.3% of their starting weight.
Tirzepatide offers stronger benefits for weight loss because it mimics not only the GLP-1 hormone but also another one called GIP (glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide). Both of these hormones work together to regulate your appetite and control your blood sugar. GLP-1 influences the signals sent from your brain when you are full, and GIP helps with insulin levels to ensure your body uses sugar more efficiently. Together, they help stop food cravings and boost your metabolism, which makes it easier to eat less and burn more fat. Patients with obesity who used 10-mg and 15-mg doses of tirzepatide lost an average of between 50 and 65 pounds, or between 19.5% and 20.9% of their starting weight, after 72 weeks.
Retatrutide is even stronger, and according to the data that has been reported to date from the trials, offers the most significant weight loss results of all of the GLP-1 options.
It targets three hormones including GLP-1, GIP, and glucagon. Similar to semaglutide and tirzepatide, it can help control your appetite, streamline your metabolism, and regulate your blood sugar, but with the addition of the glucagon-mimicking hormone, it also increases how fast your body burns calories, making it the most effective medication to date when used for weight loss. Patients who used this triple-action retatrutide lost between 60 and 75 pounds in 10 to 12 months, according to the clinical studies to date.
How Do GLP-1 Medications Compare?
to see the entire table
| Semaglutide | Tirzepatide | Retatrutide | |
|---|---|---|---|
| How much can you expect to lose? | 45-50 lbs | 50-65 lbs | Up to 60–75 lbs (based on clinical trials) |
| Administered | Subcutaneous injection | Subcutaneous injection | Subcutaneous injection |
| Frequency | Once a week | Once a week | Once a week (in trials) |
| Which natural hormones does it copy? | Single Action GLP-1 receptor agonist | Dual Action GLP-1 and GIP receptor co-agonists | Triple Action GLP-1, GIP, and glucagon receptor agonists |
| Dosage Schedule | 0.25 mg, 0.5 mg, 1.0 mg, 1.7 mg, 2.4 mg | 2.5 mg, 5 mg, 7.5 mg, 10 mg, 12.5 mg, 15 mg | Not yet FDA-approved (doses not finalized) |
What Are Compounded GLP-1 Medications?
When GLP-1 medications were initially introduced to the market, the demand for them quickly outpaced the available supply. Patients who were already using these medications were having a hard time continuing their treatment, and new patients were put on very long waiting lists.
To help ease these issues, the FDA declared a shortage of these medications, which opened up the option for special pharmacies to make compounded versions of semaglutide and tirzepatide. This means these pharmacies could make their own semaglutide and tirzepatide, and in most cases this was a good thing, and reputable state-licensed compounding pharmacies could help fill the demand, and patients were able to obtain their medication at a lower cost.
In October 2024, the FDA declared the shortage over, and today compounded versions are available under special circumstances. Patients who require a special dosage or a special blend of ingredients to help alleviate side effects can still get compounded semaglutide or compounded tirzepatide with a special prescription.
How To Choose The Right
Medication For You
Prescription weight loss injections can be the perfect medical intervention to help you lose weight and improve your health, but there is not a one-size-fits-all solution. It is extremely important to use them under the care of a qualified doctor, like Dr. Angelina at MySlimMed, who understands how each medication works and can help monitor your progress and how your body responds to the medication. Just because one option may seem stronger or offer quicker results does not always mean it is the best choice for you.
For example, some people do really well on semaglutide because the side effects tend to be milder and easier to manage. Others might not see the results they hoped for on semaglutide and may find that tirzepatide works better for their body. And as newer medications like retatrutide become available, they may offer even more benefits, but they may not be a good choice for everyone.
How It Works?
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SlimMed Programs
eligible patients
* If you do not qualify for the GLP-1 Prescription program, Dr. Angelina may prescribe other GLP-1 medications. Other options will be discussed with Dr. Angelina based on eligibility and in accordance with the current FDA regulations.
GLP-1 Prescriptions FAQs
Yes, when used under a doctor’s care, GLP-1 medications are safe for most people, but like any kind of medication, they can have side effects. The MySlimMed team will help you decide if you are a good candidate for weight loss injections and help mitigate any side effects you may experience.
To maintain a balanced and consistent level of medication in your system, you should administer your GLP-1 injection the same day each week and as close to the same time of day as possible.
Not every medication works the same for every person, so if the normal schedule of semaglutide does not give you the results you want, Dr. Angelina can help determine your next steps. She may adjust your dose or switch you to a different medication to find what works best for you with the fewest side effects.
MySlimMed Can Help You Choose
The GLP-1 That Is Best For You
Dr. Angelina Postoev can help guide you in choosing the option that gives you the best balance of results and comfort while you navigate your weight loss journey. She and the team at MySlimMed will provide you with the guidance and support that fits your needs, weight loss goals, and lifestyle.
You will start your journey to better health with a personal consultation where we will discuss your health and weight loss history as well as the results you are looking for. If we determine you are a good candidate for a GLP-1 weight loss medication, you will be provided with a prescription for the one that best fits your needs. Each month your medication will be shipped directly to your doorstep, and your progress will be consistently monitored to ensure all is going as planned and you are on track to reach your goals.
