Various types of GLP-1RA have been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, including exenatide, liraglutide, albiglutide, dulaglutide, lixisenatide, semaglutide, and tirzepatide.
These names might be unfamiliar, but the brand names they’re sold under – such as Ozempic, Rybelsus, Wegovy, and Mounjaro – are quickly becoming household names.
Dr. Mir Ali, a bariatric surgeon and medical director of MemorialCare Surgical Weight Loss Center at Orange Coast Medical Center in California, outlined some of the ways in which the drugs work.
“The observation was made that patients taking these medications would lose weight,” Ali, who was not involved in the study, told Medical News Today. “Patients feel less hungry because these drugs slow the emptying of the stomach, so they feel full for longer.”
Ali said that while these drugs have been on the market for some time, they’ve really gained in popularity in the past few years – a factor that’s led to shortages as manufacturers struggle to keep up with demand.
For those who are prescribed a GLP-1 receptor agonist, it’s important to note that they’ll be most effective when combined with lifestyle changes.
“We as physicians really require the patient to change to a healthier lifestyle and those are the patients who are most successful,” Ali said. “So medication helps, but if the patient fails to make the right food choices, they may not see the expected results. Or if they go back to the old ways after stopping the medication, they may regain weight. So these medications are more like chronic treatment, like we treat high blood pressure or diabetes.”
Ali points out that while most side effects of these medications are relatively mild, it’s still important that anyone considering these drugs consult with a physician.
“Endocrine conditions and relatively rare thyroid conditions have a contraindication to take these medications, so patients definitely need to start with their primary doctors if they fall into any of these categories,” he said.
