What to know about GLP-1 weight-loss treatment.

Basics

How GLP-1 medications work

GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) is a hormone your gut releases after you eat. It tells your brain you’re full, slows how quickly your stomach empties, and helps regulate blood sugar. GLP-1 medications mimic this hormone, so appetite and cravings tend to fall and meals feel more satisfying.

Tirzepatide acts on a second hormone receptor as well, called GIP, which is why it’s often grouped separately from semaglutide. Both are given as a small once-weekly injection under the skin.

These medications work best alongside changes to how you eat and move. They’re a tool, not a replacement for those habits, and weight tends to return if treatment stops without other changes in place. What results look like varies a lot from person to person, which is why a provider tailors the plan and follows up.

Getting started

Who qualifies, and who shouldn’t

Providers generally consider GLP-1 treatment for adults with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher, or 27 or higher with a weight-related condition such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, prediabetes, type 2 diabetes, or sleep apnea. Your provider makes the final call based on your full history, not a number alone.

These medications are not appropriate for everyone. They should not be used by people with a personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma or MEN 2, people who are pregnant, planning pregnancy, or breastfeeding, or people with a history of pancreatitis. A history of certain eating disorders, gallbladder disease, or other conditions may also mean in-person care is a better fit.

The intake asks about all of this so your provider can screen safely. If something rules treatment out, you’ll be told, and you won’t be charged.

During treatment

Side effects and how they’re managed

The most common side effects are digestive: nausea, diarrhea, constipation, vomiting, and reduced appetite. They’re usually mild to moderate, tend to be strongest in the first weeks and after a dose increase, and often ease as your body adjusts.

This is a big reason treatment is managed month to month. Providers typically start low and increase slowly, and will hold or lower your dose if side effects are hard to tolerate. Small changes, like eating smaller meals and staying hydrated, often help too.

Serious side effects are uncommon but real, and include pancreatitis, gallbladder problems, kidney issues from dehydration, low blood sugar (especially with insulin or sulfonylureas), and allergic reactions. The Important Safety Information page lists the full warnings, including the boxed warning about thyroid tumors. Tell your care team about anything that doesn’t feel right, and seek emergency care for severe stomach pain, trouble breathing, or swelling.

About the medication

What “compounded” means

A compounded medication is prepared by a licensed pharmacy for an individual patient under a prescription. Compounded drugs are not FDA-approved, are not generic versions of FDA-approved drugs, and are not reviewed by the FDA for safety, effectiveness, or quality before they’re dispensed. A provider may prescribe a compounded medication when they decide it’s appropriate for a specific patient.

Your provider can also discuss FDA-approved options with you. If you’d like to understand the trade-offs, that conversation is part of your care.