Ozempic, Trulicity, and More: 10 GLP-1 Agonist Drugs and How to Navigate Your Options

Key takeaways:

  • Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) agonists are popular medications used to treat Type 2 diabetes. Some are also approved for weight loss.

  • Ozempic (semaglutide) and Victoza (liraglutide) are examples that treat Type 2 diabetes. Wegovy and Saxenda are higher-dose versions of each medication, used for weight loss.

  • There are ways to save on GLP-1 agonist drugs. Most of them have manufacturer savings cards to help make your prescription more affordable.

1. Ozempic

Ozempic (semaglutide) is a once-weekly injection for adults with Type 2 diabetes. It comes in a multi-dose pre-filled pen. You can inject Ozempic at any time of day, with or without food. But you should inject it on the same day each week.

Your prescriber may recommend Ozempic if you have Type 2 diabetes and heart disease. That’s because Ozempic can help lower the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (heart attack, stroke, and cardiovascular-related death), or MACE. There’s also some evidence suggesting potential kidney benefits, too.

Ozempic isn’t approved for weight loss. But you may notice weight loss as a side effect. On average, those taking it lost 8 to 10 lbs during clinical trials. Wegovy, a higher-dose product, is approved specifically for weight loss.

 

GoodRx icon

  • A holistic approach: Combining weight-loss medication with lifestyle changes can improve your chances of success. Find out how a new diet and mindset helped one person stay at an ideal weight.

  • Natural ways to mimic meds: GLP-1 receptor agonist medications such as Wegovy and Ozempic are popular for weight loss, but prescriptions for both are often limited. Fortunately, there are ways to boost your GLP-1 levels without medication.

  • How does semaglutide work for weight loss? GLP-1 agonists like semaglutide are just one category of medications that impact weight. Read an expert breakdown of how semaglutide works and what other types of medication may be effective.

2. Rybelsus

Don’t like injections? Rybelsus is an oral version of semaglutide used for Type 2 diabetes. Currently, it's the only medication in the GLP-1 agonist class that isn’t injected.

Rybelsus is taken by mouth once daily. To get the best results, take it first thing in the morning with no more than 4 ounces of water. Wait 30 minutes before eating, drinking, or taking other medications. This will allow the medication to be fully absorbed.

It’s possible to switch from Ozempic to Rybelsus (and vice versa). But if your Ozempic dose is 1 mg or greater, this may not be an option for you. Additionally, Rybelsus isn’t approved for the same heart-related benefits.

Rybelsus isn’t approved for weight loss. But higher doses of oral semaglutide are being studied and may be approved for weight loss in the near future.

3. Wegovy

Wegovy is another once-weekly semaglutide injection. But it’s only approved for weight loss in certain adults and adolescents ages 12 and older. It’s not used to treat diabetes, and you don’t need to have a diabetes diagnosis to use it. Like Ozempic, you can inject it at any time of day.

Wegovy is approved for adults with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 mg/kg² or greater. You can also use Wegovy if you have a BMI of at least 27 mg/kg² with one or more weight-related health conditions (such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes).

Wegovy is also approved for adolescents ages 12 and older. People within this age group may qualify for Wegovy if they have a BMI at or above the 95th percentile for sex and age.

In clinical trials, adults taking Wegovy saw an average weight loss of nearly 15% of their initial body weight. And adolescents saw an average weight loss of almost 15% of their initial body weight. For the best results, combine Wegovy with a healthy diet and exercise.

Wegovy is also approved to lower the risk of MACE in adults with heart disease who are considered overweight or obese. During a recent clinical trial, Wegovy lowered the risk of MACE by 20% compared to placebo (an injection without medication in it).

4. Trulicity

Trulicity (dulaglutide) is a once-weekly injection for Type 2 diabetes in adults and children ages 10 and older. It comes as a single-use pre-filled pen. You can inject it on the same day each week at any time of day, with or without food.

Like Ozempic, Trulicity can lower the risk of MACE in adults who also have heart disease. But it can also provide this benefit if you have heart disease risk factors. Trulicity may also have some kidney-related benefits.

Trulicity isn’t approved for weight loss. But some people using it lose weight as a side effect. One study found that adults taking the highest Trulicity dose (4.5 mg) were able to lose up to 10 lbs over 9 months.

5. Victoza

Victoza (liraglutide) is a once-daily injection for Type 2 diabetes. Unlike the other medications we’ve covered so far, it’s approved for use in people ages 10 and older. It’s also injected more frequently. You can inject your dose at any time of day, without regard to food.

Victoza can lower the risk of MACE if you also have heart disease. There’s also evidence that it may help prevent kidney problems from getting worse.

Victoza isn’t approved for weight loss, but some people taking it lose weight. During clinical trials, this was around 5 lbs on average. A higher-dose version called Saxenda is available for weight loss.

6. Saxenda

Saxenda is the version of liraglutide approved for weight loss. Like Wegovy, it can be used in adults with a BMI of 30 mg/kg² or greater, or at least 27 mg/kg², with one or more weight-related medical conditions. Adolescents who meet certain weight-related measures also qualify for Saxenda.

In a large clinical trial, adults using Saxenda lost an average of 8% of their starting body weight. In a separate trial, adolescents lost a little over 2.5% of their starting body weight on average. Saxenda also works best when combined with a healthy diet and exercise.

But how does Saxenda compare to Wegovy? One head-to-head study showed significantly more weight loss in adults with Wegovy (16%) than Saxenda (6%). You also need to inject Saxenda more frequently. Your prescriber can help you decide on the best option for you. 

7. Byetta

Byetta (exenatide) was the first FDA-approved GLP-1 agonist. It’s used to treat Type 2 diabetes in adults. You need to inject it more often compared to other options — twice daily within an hour before your morning and evening meals.

Your prescriber may recommend Byetta if you’re experiencing blood glucose spikes after meals. And it can also cause weight loss as a side effect. However, Byetta doesn’t offer the same heart-related benefits as other options.

Byetta may be less convenient since it’s injected twice a day around meals. If this is a dealbreaker, Bydureon BCise may be an option to consider.

8. Bydureon BCise

Bydureon BCise (exenatide) is a longer-acting version of Byetta that’s injected once weekly. It’s approved to lower blood glucose levels in people ages 10 and older with Type 2 diabetes.

Like Byetta, Bydureon BCise doesn’t have the same heart-related benefits seen with other GLP-1 agonists. And it may not result in the same amount of weight loss, either. However, your prescriber may decide that Bydureon BCise is the best option for you.

9. Mounjaro

Mounjaro (tirzepatide) is closely related to GLP-1 agonist drugs. It’s part of a brand new class called GLP-1/GIP agonists. It works by mimicking two gut hormones: GLP-1 and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP).

Mounjaro has been studied head-to-head against Ozempic. After 40 weeks, people taking it saw a better reduction in hemoglobin A1C levels (average blood glucose over 3 months) compared to Ozempic. And they lost more weight, too.

Mounjaro is being studied to see if it lowers the risk of MACE in people with diabetes and heart disease. But it’s not currently approved for this use yet.

 

Mounjaro Ozempic (semaglutide), Rybelsus (semaglutide), and Trulicity (dulaglutide). Zepbound (tirzepatide), Wegovy (semaglutide), and Saxenda (liraglutide)

 

Mounjaro Wegovy Saxenda Xultophy Zepbound Ozempic Rybelsus Victoza Trulicity    

 

Wegovy Philippines, Saxenda Philippines, Xultophy Philippines, Mounjaro Philippines, Ozempic Philippines, Rybelsus Philippines, Victoza Philippines, Trulicity Philippines,  Zepbound Philippines

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