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GLP-1s are a class of medications — Ozempic, Wegovy, Zepbound and the rest are brand names for a handful of molecules. This page is the short version of everything people ask first, with a link to the full answer under each one. Nothing here is a sales pitch: we don't sell medication.
The five questions everyone starts with
Two sentences each. The link goes to the long version.
What are GLP-1s?
They're a class of prescription drugs that copy a gut hormone your body already makes after eating. Most are weekly injections; a couple are daily, and one is a pill.
The GLP-1 class, explainedHow do they work?
They slow how fast your stomach empties and act on the appetite centers in your brain, so you feel full sooner and stay full longer. The newer molecules hit more than one receptor, which is why they tend to work better.
How GLP-1s workHow much weight can you lose?
Trial averages run from a few percent of body weight on the older drugs to around 21% on tirzepatide over roughly a year. Your result depends on the molecule, the dose you reach, and whether you stay on it.
Estimate your own numberWhat do they cost?
List prices run roughly $800–$1,400 a month before insurance, and coverage is the single biggest variable in what you actually pay. Compounded and generic routes cost less but come with their own tradeoffs.
Check what your plan coversWhat are the side effects?
The common ones are gastrointestinal — nausea, constipation, diarrhea — and they are worst in the first weeks after each dose increase. There are rarer serious risks, including a boxed warning that applies to the whole class.
GLP-1 safety informationThe medications themselves
Start with a molecule to understand how a drug works, or jump straight to a brand for its dosing, side effects, and cost.
Ozempic
semaglutide
Wegovy
semaglutide
Zepbound
tirzepatide
Mounjaro
tirzepatide
Rybelsus
semaglutide
Saxenda
liraglutide
Trulicity
dulaglutide
Victoza
liraglutide
By active ingredient
The molecule is the actual drug — the brands above are the names on the box.
Semaglutide
GLP-1 receptor agonist
Sold as Ozempic, Wegovy, Rybelsus
Tirzepatide
GIP/GLP-1 receptor agonist
Sold as Mounjaro, Zepbound
Liraglutide
GLP-1 receptor agonist
Sold as Victoza, Saxenda
Dulaglutide
GLP-1 receptor agonist
Sold as Trulicity
Retatrutide
In trialsGIP/GLP-1/glucagon receptor agonist
In clinical trials — no brand yet
When a word stops you
Somewhere else in the journey?
Informational only — not medical advice. Always talk to a licensed provider before starting or changing a medication. GLP-1 safety information · Medical disclaimer
Still just looking?
Read the mechanism first — then let the quiz narrow it down. Free, no account.