The new weight loss medications explained
GLP-1 receptor agonists
By now, I’m sure you’ve all heard about the new weight loss medications like Semaglutide (Wegovy or Ozempic are the brand names), Tirzepatide (Mounjaro or Zebound are some of the brand names) and Liraglutide (Victoza or Saxenda are the brand names), which can help you lose weight. These medications belong to a class called Glucagon-like peptide receptor agonists (GLP-1 receptor agonists for short). But most people may not be sure how they work. These medications stimulate your pancreas to secrete more insulin. They also have the added benefit of slowing down your intestines and making you feel full faster, so you don’t eat as much as you would otherwise. The effect of these medications tends to plateau once you reach the maximum allowed dose and most people will keep the weight off as long as they continue to take them. Once you stop taking the medication however, there is a tendency to gain the weight back.
Given that these medications are fairly new, we are just starting to understand some of their benefits. They were initially designed to help treat diabetics. Additionally, new literature is starting to suggest that for individuals with a prior history of cardiovascular disease, Semaglutide may help reduce the risk of cardiovascular outcomes as well as a possibility of improving kidney outcomes. Additionally, there may be some benefit with these medications for patients with fatty liver disease. And of course, weight reduction itself has tremendous health benefits overall. Less weight on your joints will decrease the risk of osteoarthritis and keep you active longer. Weight loss can also improve your Obstructive Sleep Apnea.
However, just like any other medication, there is always a risk of side effects. Given that it slows down how fast your intestines move, people can get severe vomiting and abdominal pain as the dosages are increased. There is also the risk of causing inflammation of your pancreas (a condition called pancreatitis). More severe cases of pancreatitis can even damage your kidneys or be life-threatening. Additionally, if you have Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia type 2 (MEN type 2) or a history of Medullary Thyroid Cancer, you should not be using this medication. And finally, because these are new medications, your insurance company tends to have very strict guidelines regarding who’s medications they will cover and who’s they won’t so these medications can be very expensive.
I would be happy to talk to you and work with your insurance companies regarding these medications or other weight loss medications should this be a topic that you are interested in. Additionally, I have a former colleague locally here in Frisco who is a UTSW bariatric surgeon that I can refer you to for even more options.
