Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsHow They WorkDrugs in This ClassAdministrationSide EffectsContraindications
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
How They Work
Drugs in This Class
Administration
Side Effects
Contraindications
GLP-1 receptor agonists are a non-insulintype 2 diabetesmedication. GLP-1 agonists help to lower blood sugar and aid in weight loss.
Drugs in this class include Byetta (exenatide), Victoza (liraglutide), Trulicity (dulaglutide), andOzempic (semaglutide)among others.
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Used in combination with diet, exercise, andoral diabetes medicines, these drugs help to lowerhemoglobin A1Clevels and improve blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and beta-cell function.
This article discusses GLP-1 agonists. It explains how GLP-1s work to treat diabetes and boost weight loss. It also describes the various GLP-1s on the market and the differences between them.
What Is Insulin?
Glucagon-like peptide (GLP-1)is a type of hormone known as an incretin that’s lower than normal in people with type 2 diabetes. GLP-1 receptor agonists belong to a class of medications known as incretin mimetics.
By mimicking the effects of GLP-1, the GLP-1 receptor agonists have many effects.
Some of their actions include:
GLP-1 agonists work on different organs throughout the body.
Brain
GLP-1 sends a signal to thehypothalamus, the part of the brain responsible for appetite and thirst, to take in less water and food. This can lead to weight loss.
Dehydration DangerBecause GLP-1 receptor agonists dampen thirst, it’s vital to drink plenty of water andother fluidsto stay hydrated while taking these medications.
Dehydration Danger
Because GLP-1 receptor agonists dampen thirst, it’s vital to drink plenty of water andother fluidsto stay hydrated while taking these medications.
Muscle
Pancreas
When GLP-1 encounters glucose, the pancreas is triggered to secrete more insulin, which lowers the amount of post-meal glucose in the blood.
GLP-1 also decreases the secretion of glucagon—a pancreatic hormone that helps to prevent blood sugar levels from dipping too low. In people with type 2 diabetes, glucagon can cause blood glucose levels to become too high.
What is Insulin Resistance?
Liver
GLP-1 lowers hepatic (liver) glucose output, which helps lower blood sugar levels.
Stomach
GLP-1 decreases both the secretion of acid in the stomach and how quickly food is emptied from the stomach, prolonging the sensation of fullness. This can limit how much a person eats and may ultimately lead to weight loss.
Types of GLP-1 Receptor Agonists
There are two types of GLP-1 receptor agonists: short-acting formulas, which typically are taken once or twice a day, and long-acting formulas, which are taken once a week.
The type prescribed is based on a number of factors, including medical history, blood sugar control, insurance coverage, price (GLP-1 receptor agonists can be expensive), and personal preference.
Most GLP-1 receptor agonist medications are injectable, meaning they’re given with a syringe and needle or with a pre-filled dosing pen, depending on the drug.
Both short-lasting or long-lasting GLP-1 receptor agonist shots are subcutaneous—inserted into the fatty tissue just below the surface of the skin.
If your healthcare provider prescribes a GLP-1 receptor agonist, they will teach you how to inject it yourself into either your abdomen or upper thigh.
If you’re unable to give yourself a shot, someone else can administer the drug to your upper arm.
To self-inject a GLP-1 receptor agonist medication:
Never reuse or share supplies. You should draw up your medication into a fresh syringe every time you self-inject. Most pre-filled pens should be discarded after 30 days, even if they are unused. You can talk to your pharmacist about the proper disposal of these supplies.
Overall, GLP-1 receptor agonists are safe and cause few side effects.
Common Side Effects
These include nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, which affect 10% to 40% of people who take a GLP-1 receptor agonist.
Side effects are most likely to occur with short-acting medications and tend to be less severe the longer a person takes the medication.
Other potential side effects of GLP-1 receptor agonists include constipation, bloating, indigestion, and headache. There can also be some redness, itching, or soreness of the skin at the injection site.
Serious Side Effects
Although rare, these side effects should be treated as an emergency:
The FDA approved updates post-marketing label of Ozempic to note the potential increased risk of intestinal blockage. The condition, called ileus, occurs when there are problems pushing food through the intestine and can cause build-up and blockage there. The weight loss drug Wegovy, which has the same active ingredient as Ozempic, and the diabetes drugs Rybelsus and Mounjaro have listed ileus on their safety labels.
Complications
In animal studies, both liraglutide and dulaglutide have been shown to promote thyroid cell tumors.
Although these drugs haven’t been evaluated in humans for this potential complication, it is recommended that people with a history of or family history of medullarythyroid cancerormultiple endocrine neoplasia type 2do not use GLP-1 receptor agonists.
With certain GLP-1 receptor agonists, there is a possible small increased risk ofpancreatitis(inflammation of the pancreas).
Who Should Avoid Them?
This medication is not recommended for people who:
In addition, people with impaired kidney function due to diabetes who have a GFR (glomerular filtration rate) of 30 or less should not use Bydureon or Byetta but may be able to take another GLP-1 receptor agonist.
Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate (eGFR) Test
Summary
GLP-1 agonists like Byetta, Trulicity, and Ozempic treat type 2 diabetes and promote weight loss.
These injectable diabetes medicines are incretin mimetics and help to control appetite and blood sugar, slow digestion, and prompt the pancreas to release insulin.
GLP-1 side effects are usually mild and include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and headache. More serious side effects, including ongoing abdominal or allergic reactions, should be treated as an emergency.
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7 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Del Olmo-Garcia MI, Merino-Torres JF.GLP-1 Receptor Agonists and Cardiovascular Disease in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes.J Diabetes Res. 2018;2018:4020492. doi:10.1155/2018/4020492Dungan K, DeSantis A.Glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus.Prasad-Reddy L, Isaacs D.A clinical review of GLP-1 receptor agonists: efficacy and safety in diabetes and beyond.Drugs Context. 2015;4:212283. doi:10.7573/dic.212283McKay NJ, Kanoski SE, Hayes MR, Daniels D.Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists suppress water intake independent of effects on food intake.Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol. 2011;301(6):R1755–R1764. doi:10.1152/ajpregu.00472.2011Gupta V.Glucagon-like peptide-1 analogues: An overview.Indian J Endocrinol Metab. 2013;17(3):413–421. doi:10.4103/2230-8210.111625Tran KL, Park YI, Pandya S, et al.Overview of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists for the treatment of patients with type 2 diabetes.Am Health Drug Benefits. 2017;10(4):178–188.Romera I, Cebrián-Cuenca A, Álvarez-Guisasola F, Gomez-Peralta F, Reviriego J. A Review of Practical Issues on the Use of Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists for the Management of Type 2 Diabetes.Diabetes Ther. 2019;10(1):5-19. doi:10.1007/s13300-018-0535-9
7 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Del Olmo-Garcia MI, Merino-Torres JF.GLP-1 Receptor Agonists and Cardiovascular Disease in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes.J Diabetes Res. 2018;2018:4020492. doi:10.1155/2018/4020492Dungan K, DeSantis A.Glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus.Prasad-Reddy L, Isaacs D.A clinical review of GLP-1 receptor agonists: efficacy and safety in diabetes and beyond.Drugs Context. 2015;4:212283. doi:10.7573/dic.212283McKay NJ, Kanoski SE, Hayes MR, Daniels D.Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists suppress water intake independent of effects on food intake.Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol. 2011;301(6):R1755–R1764. doi:10.1152/ajpregu.00472.2011Gupta V.Glucagon-like peptide-1 analogues: An overview.Indian J Endocrinol Metab. 2013;17(3):413–421. doi:10.4103/2230-8210.111625Tran KL, Park YI, Pandya S, et al.Overview of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists for the treatment of patients with type 2 diabetes.Am Health Drug Benefits. 2017;10(4):178–188.Romera I, Cebrián-Cuenca A, Álvarez-Guisasola F, Gomez-Peralta F, Reviriego J. A Review of Practical Issues on the Use of Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists for the Management of Type 2 Diabetes.Diabetes Ther. 2019;10(1):5-19. doi:10.1007/s13300-018-0535-9
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Del Olmo-Garcia MI, Merino-Torres JF.GLP-1 Receptor Agonists and Cardiovascular Disease in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes.J Diabetes Res. 2018;2018:4020492. doi:10.1155/2018/4020492Dungan K, DeSantis A.Glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus.Prasad-Reddy L, Isaacs D.A clinical review of GLP-1 receptor agonists: efficacy and safety in diabetes and beyond.Drugs Context. 2015;4:212283. doi:10.7573/dic.212283McKay NJ, Kanoski SE, Hayes MR, Daniels D.Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists suppress water intake independent of effects on food intake.Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol. 2011;301(6):R1755–R1764. doi:10.1152/ajpregu.00472.2011Gupta V.Glucagon-like peptide-1 analogues: An overview.Indian J Endocrinol Metab. 2013;17(3):413–421. doi:10.4103/2230-8210.111625Tran KL, Park YI, Pandya S, et al.Overview of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists for the treatment of patients with type 2 diabetes.Am Health Drug Benefits. 2017;10(4):178–188.Romera I, Cebrián-Cuenca A, Álvarez-Guisasola F, Gomez-Peralta F, Reviriego J. A Review of Practical Issues on the Use of Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists for the Management of Type 2 Diabetes.Diabetes Ther. 2019;10(1):5-19. doi:10.1007/s13300-018-0535-9
Del Olmo-Garcia MI, Merino-Torres JF.GLP-1 Receptor Agonists and Cardiovascular Disease in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes.J Diabetes Res. 2018;2018:4020492. doi:10.1155/2018/4020492
Dungan K, DeSantis A.Glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus.
Prasad-Reddy L, Isaacs D.A clinical review of GLP-1 receptor agonists: efficacy and safety in diabetes and beyond.Drugs Context. 2015;4:212283. doi:10.7573/dic.212283
McKay NJ, Kanoski SE, Hayes MR, Daniels D.Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists suppress water intake independent of effects on food intake.Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol. 2011;301(6):R1755–R1764. doi:10.1152/ajpregu.00472.2011
Gupta V.Glucagon-like peptide-1 analogues: An overview.Indian J Endocrinol Metab. 2013;17(3):413–421. doi:10.4103/2230-8210.111625
Tran KL, Park YI, Pandya S, et al.Overview of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists for the treatment of patients with type 2 diabetes.Am Health Drug Benefits. 2017;10(4):178–188.
Romera I, Cebrián-Cuenca A, Álvarez-Guisasola F, Gomez-Peralta F, Reviriego J. A Review of Practical Issues on the Use of Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists for the Management of Type 2 Diabetes.Diabetes Ther. 2019;10(1):5-19. doi:10.1007/s13300-018-0535-9
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