GLP-1 Shot: What It Is, Which Brands, How It Works (Beginner Guide)

You heard “GLP-1 shot” from a friend, saw it on the news, or searched “weight loss shots” at 11 pm. This is the plain-English version of everything you need to know before your first prescriber visit. No jargon, no sales pitch — just what these shots are, which brands count, what the real trial numbers say, and how much they actually cost.

TL;DR — what is a GLP-1 shot?

A GLP-1 shot is an injectable prescription medication that mimics a natural hormone your small intestine releases after you eat — called GLP-1, or glucagon-like peptide-1. The medication binds to GLP-1 receptors in the brain and gut, making you feel full faster, slowing how quickly food leaves your stomach, and helping your pancreas release insulin in response to meals.

In plain English: the shot turns down the volume on hunger signals. You eat less, feel satisfied sooner, and (for most people) lose weight over time if combined with lifestyle changes.

As of May 2026, the FDA has approved three injectable GLP-1 drugs specifically for weight loss: Wegovy (semaglutide), Zepbound (tirzepatide), and Saxenda (liraglutide 3 mg). Two others — Ozempic (semaglutide) and Mounjaro (tirzepatide) — are FDA-approved for type 2 diabetes and sometimes prescribed off-label for weight loss, but they are technically diabetes drugs, not weight-loss drugs.

There are also pills — Foundayo (orforglipron, FDA-approved April 1, 2026) is the first oral GLP-1 for weight loss. More on pills vs. shots in Section 4.

The 4 FDA-approved GLP-1 shots for weight loss (+ what each brand is)

Here is every FDA-approved injectable GLP-1 option you are likely to encounter, with the verbatim FDA indication for each.

1. Wegovy (semaglutide 2.4 mg) — Novo Nordisk

FDA-approved: June 4, 2021 • How often: Once weekly injection • Dose starts at: 0.25 mg/week, escalating over 16 weeks to 2.4 mg/week

FDA-approved indication (Section 1, DailyMed):

“WEGOVY is indicated as an adjunct to a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity for chronic weight management in adults with an initial body mass index (BMI) of 30 kg/m² or greater (obesity), or 27 kg/m² or greater (overweight) in the presence of at least one weight-related comorbid condition (e.g., hypertension, type 2 diabetes mellitus, or dyslipidemia).” ^[1]

Wegovy was also approved in March 2024 for a second indication: reducing the risk of serious cardiovascular events (heart attack, stroke, cardiovascular death) in adults with established cardiovascular disease who also have obesity or overweight. This is why Medicare Part D covers it for some patients.

2. Zepbound (tirzepatide) — Eli Lilly

FDA-approved: November 8, 2023 • How often: Once weekly injection • Dose starts at: 2.5 mg/week, escalating to a maintenance dose of 5, 10, or 15 mg/week

Tirzepatide is a dual agonist — it activates both the GLP-1 receptor AND a second receptor called GIP (glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide). That dual action is why the trial numbers are larger than semaglutide's.

FDA-approved indication (Section 1, DailyMed):

“ZEPBOUND is indicated as an adjunct to a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity for chronic weight management in adults with an initial body mass index (BMI) of 30 kg/m² or greater (obesity), or 27 kg/m² or greater (overweight) in the presence of at least one weight-related comorbidity (e.g., hypertension, dyslipidemia, type 2 diabetes mellitus, obstructive sleep apnea, or cardiovascular disease).” ^[2]

Zepbound also received FDA approval in December 2024 for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in adults with moderate-to-severe OSA and obesity.

3. Saxenda (liraglutide 3 mg) — Novo Nordisk

FDA-approved: December 23, 2014 • How often: Once daily injection • Dose starts at: 0.6 mg/day, escalating weekly to 3 mg/day

Saxenda is the oldest of the three weight-loss GLP-1 shots. A generic version (liraglutide 3 mg by Teva) launched in August 2025 — the first FDA-approved generic weight-loss injectable, which brought prices down substantially.

FDA-approved indication (Section 1, DailyMed):

“SAXENDA (liraglutide) injection 3 mg is indicated as an adjunct to a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity for chronic weight management in adult patients with an initial body mass index (BMI) of 30 kg/m² or greater (obese), or 27 kg/m² or greater (overweight) in the presence of at least one weight-related comorbid condition (e.g., hypertension, type 2 diabetes mellitus, or dyslipidemia).” ^[3]

4. Mounjaro (tirzepatide) — Eli Lilly [off-label for weight loss]

FDA-approved: May 13, 2022 (for type 2 diabetes) • How often: Once weekly injection

Mounjaro and Zepbound contain the same active ingredient — tirzepatide — but Mounjaro is the diabetes version and Zepbound is the weight-loss version. Some prescribers prescribe Mounjaro off-label for weight loss; this article does not advocate that choice, but it is worth knowing the two brands are chemically identical.

Off-label use disclaimer: Mounjaro's FDA indication is type 2 diabetes, not chronic weight management. Prescribing it for weight loss in a patient without T2D is off-label. That decision belongs to the patient and prescriber.

What about Ozempic? What about Trulicity?

Both Ozempic (semaglutide, Novo Nordisk) and Trulicity (dulaglutide, Eli Lilly) are GLP-1 receptor agonists — but both are FDA-approved only for type 2 diabetes, not for weight management.

Why “Ozempic for weight loss” is everywhere: Ozempic's clinical trials showed meaningful body-weight reduction as a secondary outcome, and many patients and prescribers have used it for weight loss. But technically, using Ozempic to treat obesity in a patient without T2D is off-label use. Novo Nordisk made the same molecule at a higher dose, put it in a different pen, and called it Wegovy — that is the on-label weight-loss version.

The practical difference matters in two ways:

• Insurance: Most insurance will not cover Ozempic for weight management; they will require Wegovy (the on-label drug) for the weight-management indication, or deny both.
• Dose ceiling: Ozempic goes up to 2.0 mg/week. Wegovy goes up to 2.4 mg/week. The higher dose is part of why Wegovy's trial numbers are stronger.

Trulicity (dulaglutide) showed smaller weight-loss effects than semaglutide or tirzepatide in trials and is not typically used off-label for weight management in the way Ozempic is. See our full GLP-1 medication list for the complete landscape.

Shot vs pill — what's the difference?

If needles are a dealbreaker, you have one FDA-approved pill option for weight loss as of May 2026.

Foundayo (orforglipron, Eli Lilly) was FDA-approved on April 1, 2026 for chronic weight management. It is a small-molecule oral GLP-1 receptor agonist — taken once daily, no water fasting requirement, no special timing with meals. This is genuinely different from injectable GLP-1s: it is not a peptide, so it does not break down in the stomach the way injectable semaglutide would if swallowed.

Rybelsus (oral semaglutide) exists too, but it is FDA-approved only for type 2 diabetes — not for weight management — and requires taking it 30 minutes before any food or drink (just water) each morning, which many patients find inconvenient.

The honest caveat on pills vs shots: the injectable trials have produced larger mean weight-loss numbers than the early oral data. Foundayo is new and its long-term head-to-head data versus Wegovy and Zepbound are still emerging. If your primary concern is maximum efficacy, the injections currently have a stronger evidence base. If your primary concern is avoiding needles, Foundayo is a real FDA-approved option. See the Foundayo vs Wegovy vs Zepbound comparison for the full data side by side.

How GLP-1 shots actually work (the mechanism, in plain language)

GLP-1 is a hormone your gut naturally releases when food arrives in your small intestine. Its job is to signal “food is here — handle it.” The GLP-1 drugs are engineered versions that last much longer in the body than the natural hormone (which disappears in minutes).

The FDA Section 12 (Mechanism of Action) for Wegovy describes it this way:

“Semaglutide is a GLP-1 analogue with 94% sequence homology to human GLP-1 that binds to and activates the GLP-1 receptor. Semaglutide reduces blood glucose in a glucose-dependent manner by stimulating insulin secretion and reducing glucagon secretion when blood glucose is elevated. The mechanism of blood glucose lowering also involves a minor delay in gastric emptying in the early postprandial phase. Semaglutide reduces body weight and body fat mass through mechanisms involving reduced energy intake. Semaglutide lowers body weight by reducing hunger, increasing feelings of fullness, and consequently reducing food and energy intake.” ^[1]

In plain language, that means three things happen simultaneously:

1. Your stomach empties more slowly. Food stays in the stomach longer, which means you feel full for longer after each meal.
2. Your brain gets “I'm full” signals. GLP-1 receptors in the hypothalamus (hunger-control center of the brain) reduce appetite and food-seeking behavior.
3. Your pancreas responds better to food. Insulin release is amplified after eating, and glucagon (the hormone that raises blood sugar between meals) is suppressed. This is why GLP-1 drugs also work for type 2 diabetes.

For Zepbound (tirzepatide), the mechanism adds a second layer — it also activates the GIP receptor, which appears to enhance fat burning and further augment the appetite-suppression effect. The FDA Section 12 for Zepbound states:

“Tirzepatide is a dual glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist. Tirzepatide selectively binds to and activates both the GIP and GLP-1 receptors, the targets for native GIP and GLP-1 peptides. Tirzepatide reduces body weight and body fat through reduction in calorie intake, and potentially by altering metabolic rate.” ^[2]

What weight loss to expect

Wegovy (semaglutide): STEP-1 trial

Trial: STEP-1 (Wilding et al., NEJM 2021) ^[6] • Duration: 68 weeks • Population: Adults with BMI ≥ 30, or BMI ≥ 27 with a weight-related comorbidity (no T2D) • Dose: Semaglutide 2.4 mg weekly (same as Wegovy)

Mean body-weight change: −14.9% in the semaglutide group vs −2.4% in the placebo group. In absolute terms, the mean weight loss was approximately 15.3 kg (about 33.7 lbs) from a mean baseline weight of ~105 kg (~232 lbs).

Zepbound (tirzepatide): SURMOUNT-1 trial

Trial: SURMOUNT-1 (Jastreboff et al., NEJM 2022) ^[7] • Duration: 72 weeks • Population: Adults with BMI ≥ 30, or BMI ≥ 27 with comorbidity (no T2D) • Dose: Tirzepatide 5, 10, or 15 mg weekly

Mean body-weight change (highest dose, 15 mg): −20.9% vs −3.1% in the placebo group. Across all three tirzepatide doses (5, 10, and 15 mg), mean weight loss ranged from −15.0% to −20.9%.

Saxenda / generic liraglutide: SCALE trial

Trial: SCALE Obesity and Prediabetes (Pi-Sunyer et al., NEJM 2015) ^[9] • Duration: 56 weeks • Population: Adults with BMI ≥ 30, or BMI ≥ 27 with dyslipidemia or hypertension (no T2D) • Dose: Liraglutide 3.0 mg daily

Mean body-weight change: −8.0% in the liraglutide group vs −2.6% in the placebo group. Saxenda produces meaningfully smaller weight loss than semaglutide or tirzepatide on a population-mean basis, but it is still a significant and FDA-validated effect — and the generic form (Teva, August 2025) makes it the most affordable injectable option.

Head-to-head: SURMOUNT-5 (tirzepatide vs semaglutide)

Trial: SURMOUNT-5 (Aronne et al., NEJM 2025) ^[8] • Duration: 72 weeks • Design: Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled head-to-head — the only direct comparison of tirzepatide vs semaglutide in the same trial

SURMOUNT-5 is the only trial that put these two drugs in the same room at the same time, in the same patient population. Tirzepatide produced greater mean weight loss than semaglutide at 72 weeks. This is the strongest available evidence for comparing the two; any comparison that uses STEP-1 vs SURMOUNT-1 numbers is working from different trial populations.

What these numbers mean for you: Trial means are population averages, not guarantees. Some patients on semaglutide lose more than the tirzepatide average. Some patients on tirzepatide lose less than the semaglutide mean. Individual response varies. The right drug is the one your prescriber recommends based on your full medical picture — not the one with the biggest headline number.

Where you actually inject

GLP-1 weight-loss shots are subcutaneous injections — meaning they go under the skin, not into muscle. The needle is short (typically 4–8 mm, thinner than a standard blood-draw needle). Most patients say it is far less intimidating than they expected.

The Wegovy FDA label (Section 2) specifies the approved injection sites this way:

“Administer WEGOVY subcutaneously in the abdomen, thigh, or upper arm. Rotate injection sites with each injection.” ^[1]

Zepbound and Saxenda use the same three injection sites (abdomen, thigh, upper arm). ^{[2] [3]} Rotating sites is important — injecting the same spot repeatedly can cause lipodystrophy (a firmness or indentation under the skin).

Practical tips from the FDA labels:

• Do not inject into areas where the skin is bruised, tender, red, or hardened.
• Wegovy storage: Refrigerate at 36–46°F (2–8°C) until first use; after first use, may be stored at room temperature (up to 77°F / 25°C) for up to 28 days.
• Zepbound storage: Store in a refrigerator (36–46°F / 2–8°C) until first use; may be used at room temperature for up to 21 days.
• You will receive a device (auto-injector pen) from the pharmacy; no syringe or dose-measuring required for branded products.

Common side effects in plain language

The most common side effects of GLP-1 shots are gastrointestinal (GI) — nausea, diarrhea, constipation, and vomiting. These are most pronounced in the first few weeks as your body adjusts, and they typically improve after the escalation phase. Most people do not stop taking the medication because of GI side effects — they pass.

The Wegovy FDA label (Section 6.1, adverse reactions from the clinical trials) reports the following for adverse reactions occurring in ≥ 5% of patients and more often than placebo:

“The most common adverse reactions (incidence ≥ 5%) in WEGOVY treated patients were: nausea (44%), diarrhea (30%), vomiting (24%), constipation (24%), abdominal pain (20%), headache (14%), fatigue (11%), dyspepsia (9%), dizziness (8%), abdominal distension (7%), eructation (7%), hypoglycemia in patients with type 2 diabetes (6%), flatulence (6%), gastroenteritis (6%), and gastroesophageal reflux disease (5%).” ^[1]

In plain language: nearly half of patients report nausea at some point, about a third report diarrhea, and about a quarter report vomiting or constipation. The key context: these numbers reflect the entire trial period, including the high-incidence dose-escalation weeks. By the time patients reach their maintenance dose, most GI symptoms have improved substantially. Eating smaller portions and avoiding high-fat meals during the escalation period helps.

Less common but serious adverse reactions (from the FDA label) that you should know before starting:

• Pancreatitis: Discontinue immediately and do not restart if pancreatitis is confirmed.
• Gallbladder disease (gallstones, cholecystitis): GLP-1 drugs slow gallbladder emptying; gallstone risk is elevated.
• Acute kidney injury: Usually secondary to severe dehydration from vomiting/diarrhea. Stay hydrated.
• Heart rate increase: A mild resting heart rate elevation has been observed; monitor if you have a cardiac history.
• Suicidal ideation: The FDA has monitored this signal across GLP-1 trials; the current evidence does not establish a causal link, but report any mood changes to your prescriber promptly.

For the complete side effect picture — including the trial-level incidence data — see our GLP-1 side effects deep dive.

Black box warning: medullary thyroid cancer (MTC)

The verbatim FDA Boxed Warning from the Wegovy label:

“THYROID C-CELL TUMORS: In rodents, semaglutide causes thyroid C-cell tumors at clinically relevant exposures. It is unknown whether WEGOVY causes thyroid C-cell tumors, including medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC), in humans as the human relevance of semaglutide-induced rodent thyroid C-cell tumors has not been determined. WEGOVY is contraindicated in patients with a personal or family history of MTC and in patients with Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2). Counsel patients regarding the potential risk for MTC with the use of WEGOVY and inform them of symptoms of thyroid tumors (e.g. a mass in the neck, dysphagia, dyspnea, persistent hoarseness).” ^[1]

The same class-wide warning applies to Zepbound ^[2] and Saxenda ^[3]. The rodent data showed dose-dependent thyroid C-cell hyperplasia and tumors at clinically relevant exposures; human relevance is not established but the FDA has mandated this warning across the class.

What this means practically: Before starting any GLP-1 shot, your prescriber will ask about your personal and family thyroid history. If you have a family history of MTC or MEN 2, these drugs are contraindicated. There is no known increased thyroid cancer risk in humans confirmed to date — but the contraindication is firm until that question is resolved.

What it costs

GLP-1 shots have a wide price range depending on whether you use insurance, manufacturer self-pay programs, or a compounding pharmacy. Here is the landscape as of May 2026:

Brand-name list prices

Retail list prices at US pharmacies without insurance or manufacturer programs typically exceed $1,000–$1,400/month for Wegovy and Zepbound. These are the prices you would pay if you walked up to a pharmacy counter with no coupon, no insurance, and no manufacturer program. Almost nobody pays these prices.

Manufacturer self-pay programs (verified May 2026)

Compounded GLP-1 shots

Compounded semaglutide and tirzepatide from 503A pharmacies typically run $99–$400/month. These are not FDA-approved products — quality, potency, and sterility vary by pharmacy. They are covered in more detail in Section 11 below.

For the full cash-pay picture across every channel we track — brand, telehealth, pharmacy, compounding — see our live GLP-1 pricing index.

Compounded GLP-1 “shots” — what they are and the regulatory caveats

If you have searched online for GLP-1 shots, you have almost certainly seen ads for “compounded semaglutide” or “compounded tirzepatide” at prices well below the manufacturer programs. Here is what you need to understand about them.

What compounded GLP-1 shots are: They are pharmacy-prepared versions of semaglutide or tirzepatide, mixed and dispensed by licensed 503A compounding pharmacies under a federal compounding framework (Section 503A of the FD&C Act). They are manufactured on a patient-specific or prescription-specific basis, not by the original drug sponsor.

What they are not: They are not FDA-approved drugs. FDA approval applies to the branded product (Wegovy, Zepbound) that went through the full NDA process with clinical trials. Compounded versions have not been reviewed by the FDA for safety, efficacy, or manufacturing quality. The potency, sterility, and composition of a compounded product depend entirely on the pharmacy's processes.

The regulatory status as of May 2026: The FDA's enforcement-discretion period for compounded semaglutide (based on shortage status) ended in February 2025; for compounded tirzepatide, October 2024. FDA has signaled increased enforcement against high-volume 503B compounders but the picture continues to evolve. Some 503A pharmacies continue to operate under patient-specific compounding rules.

See our FDA warning letters investigation for the current enforcement picture. We do not recommend specific compounding pharmacies or vendors.

Insurance coverage

Coverage for GLP-1 shots varies dramatically by insurance type:

• Commercial insurance (employer plans, ACA marketplace): Most large commercial insurers do not cover GLP-1 shots for weight management — they are commonly excluded from formularies for obesity as a standalone indication. Some large employer plans have added coverage as the drugs gained prominence; check your specific formulary.
• Medicare Part D: Covers Wegovy for cardiovascular risk reduction (SELECT trial indication, established CVD + obesity/ overweight). Does not cover GLP-1s for weight management alone. Does cover Ozempic / Mounjaro under the T2D indication if you have T2D.
• Medicaid: Varies by state. As of January 2026, about 13 states cover GLP-1 receptor agonists for obesity per KFF — but many apply strict BMI thresholds (some requiring BMI > 40, not the FDA's BMI ≥ 30 threshold) and step-therapy requirements. States with non-coverage explicit policies include TX, IL, NJ, NY, AZ, PA, and IN. Coverage in FL and GA is operationally absent.

For state-by-state detail, see our GLP-1 insurance coverage guide (Medicare, Medicaid, commercial) and the state Medicaid coverage hub.

How to start a GLP-1 shot

You cannot walk into a pharmacy and buy a GLP-1 shot over the counter. These are prescription medications. Here is what getting started looks like in practice:

Your two paths to a prescriber

Option 1 — Your primary care doctor or endocrinologist: The traditional path. Bring this article (or our formal injections guide) to your appointment. Your doctor will review your BMI, comorbidities, medical history, and medications for contraindications, then write a prescription if appropriate.

Option 2 — Telehealth GLP-1 provider: The faster path. A number of telehealth companies specialize specifically in GLP-1 prescriptions. Most complete the intake process (health questionnaire + async clinician review) within 24–72 hours. Many offer cash-pay pricing including the cost of the medication. See our ranked lists:

• Best semaglutide (Wegovy / Ozempic) providers — ranked by verified pricing, prescription process, and patient experience
• Best tirzepatide (Zepbound / Mounjaro) providers — same methodology applied to tirzepatide programs

What to expect at your first appointment

Whether in-person or telehealth, your prescriber will want to know:

• Your current BMI (height + weight)
• Whether you have weight-related comorbidities (hypertension, T2D, dyslipidemia, sleep apnea, cardiovascular disease)
• Your personal and family thyroid history (MTC / MEN 2 screening)
• Current medications (some drugs interact with GLP-1s, especially insulin and other diabetes medications)
• History of pancreatitis or severe GI disease
• Pregnancy status or plans

Most patients who meet the FDA label criteria (BMI ≥ 30, or BMI ≥ 27 with a qualifying comorbidity, and no contraindications) are approved. If you have insurance, bring your insurance card and ask the prescriber to submit a prior authorization.

Frequently asked questions

These questions map to the exact search terms real people type about GLP-1 shots. Answers are written for someone who has never taken one.

What is a GLP-1 shot?

An injectable prescription medication that mimics the GLP-1 hormone your gut naturally releases after eating. It slows digestion, reduces hunger signals to the brain, and — for most people on an FDA-approved dose — produces meaningful weight loss when combined with lifestyle changes. The three FDA-approved shots for weight loss are Wegovy, Zepbound, and Saxenda.

Are weight loss shots safe?

They have a meaningful safety profile that your prescriber must screen for. The class-wide boxed warning covers thyroid C-cell tumors (rodent data; human relevance not established). The most common side effects are nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, and constipation — GI effects that improve over the escalation period for most patients. Contraindicated in personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma or MEN 2. Prescriber monitoring is required.

How effective are weight loss shots?

Strong clinical trial evidence. Wegovy: mean −14.9% at 68 weeks (STEP-1, PMID 33567185). Zepbound: mean −20.9% at 72 weeks (SURMOUNT-1, PMID 35658024). Saxenda: mean −8.0% at 56 weeks (SCALE, PMID 26132939). These are different trials with different populations — not directly comparable except via SURMOUNT-5 (PMID 40353578), the only head-to-head. Individual results vary.

Are GLP-1 shots covered by insurance?

Usually not for weight loss alone under commercial plans. Medicare covers Wegovy for established CVD. Medicaid coverage varies by state — about 13 states cover per KFF (January 2026), many with strict BMI thresholds. See our insurance guide for specifics.

Can I get a GLP-1 shot without diabetes?

Yes — Wegovy, Zepbound, and Saxenda are all FDA-approved for adults without diabetes (BMI ≥ 30, or BMI ≥ 27 with a comorbidity). No diabetes diagnosis is required for these three. Ozempic and Mounjaro are diabetes drugs — using them for weight loss without T2D is off-label.

How long do you stay on a GLP-1 shot?

Long term. GLP-1 shots are chronic medications, not courses. The pivotal trials ran 56–72 weeks; clinical practice commonly continues them indefinitely, similar to blood-pressure medication.

What happens if I stop?

Weight regain is expected for most patients. STEP-4 (PMID 34717826) showed approximately two-thirds of lost weight regained within one year after stopping semaglutide. This is a biology-of- obesity issue, not a willpower issue.

Are there pills instead of shots?

Yes. Foundayo (orforglipron, FDA-approved April 1, 2026) is the first FDA-approved oral GLP-1 for weight management — once daily, no fasting, no needle. Available at LillyDirect self-pay for approximately $149/month. Rybelsus is oral semaglutide but FDA-approved for diabetes only, with strict fasting requirements. For patients who cannot tolerate GLP-1s at all, Contrave (naltrexone + bupropion ER) is an FDA-approved non-GLP-1 oral alternative — see our Contrave evidence review.

How are GLP-1 shots different from Ozempic?

“GLP-1 shots for weight loss” refers to Wegovy, Zepbound, and Saxenda — the three FDA-approved weight-loss injections. Ozempic (also semaglutide, same molecule as Wegovy) is FDA-approved for type 2 diabetes only; using it for weight loss is off-label. Wegovy is the on-label weight-loss version of the same drug at a higher dose.

What is the cheapest GLP-1 shot?

Among FDA-approved injectables: generic liraglutide 3 mg (Teva, August 2025) is the cheapest — the first FDA-approved generic weight-loss injectable. Among branded self-pay programs: NovoCare Wegovy (~$299/mo) and LillyDirect Zepbound vials ($299–$499/ mo by strength). Compounded semaglutide and tirzepatide run $99–$400/mo from 503A pharmacies, but are not FDA-approved products. See our pricing index for current data.

Related research

This article is the entry-level explainer. These go deeper on specific decisions:

• What are peptides for weight loss? Definition + compounded peptide landscape + evidence review — the peptide-categorization companion: explains that Wegovy, Zepbound, and Saxenda ARE peptides (31aa / 39aa / 34aa respectively), distinguishes them from compounded versions, and maps the research-peptide landscape (BPC-157, AOD-9604, tesamorelin). Essential reading if a clinic has offered you “peptide therapy”
• Where to inject tirzepatide (Zepbound / Mounjaro) — the 3 FDA-approved injection sites, which minimizes pain, rotation rules to avoid lipohypertrophy, and step-by-step pen vs vial technique
• Weight loss injections guide (formal / clinical) — every FDA-approved injectable in technical detail: trial data, dose ladders, safety profile, cost analysis, and prescriber decision framework
• Full GLP-1 medication list 2026 — every FDA-approved GLP-1 with brand, manufacturer, indication, and DailyMed SetID links
• GLP-1 pricing index — live cash-pay prices across brand, telehealth, and compounded channels
• Foundayo vs Wegovy vs Zepbound full comparison (includes oral vs injectable decision framework)
• Tirzepatide vs semaglutide head-to-head — SURMOUNT-5 deep-dive
• Compounded tirzepatide vs compounded semaglutide — how long it lasts in the fridge, regulatory status post-2025, additives (B12, NAD+), and the efficacy comparison with cross-trial caveat
• Why does tirzepatide / semaglutide make you tired? — the five biological mechanisms behind GLP-1 fatigue, verbatim FDA-label hypoglycemia warnings for Wegovy, Zepbound, Saxenda, and Mounjaro, and a practical management guide for the titration phase
• Why does tirzepatide cause diarrhea? — verbatim Zepbound and Mounjaro FDA Section 5 kidney-injury dehydration warnings, dose-by-dose diarrhea rates (17–23% across 5–15 mg in SURMOUNT-1), SURPASS-2 head-to-head with semaglutide, and a management guide for the titration phase
• GLP-1 side effects: what the trials actually showed
• GLP-1 side effect questions answered (Q&A hub)
• GLP-1 insurance coverage: Medicare, Medicaid, commercial guide
• Wegovy / Ozempic / Zepbound / Mounjaro brand-name cheat sheet
• Saxenda + generic liraglutide 3 mg evidence review (2026 update)
• What happens when you stop taking semaglutide
• When to increase your Mounjaro dose for weight loss — FDA dose ladder verbatim, SURMOUNT-1 protocol, and the 4-condition titration framework
• Wellbutrin XL for weight loss: how fast and how much? (evidence review) — if you are weighing an oral non-injection alternative to GLP-1 therapy; bupropion is NOT FDA-approved for weight loss but is the one antidepressant associated with weight-loss rather than weight-gain as a side effect

Important disclaimer. This article is educational and does not constitute medical advice. The information above is a plain-language summary of FDA-approved prescribing information and published clinical trials. The choice of whether to start, switch, or stop a GLP-1 medication must be made with a licensed prescriber who knows your full medical history, comorbidities, medications, and individual risk factors. Drug pricing is current as of May 2026 and subject to change; verify directly with the manufacturer program before ordering. Trial efficacy figures reflect published population means — individual response will vary. Compounded GLP-1 products are not FDA-approved; consult your prescriber before using any compounded version. Weight Loss Rankings does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.