There are three GLP-1 drugs that the FDA has approved for the treatment of obesity: Zepbound (tirzepatide), Saxenda (liraglutide), and Wegovy (semaglutide)
These medications work by delaying digestion, which can lead to symptoms like early fullness, nausea, and bloating
But the annual cost of these drugs in the US upwards of $11,000 at recent list prices, though net prices may be lower with rebates negotiated by pharmacy benefit managers has raised concerns about the fiscal impact of broad coverage of GLP-1 drugs on Medicare, other health insurers, and patients
If you have heart or kidney disease or are on fluid restriction, follow your healthcare professional's specific guidance about fluid intake
It seems as if this new class of metabolic treatments is something quite unlike anything we have had before in medicine, with applications across many of our most chronic diseases