TL;DR
GLP-1 medications include treatments for type 2 diabetes and chronic weight management. Ozempic, Wegovy, and Rybelsus contain semaglutide, while Mounjaro and Zepbound contain tirzepatide, which acts on both GIP and GLP-1 receptors. Shared ingredients do not make prescriptions interchangeable: labels, doses, devices, and approved uses differ.
GLP-1 medications list: generic names, brands, uses, and schedules
GLP-1 medicines act on receptors involved in blood glucose, digestion, and appetite. The term “GLP-1 drug” is also commonly used for multi-receptor medicines such as tirzepatide.
We recommend comparing active ingredients first, then checking the brand’s current FDA label.
| Active ingredient | Brand | Main labeled use | Form and schedule |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exenatide | Byetta | Type 2 diabetes | Twice-daily injection |
| Extended-release exenatide | Bydureon BCise | Type 2 diabetes | Weekly injection |
| Lixisenatide | Adlyxin | Type 2 diabetes | Daily injection |
| Liraglutide | Victoza | Type 2 diabetes | Daily injection |
| Liraglutide | Saxenda | Chronic weight management | Daily injection |
| Dulaglutide | Trulicity | Type 2 diabetes | Weekly injection |
| Semaglutide | Ozempic | Type 2 diabetes and other labeled uses | Weekly injection |
| Semaglutide | Rybelsus | Type 2 diabetes | Daily oral tablet |
| Semaglutide | Wegovy | Chronic weight management and other labeled uses | Weekly injection |
| Tirzepatide | Mounjaro | Type 2 diabetes | Weekly injection |
| Tirzepatide | Zepbound | Chronic weight management and another labeled use | Weekly injection |
Availability, age criteria, and approved uses can change. “FDA approved” also does not mean compounded, off-label, discontinued, or investigational.
How to read the GLP-1 drugs list
Start with the ingredient. Next, check the indication, dose, form, device, age criteria, and instructions. A prescriber must review any switch, even when two brands contain the same ingredient.
Jump to:
For more class detail, read our GLP-1 receptor agonist guide for single-drug treatment.
Combination diabetes medicines that contain a GLP-1 drug
Some products combine insulin with a GLP-1 medicine. Soliqua contains insulin glargine and lixisenatide, while Xultophy contains insulin degludec and liraglutide. These are combination diabetes treatments, not standalone GLP-1 products.
Which GLP-1 medications are approved for weight loss or type 2 diabetes?
A diabetes approval is not a weight-loss approval. Off-label prescribing does not change a product’s official indication, and these medicines do not replace insulin for type 1 diabetes.
FDA-approved GLP-1 medications for chronic weight management
Products with chronic weight-management indications include:
- Liraglutide under the Saxenda brand
- Semaglutide under the Wegovy brand
- Tirzepatide under the Zepbound brand
Eligibility depends on the current label, age, health history, body mass index, and clinical review.
FDA-approved GLP-1 medications for type 2 diabetes
Options include exenatide, liraglutide, dulaglutide, semaglutide, and tirzepatide products. Ozempic and Rybelsus contain semaglutide; Mounjaro contains tirzepatide.
Ozempic is not FDA approved for chronic weight management. Wegovy has a separate weight-management label. Using insulin or a sulfonylurea alongside these medicines may require closer blood-glucose monitoring and dose review.
Semaglutide and tirzepatide: same ingredient, different brands
Ingredient-first comparisons reveal where brands overlap—and where their labels differ.
Semaglutide: Ozempic, Wegovy, and Rybelsus
Semaglutide appears in three products:
- Ozempic: A weekly injection for type 2 diabetes and other labeled uses.
- Wegovy: A weekly injection for chronic weight management and another labeled use.
- Rybelsus: A daily oral tablet for type 2 diabetes.
Each has distinct doses and instructions. Our semaglutide dosage chart explains why milligrams and injection units are not equivalent measures.
Tirzepatide: Mounjaro and Zepbound
Tirzepatide acts on GIP and GLP-1 receptors. Mounjaro is labeled for type 2 diabetes, while Zepbound has chronic weight-management and obstructive sleep apnea indications for eligible adults.
Do not substitute, restart, or switch these products without prescriber guidance.
How GLP-1 drugs work, how they are taken, and how long they have been studied
GLP-1 signaling supports glucose-dependent insulin release, limits glucagon when blood glucose is high, and can slow stomach emptying and reduce appetite. Results vary by medicine, dose, condition, and patient.
Our weight-loss injection comparison covers costs, safety, expected results, and refill considerations.
Daily injections, weekly injections, and oral tablets
Available forms include daily injections, weekly injections, and daily oral semaglutide. Storage, meal timing, injection technique, and missed-dose instructions vary by product.
Dose increases are not automatic and should not be used to force faster weight loss. Follow the prescription and current label.
A dated GLP-1 research timeline
Researchers studied incretin biology for decades before exenatide became the first FDA-approved GLP-1 receptor agonist in 2005. Daily injections came first, followed by more weekly products, oral semaglutide, and multi-receptor medicines.
That history does not mean every product has identical evidence or long-term data.
What can happen after stopping treatment
Appetite may increase and weight may return after treatment stops. Still, treatment duration is an individual decision shaped by benefits, side effects, access, cost, pregnancy plans, and personal goals.
We view nutrition, sleep, movement, and resistance exercise as supportive care—not tests someone must pass to receive treatment.
Side effects, contraindications, warnings, and interactions
This overview cannot replace the current product label or individual clinical advice.
Common adverse effects
Common effects include nausea, diarrhea, constipation, reflux, stomach pain, and vomiting. Frequency and severity vary by product, dose, and patient.
Severe or persistent digestive symptoms can cause dehydration. For more detail, read our guide to tirzepatide vomiting and warning signs.
Contraindications and product-specific precautions
Several labels carry a boxed warning about thyroid C-cell tumors found in animal studies. Relevant contraindications can include a personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma or multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2.
Tell the prescriber about pregnancy plans, pancreatitis, gallbladder or kidney disease, diabetic retinopathy, severe digestive disease, eating concerns, and other medicines.
Drug, contraception, and procedure considerations
Insulin and sulfonylureas may increase the risk of low blood glucose. Delayed stomach emptying may also affect oral medicines and procedure planning.
Tell surgery and anesthesia teams which medicine is being used and when the last dose was taken. Tirzepatide labeling also includes contraception guidance after treatment begins and during dose escalation. Check the current instructions with a clinician.
Call now versus ask at your next visit
Call now: Seek prompt care for severe abdominal pain, dehydration, persistent vomiting, gallbladder symptoms, or an allergic reaction. Call 911 for trouble breathing, fainting, or another life-threatening symptom. For a suspected overdose or dosing error in the US, call Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222.
Ask at the next visit: Discuss mild but persistent side effects, procedures, pregnancy plans, drug interactions, eating concerns, or difficulty following the schedule.
What GLP-1 medications cost when you pay cash
Cash cost may include medication, clinical visits, laboratory work, supplies, shipping, and refill reviews. Prices vary by pharmacy, dose, supply, program eligibility, and location.
Cash-cost comparison worksheet
We recommend collecting live quotes instead of relying on an old monthly estimate.
| Cost | Amount | Source to record |
|---|---|---|
| Medication | $___ | Pharmacy and quote date |
| Telehealth or refill fee | $___ | Provider fee page |
| Labs and supplies | $___ | Provider or supplier |
| Shipping | $___ | Pharmacy or provider |
| Estimated total | $___ | Sum of charges |
Confirm whether medication is included in the service fee. Manufacturer savings programs and patient-assistance programs may have separate eligibility rules.
Lower-cost options to ask about
“Poor man’s Ozempic” is not a medical term. Metformin, berberine, and compounded semaglutide have different ingredients, evidence, regulation, and uses. Compounded semaglutide is not an FDA-approved generic.
A clinician can help compare appropriate lower-cost treatments for the condition being managed.
How online GLP-1 refills work for current patients
A new prescriber may need to verify the existing prescription, dose, response, safety history, and pharmacy. A requested refill, dose increase, switch, or specific drug is not guaranteed.
What to have ready for a refill review
Prepare the prescription label, current dose, last dose date, response, side effects, other medicines, relevant health history, recent labs, and preferred pharmacy. Include pregnancy or procedure plans and any history of pancreatitis, gallbladder disease, medullary thyroid carcinoma, or MEN 2.
Missed doses, restarts, and switches
Missed-dose rules differ by product. Check the exact label and contact the prescriber, particularly after multiple missed doses. Digestive effects may return after restarting.
Temi service details and next step
Temi helps current patients organize their medication information and request review from a licensed prescriber where our service is available. Confirm state coverage, eligibility, and cash-pay fees on Temi’s medication platform.
Already taking a GLP-1? A licensed prescriber may be able to review the refill request. Medication cost is separate.
Compounded products, shortages, and new GLP-1 drugs in development
Compounded and investigational medicines are not part of the FDA-approved product list. Their availability and regulatory status can change.
Compounded semaglutide and tirzepatide
Compounded semaglutide and tirzepatide are not FDA-approved generic versions of branded products. They do not undergo FDA premarket review for safety, effectiveness, and quality.
Potential concerns include unclear labels, dosing errors, and ingredients that differ from those in approved products. Compounding rules may also change as shortage conditions change.
Retatrutide and other pipeline drugs
Retatrutide is an investigational medicine targeting GIP, GLP-1, and glucagon receptors. It remains under study and is not approved for routine prescribing.
Other pipeline drugs use different targets and delivery methods. Clinical-trial access is not the same as an approved prescription, and routine prescribers cannot prescribe investigational drugs outside authorized research.
FAQ
How does Ozempic work?
Ozempic contains semaglutide. It activates GLP-1 receptors, supporting glucose-dependent insulin release, reducing glucagon, and slowing stomach emptying. It is labeled for type 2 diabetes and other specific uses, not chronic weight management.
What is known as the “poor man’s Ozempic”?
There is no medically recognized equivalent by that name. The phrase may refer to metformin, berberine, or compounded semaglutide, but none is interchangeable with prescribed Ozempic.
How long have GLP-1s been studied?
Incretin research spans decades, and the first GLP-1 receptor agonist received FDA approval in 2005. Newer products and multi-receptor medicines do not necessarily have the same amount of long-term evidence.
What are the common side effects of GLP-1 medication?
Nausea, diarrhea, constipation, reflux, stomach pain, and vomiting are common. Severe pain, dehydration, allergic symptoms, or persistent vomiting warrants prompt medical advice.
Which GLP-1 medications are approved for weight loss?
Saxenda, Wegovy, and Zepbound have chronic weight-management indications. Eligibility and instructions differ by product. Ozempic and Mounjaro may affect weight but are labeled for type 2 diabetes rather than chronic weight management.
Can I get a GLP-1 refill online?
A licensed prescriber may review an online refill request where the service operates. Approval depends on clinical eligibility, prescription history, safety information, and applicable state rules.
Request a GLP-1 refill review
Already take a GLP-1 medication? See whether a licensed prescriber can review your refill request. Medication cost is separate.
