GLP-1 Medications, Explained

Plain-English guides to all 15 GLP-1 medications — injections, the new daily pills, and the drugs still in trials. How each works, what results to expect, real monthly costs, and the side effects to know about before your first consult.

Active ingredients

The molecules behind every brand on the market.

Semaglutide

The GLP-1 receptor agonist behind Ozempic, Wegovy, and Rybelsus.

~15% of body weightWeekly injection or daily tablet
Tirzepatide

The dual GIP/GLP-1 agonist behind Mounjaro and Zepbound — the strongest weight loss results on the market.

Up to ~22.5% of body weightWeekly injection
Liraglutide

The daily GLP-1 behind Victoza and Saxenda — and the first one to go generic.

~8% of body weight at 3 mgDaily injection
Dulaglutide

The weekly GLP-1 behind Trulicity — a biologic with no biosimilar yet.

4.5 mg / weekWeekly injection

Brand names

What your prescription will actually say.

Ozempic

Weekly semaglutide injection for type 2 diabetes — the brand that made GLP-1s famous.

2 mg / weekWeekly injection pen
Wegovy

High-dose weekly semaglutide, FDA-approved for chronic weight management.

~15% of body weightWeekly injection pen or daily 25 mg tablet
Mounjaro

Weekly tirzepatide injection for type 2 diabetes, with best-in-class A1C and weight results.

15 mg / weekWeekly injection pen
Zepbound

Weekly tirzepatide for weight management — the strongest FDA-approved weight loss medication.

Up to ~22.5% of body weightWeekly injection (pen or vial)
Rybelsus

Daily oral semaglutide tablet for type 2 diabetes — the first GLP-1 in pill form.

14 mg / dayDaily tablet, on an empty stomach
Orforglipron

Sold as Foundayo — the first GLP-1 pill for weight loss with no food, water, or timing restrictions.

~7.5–11.2% of body weightDaily tablet, any time, with or without food
Saxenda

Daily liraglutide injection for weight management — the first GLP-1 approved for obesity.

~8% of body weightDaily injection pen
Victoza

Daily liraglutide injection for type 2 diabetes, with proven cardiovascular benefit.

1.8 mg / dayDaily injection pen
Trulicity

Weekly dulaglutide injection for type 2 diabetes, with cardiovascular benefit proven in primary prevention.

4.5 mg / weekWeekly injection pen

In development

Not approved, not prescribable — tracked here because the trial results are already changing the conversation. Each page states exactly where the drug sits with the FDA.

Retatrutide

Eli Lilly’s triple agonist — the first drug to average 30% weight loss in a phase 3 trial.

Up to ~30.3% at 104 weeksWeekly injection (in trials)
CagriSema

Novo Nordisk’s amylin-plus-semaglutide combination, awaiting an FDA decision.

~20.4% at 68 weeksWeekly injection (in trials)

Not sure where to start?

Read the complete GLP-1 guide for the full category overview, or jump straight to comparing Ozempic vs Wegovy. When you are ready, find a website-confirmed clinic near you.

Educational content only — not medical advice. Every approved GLP-1 requires a prescription from a licensed provider, and the drugs listed under “in development” cannot be legally prescribed or dispensed at all.