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Whether you’re just starting to think about taking a GLP-1 drug, such as Zepbound or Wegovy, or you’re filling your first prescription today, this is the page with some actionable tips to get started and make the most of your weight loss journey.

Everything you need to know about GLP-1 weight loss shots

Check out this in-depth Zepbound/Wegovy FAQ for answers to questions such as:

  • What are GLP-1 and GIP agonist medications and what are they prescribed for?
  • How do GLP-1 and GIP medications work?
  • Are there side effects when taking a GLP-1 medication, such as Zepbound/Mounjaro or Wegovy/Ozempic?
  • Can I take a GLP-1 medication while pregnant, or if I’m planning to become pregnant?
  • Can I take a GLP-1 drug such as Mounjaro or Ozempic if I don’t have Type 2 diabetes?
  • Will my insurance pay for Zepbound, Mounjaro, Wegovy, Ozempic, Saxenda, or Victoza?
  • How can I get a savings card from the pharmaceutical company so I pay less monthly?
  • Will I need to take a weight loss injection shot for the rest of my life?
  • And more

10 steps to get started on a weight loss injection drug

Check out my blog post with 10 action steps to get started on a weight loss shot like Zepbound or Wegovy.  It will help you learn about GLP-1/GPI drugs to find out if they’ll help you lose weight. It also lays out the first few things you need to do to find the right doctor or telehealth clinic, understand your insurance coverage, and get ready for your very first shot.

Clinical trial data for GLP-1/GPI weight loss drugs

Clinical trials are designed to gather data to answer specific questions about a drug and determine how effective it is (if at all). Participants may be assigned to take the drug or a placebo (inactive substance). Sometimes, the individual and their healthcare providers won’t know which option they’ve received until the conclusion of the study but other times, they are told if they are taking the real deal or not. Most trials look at subsets of the test group to see how the drug works in men versus women, people of different ages, and different races.

While reading about clinical trials isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, here’s where you can find details about specific drugs, how they were tested and the empirical results.

The FDA will not approve a drug for use in the United States without first reviewing data for a clinical study. And, oftentimes, more than one study was done. For example, there were nine distinct Mounjaro (tirzepatide) clinical studies, the data of which were submitted to the FDA as part of its application.

Clinical trials

  • SUSTAIN (Semaglutide Unabated Sustainability in Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes)
  • PIONEER (Peptide Innovation for Early Diabetes Treatment)
  • STEP (Semaglutide Treatment Effect in People with Obesity) clinical trial programs
  • SURMOUNT-3 (NCT04657016) and SURMOUNT-4 (NCT04660643) trials of tirzepatide

Lilly Investors news release: Tirzepatide demonstrated significant and superior weight loss compared to placebo in two pivotal studies

Information from the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA)

  • FDA Drug Trials Snapshots: Mounjaro — approved May 13, 2022
  • FDA Drug Trials Snapshots: Ozempic — approved Dec. 5, 2017
  • FDA Statistical Review and Evaluation Clinical Studies: Saxenda (PDF) — approved Dec. 4, 2014

Want to join a clinical trial?

Pharmaceutical companies, such as Eli Lilly and Novo Norodisk, often run clinical trials for weight management drugs they are developing. This may be an avenue worth researching if you don’t have insurance and can’t pay out of pocket for an FDA-approved weight loss injection drug, or you have insurance but your co-pay is still too expensive for your budget.

If you are interested in possibly participating, read the information at these links:

Lilly Trials
Novo Nordisk Trials

Databases

COMING SOON! A database of companies that offer insurance plans that may cover weight loss injection medications (with or without a copay).