By Rebecca Carlo RN, BSN
Losing weight seems to be a priority for most people wanting to improve their health. If you’re one of those people you’ve probably noticed at least one acquaintance that you don’t see every day that has trimmed down significantly since the last time you saw them. If you’re like me you’ve probably wondered, “how did that happen so fast?". My curiosity always seems to get the better of me so I boldly ask, and you may have already guessed it, often they’ve been taking a GLP-1 medication. The most used GLP-1 medications are semaglutide branded as Wegovy and, Ozempic, or tirzepatide branded as Zepbound and, Mounjaro. Their results seem unbelievable and very enticing, it’s everywhere on social media, before jumping on the GLP-1 band wagon here are some important things to consider.
What is GLP-1?
GLP-1 stands for Glucagon-Like Peptide-1. Peptides are tiny components of a protein molecule and many cells in our body have GLP-1 receptor sites. GLP-1 is said to be a hormone secreted by the cells in the intestine to help the body produce insulin. The popular GLP-1 medications like Wegovy and Zepbound are GLP-1 agonists or blockers of the GLP-1 receptors also known as GLP-1 RAs.
What do GLP-1 RAs do?
GLP-1 RAs tend to slow down stomach emptying and tell the brain the stomach doesn’t want or need more food or liquids.
Sounds great, but there are possible side effects
When stomach emptying is delayed it can cause nausea and if the dose of GLP-1 RA is strong enough it can cause vomiting because the stomach isn’t moving things in the right direction. Rarely but sometimes it can cause an ileus or partial bowel obstruction that causes abdominal pain and bloating in addition to nausea and vomiting that may require hospitalization until the medication wears off and normal stomach function returns. Other side effects include diarrhea, constipation, acid reflux, muscle loss, and fatigue.
Special Considerations
Aside from the possible side effects, there are other things to consider before starting a GLP-1 RA.
· It may not be covered by your insurance, and it is expensive.
· High demand = short supply. Is the medication produced by a reputable manufacturer?
· Home-made GLP-1s are in no way the same as prescribed medication.
· It may be necessary to modify dietary intake to ensure adequate nutrition and minimize or avoid side effects. How will you know?
Losing weight can certainly improve overall health when done right. Done wrong, it can pose health risks and be dangerous. GLP-1 medications approved by the FDA require a prescription from a licensed medical practitioner, be wary and avoid on-line sellers that offer the medication with little or no medical practitioner oversight and follow through. Keep in mind that not all medical practitioners have the same level of education or experience with these medications, and you may need to research or interview more than a few before finding the medical practitioner that will monitor, advise and follow you on your weight loss journey.
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