Drug class · Endocrine

GLP-1 receptor agonists

Also known as: GLP-1 agonists

GLP-1 receptor agonists are medicines that imitate GLP-1, a hormone the body releases after eating. Semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy, Rybelsus) is one; tirzepatide (Mounjaro) is described on the NHS website as acting on both GIP and GLP-1 receptors. In the UK they are used to manage type 2 diabetes and to treat obesity.

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Biological target
GLP-1 receptor
Also called
GLP-1 agonists

Mechanism of action

Semaglutide imitates GLP-1, helps people feel fuller for longer and reduces hunger, according to GOV.UK. Tirzepatide is described by the NHS as reducing appetite so that people feel fuller for longer, and it delays stomach emptying.

Members of the class

semaglutidetirzepatide

Members with a page on this site are linked.

Conditions treated

Type 2 diabetes

Class effects

  • Feeling sick, being sick, diarrhoea and constipation are common with semaglutide, and tirzepatide is described as commonly causing feeling sick, indigestion, constipation and diarrhoea
  • Pancreatitis is listed by the NHS as a rare but serious effect of semaglutide, and UK prescribing information says acute pancreatitis has been reported with tirzepatide, including necrotising and fatal cases
  • Severe stomach pain that does not go away needs urgent advice from NHS 111 or the GP the same day, and a 999 call if it is severe or the person is collapsing

Cautions

  • The MHRA advises against GLP-1 receptor agonists in pregnancy because of a lack of human safety data, and advises effective contraception during treatment
  • The MHRA has highlighted a potential risk of stomach contents entering the lungs during general anaesthesia or deep sedation, because these medicines delay stomach emptying and food can remain despite fasting
  • With semaglutide, low blood sugar is more likely when it is taken with other diabetes medicines such as insulin or a sulfonylurea

Class warnings

  • The MHRA advises effective contraception during GLP-1 receptor agonist treatment because human safety data in pregnancy are limited. UK

Class interactions

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Connected pages in detail

What each linked page on Anatomy Nexus covers, in a line, for GLP-1 receptor agonists.

Conditions

  • Type 2 diabetes A metabolic disease in which the body's cells respond poorly to insulin (insulin resistance) and the pancreas gradually fails to compensate.

Medications

  • Semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy) Semaglutide is a medicine used to manage type 2 diabetes (as Ozempic and Rybelsus) or to treat obesity (as Wegovy).
  • Tirzepatide (Mounjaro) Tirzepatide is a prescription medicine used to manage type 2 diabetes and to treat obesity.

Guides and news

Educational content. A drug class page describes what a family of medicines has in common. Individual medicines differ in dose, licensing and interactions; treatment choices belong to a prescriber.