GLP-1 Guides

These GLP-1 guides cover side effects, dosing, device use, brand comparisons, and the legal status of compounded drugs for Zepbound, Mounjaro, Wegovy, Foundayo, and other GLP-1 medicines. Every guide is built from the current FDA label, the Medication Guide, and published trials, with each fact cited.

Pick a topic below, or start with the GLP-1 drugs list for an overview of every approved medicine.

The nutrition and strength guides use USDA food data and published nutrition and exercise guidance, with each fact cited.

GLP-1 Side Effects

What each medicine's label and trials report about side effects, how often they happen, and when to call a doctor.

  • Zepbound side effects: rates at 5, 10, and 15 mg, how long they last, differences in women and men, and warning signs.
  • Zepbound hair loss: how often it was reported in trials, why women report it more, when shedding starts, and whether hair grows back.
  • Retatrutide side effects: what the phase 3 trials of this investigational drug report so far, and its FDA status.

GLP-1 Dosing and How to Use

Label dose schedules, injection technique, and device instructions, with no personalized dosing advice.

  • Tirzepatide dosage chart: Zepbound and Mounjaro dose steps, maintenance doses, vial volumes, and missed-dose rules.
  • Zepbound maintenance dose: the label maintenance doses, what stopping did in SURMOUNT-4, and what stepping down to 5 mg did in SURMOUNT-MAINTAIN.
  • Zepbound injection sites: where to inject, how to rotate, and what injection site reactions mean.
  • How to inject tirzepatide: step-by-step pen, vial, and KwikPen instructions for Mounjaro and Zepbound, plus troubleshooting.
  • Zepbound KwikPen: strengths, priming, needles, storage, and how the pen compares with vials.
  • Zepbound refrigeration: how long each pen and vial can stay out of the fridge, what to do if it gets warm or freezes, and how to travel with it.
  • How to take the Wegovy pill: the morning routine, dose schedule, and how the pill compares with the shot.
  • Microdosing tirzepatide: what trials show about low doses and what the label allows instead.
  • Microdosing GLP-1: why there is no FDA-approved microdose of semaglutide, what low-dose studies show, and the Ozempic pen and compounded dose risks.

GLP-1 Results and Timelines

What the trials show about when GLP-1 medicines start working and how results build over time.

  • How long it takes Zepbound to work: a week-by-week timeline from the SURMOUNT trials, from the first shot to weight loss at weeks 8, 12, and 72, and sleep apnea results.

GLP-1 Comparisons

Side-by-side comparisons of approved uses, trial results, side effects, cost, and switching.

  • Zepbound vs Wegovy: the SURMOUNT-5 head-to-head results, approved uses, prices, and switching.
  • Zepbound vs Mounjaro: the same tirzepatide in two brands with different labels and coverage.
  • Foundayo vs Zepbound: the daily orforglipron pill and the weekly tirzepatide shot compared.
  • Wegovy pill vs injection: the daily tablet and the weekly shot compared on doses, OASIS 4 and STEP 1 results, side effects, switching, and cost.
  • Saxenda vs Wegovy: daily liraglutide and weekly semaglutide compared on doses, STEP 8 results, side effects, cost, and the Saxenda discontinuation notice.
  • Retatrutide vs tirzepatide: how the investigational triple agonist compares with Zepbound and Mounjaro in the TRIUMPH and SURMOUNT trials, and when it could be available.

GLP-1 Medications

A single reference page for every FDA-approved GLP-1 medicine sold in the US.

  • GLP-1 drugs list: every approved brand with its maker, form, schedule, and approved uses, plus pills, generics, and pipeline drugs.

Compounded GLP-1s and Alternatives

Factual explainers on products that are not FDA approved, based on FDA and court records.

  • Compounded tirzepatide: its legal status in 2026, FDA rules, safety reports, and how to check a pharmacy.
  • GLP-1 patches: what stick-on "GLP-1" products contain, why none is FDA approved, and the safety questions.
  • GLP-1 supplements: what human studies show for fiber, berberine, and probiotics, and how the FDA regulates these products.
  • Berberine patches: what oral berberine trials show, why no patch has been tested in people, and drug interactions.

GLP-1 Nutrition and Strength

High-protein recipes, a one-day meal plan, daily protein numbers and a beginner strength session.

  • How much protein on GLP-1: a daily floor and target by body weight, and who should not use the chart.
  • GLP-1 meal plan: one high-protein day with about 108 g of protein and a shopping list.
  • GLP-1 breakfast ideas: six high-protein breakfasts, including two make-ahead options.
  • GLP-1 lunch ideas: seven high-protein lunches, with no-cook options for work.
  • GLP-1 dinner ideas: five easy high-protein dinners with safe cooking temperatures.
  • GLP-1 snacks: 16 high-protein snack ideas with protein per serving.
  • GLP-1 workout at home: a 10-minute starter strength session with safety checks.
  • Food noise: what it means, what causes it, what studies show about GLP-1 medicines, and practical ways to quiet it.

GLP-1 Cost and Insurance

Manufacturer self-pay prices, savings cards, and Medicare rules, with the date each price was checked.

These guides are for education only and are not medical advice. Talk to your prescriber about your treatment and your dose. Read our full medical disclaimer.