Semaglutide and Tirzepatide GLP-1:
Weight Loss Management

GLP-1 stands for “glucagon-like peptide 1.” A peptide is essentially a very small protein, many of which are also classified as hormones. A GLP-1 agonist is a class of medications that help manage blood sugar levels in people with Type 2 diabetes, and some GLP-1 agonists have been shown to help treat obesity and assist with healthy weight loss, even for those who do not meet the definition of “obese.” Two of the most commonly prescribed GLP-1 medications are called Semaglutide and Tirzepatide.

To understand how GLP-1 agonists work, it helps to understand how the naturally occurring GLP-1 hormone works in the body.

GLP-1 is a hormone that your small intestine makes. It has several roles, including:

• Triggering insulin release from your pancreas: Insulin is an essential hormone that allows your body to use the food you eat for energy. It lowers the amount of glucose (sugar) in your blood. If you don’t have enough insulin, your blood sugar increases, leading to diabetes.
• Blocking glucagon secretion: Glucagon is a hormone your body uses to raise your blood sugar levels when necessary. So, GLP-1 prevents more glucose from going into your bloodstream.
• Slowing stomach (gastric) emptying: Slower digestion means that your body releases less sugar from the food you eat into your bloodstream.
• Increasing how full you feel after eating (satiety): GLP-1 affects areas of your brain that processes hunger and satiety.

GLP-1 “agonist” medications work by mimicking this naturally occurring GLP-1 hormone. In pharmacological terms, an agonist is a manufactured substance that attaches to a cell receptor and causes the same action as the naturally occurring substance. In other words, GLP-1 medications bind to GLP receptors to trigger the same effects (or roles) of the naturally occurring GLP-1 hormone. The higher the dose of the GLP-1 agonist, the more extreme the effects.

If you have Type 2 diabetes, the medications help manage your blood sugar by triggering your pancreas to release more insulin. The slowed digestion also helps decrease blood sugar spikes.

The satiety effect of GLP1-agonists reduces your food intake, appetite and hunger. These combined effects often result in weight loss.

Tirzaepatide is a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist. Compounded Tirzepatide injection is used to treat Type 2 diabetes and aid in weight loss. It is used together with diet and exercise to help control your blood sugar. It is commonly known as its branded medication name Mounjaro* and Zepbound.*

Semaglutide is a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist. Compounded Semaglutide injection is used to treat Type 2 diabetes and aid in weight loss. It is used together with diet and exercise to help control your blood sugar. It is commonly known as its branded medication name Ozempic* and Wegovy.*

Both Tirzepatide and Semaglutide are glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) agonists prescribed to treat Type 2 diabetes and, more recently, aid in weight loss. By binding to the GLP-1 receptor, both drugs work to reduce food intake and increase insulin sensitivity. However, Tirzepatide is a dual agonist that targets both the GLP-1 and glucagon receptors, while Semaglutide is a single GLP-1 receptor agonist. This means that Tirzepatide may be more effective in weight loss, however there are still insufficient studies to determine relative efficacy one way or the other.

Semglutide, branded as Ozempic*, has been on the market longer than Tirzepatide, so it is generally more well known, and also better studied and understood.

Both compounded Semaglutide and Tirzepatide are administered as subcutaneous (under the skin) injections. Ideally, the medication should be injected into the fatty tissue below the skin of your abdomen, upper arm or thigh. The needles are very small, the same kind people with diabetes use for their insulin. You will inject yourself once per week for four weeks.

Do not be fooled by pharmacies who offer you so-called “oral” variants of this medication. GLP-1 absorption and bioavailability requires the medicine to be injected just under the skin.

Many of the popular online providers of Tirzepatide and Semaglutide injections partner with both licensed sterile compounding pharmacies (like us!) and what are called 503(b) Outsourcing Facilities from all over the country. They do not actually make the injections, they are just offering a platform for ordering and shipping. By using Shady Grove Pharmacy, you cut out the “middle man” and get your medication directly from an experienced, fully licensed sterile compounding pharmacy. You are with us from start to finish.

How much weight you can expect to lose will be dependent on a number of factors, but many of our patients have lost between 5% and 10% of their initial body weight in the first three months. That equates to 10-20 pounds for a 200-pound person.

However, everyone is different and the most successful patients are the ones who also work hard to make diet, exercise and lifestyle changes.

Your doctor will work with you and, often in consultation with our Compounding Pharmacist, determine your appropriate dose. We strongly encourage all our customers who are new to taking GLP-1 agonists to start at the lowest, or “acclimation,” dose of whichever GLP-1 is prescribed for you. Once you adjust to the acclimation dose in the first month, it is normal to increase the dose over the course of several months of therapy. Shady Grove Pharmacy will be in touch with your doctor on dosing, just like we would for any other medication we dispense. This is what we do!

We sure do. Just like our proprietary sterile atropine eyedrops, we ship all over the country except CA, AK and HI. Compounded Tirzepatide and Semaglutide needs to be shipped refrigerated, so everything comes Priority Overnight with FedEx. Shippings costs are extra, but we have very reasonable negotiated rates with FedEx.