GLP-1 medications, explained.
How these medications work in the body, what the FDA-approved versions are indicated for, what the first weeks feel like, and who should not take them. Written from the labeling, not the hype.
Written from FDA labeling, clinical guidelines and the studies cited below. Educational, not medical advice, and not a substitute for talking with a licensed provider. Updated September 2026.
A gut hormone, imitated.
GLP-1 is a hormone your intestine releases after you eat. These medications imitate it, and they last for days instead of minutes.
Appetite, digestion, blood sugar.
They act on appetite centers in the brain, slow how quickly the stomach empties, and help the pancreas release insulin when blood sugar rises.
Once a week, under the skin.
A small injection once a week. Your provider starts the dose low and raises it on a schedule, which is how stomach side effects are kept in check.
Prescription only, provider supervised.
A licensed provider screens for the conditions that rule these medications out, then follows you through every dose change.
The facts, at a glance.
or higher is the threshold in the FDA-approved products' indication for chronic weight management (27 with a weight-related condition), used with a reduced-calorie diet and more activity
for both semaglutide and tirzepatide, with the dose raised in steps by your provider
the year the FDA first approved a GLP-1 medication for chronic weight management (semaglutide); a GLP-1 plus GIP medication (tirzepatide) followed in 2023
Where does BMI come in?
The FDA-approved GLP-1 products for weight management are indicated from a BMI of 30, or 27 with a weight-related condition. BMI is a blunt screening number, not a verdict, and whether a medication is appropriate for you is your provider's decision.
BMI categories follow the CDC (under 18.5, 18.5 to 24.9, 25 to 29.9, 30 and above). Educational only. Nothing you enter here is stored or sent anywhere; it never leaves your browser.
Semaglutide or tirzepatide?
Two medications, one family. Tap to compare what the labeling for the FDA-approved versions says; your provider decides which fits you.
Freedom RX offers compounded versions of both, prepared by a state-licensed 503A pharmacy for an individual prescription. Compounded medications are not FDA-approved.
What a GLP-1 medication actually does.
Four things happen after a dose, and together they change how hungry you feel and how long a meal keeps you full.
- 1It mimics a meal signal
After you eat, your gut releases GLP-1 for a few minutes. The medication is a longer-lasting version, so the signal stays on all week.
- 2Appetite settles
GLP-1 acts on the parts of the brain that drive hunger and reward, so cravings and the urge to keep eating fall for many people. Your provider will tell you what to expect for you.
- 3The stomach empties slower
Food stays in the stomach longer, which is why smaller meals feel like enough, and also why nausea and fullness are the most common side effects.
- 4Insulin when it is needed
The pancreas releases insulin in response to rising blood sugar. Tirzepatide also acts on a second gut hormone receptor, GIP.
Who it is for, and who it is not.
Usually a fit
- Adults in the BMI range the FDA-approved products are indicated for, evaluated by a licensed provider
- Willing to pair the medication with changes to eating and activity
- Comfortable with a weekly self-injection and with check-ins as the dose changes
Not a fit, or needs a closer look
- A personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma, or Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2: the FDA-approved products carry a boxed warning about thyroid C-cell tumors
- Pregnant, planning a pregnancy, or breastfeeding
- A history of pancreatitis, serious stomach or bowel disease, or diabetic eye disease: your provider reviews these
- Anyone under 18
A licensed provider makes every prescribing decision from your health history and, where required, your labs. Not everyone is approved, and if you are not, you are refunded in full.
What the first months look like.
- Day 0Intake and review
A short online visit. A US-licensed provider reviews it, usually within an hour or two. Not everyone is approved; if you are not, you are refunded in full.
- DaysFirst shipment
The pharmacy prepares your order in 1 to 2 business days on average, then it ships next-day air in plain packaging, with cold packs.
- Weeks 1 to 4The starting dose
The lowest dose, to let your body adjust. Nausea, fullness and changes in bowel habits are most common now. Small meals and plenty of water help; your care team is a message away.
- Months 1 to 3 and onDose steps
Your provider raises the dose in steps on a schedule set for you, and holds or lowers it if side effects say so. Refills ship automatically.
- OngoingA long-term plan
These are long-term medications. Appetite tends to return when they stop, so the plan, the pace and the exit are decisions to make with your provider, not alone.
What we offer for this.
Every treatment starts with a $0 online visit and ships free, in plain packaging, from a licensed US pharmacy. Prescription only, at the provider's discretion.
Ask the concierge.
An automated guide to these treatments, one tap at a time. Not a real person and not a doctor; a licensed US provider makes every treatment decision.
Loading the guide. If it does not appear, the treatments are listed above.
The questions people actually ask.
Are these the FDA-approved products?+
What side effects are most common?+
Do I have to inject it myself?+
What about losing muscle?+
What if I have diabetes or take other medications?+
Where this comes from.
- FDA, approval of semaglutide for chronic weight management (2021) (opens in a new tab)
- FDA, approval of tirzepatide for chronic weight management (2023) (opens in a new tab)
- FDA, concerns about unapproved GLP-1 drugs used for weight loss (compounded products) (opens in a new tab)
- DailyMed, semaglutide injection labeling (Wegovy) (opens in a new tab)
- DailyMed, tirzepatide injection labeling (Zepbound) (opens in a new tab)
- CDC, adult BMI calculator and categories (opens in a new tab)
Written from FDA labeling, clinical guidelines and the studies cited below. Educational, not medical advice, and not a substitute for talking with a licensed provider. Compounded medications offered by Freedom RX are prepared by state-licensed 503A pharmacies for an individual prescription; they are not FDA-approved and have not been evaluated by the FDA for safety, effectiveness or quality. For a medical emergency, call 911.
Ready to get personalized treatment?
Start your online visit. It takes about five minutes, and if a provider does not approve your treatment you are refunded in full.