GLP-1 Drugs: Risks and Benefits

GLP-1 stands for Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists including GLP-1s and GLP-1RAs. GLP-1 Drugs are the type of medicines that are used to make you feel fuller by mimicking a hormone that is actually released naturally after eating a meal. Its different types are now available. But the newest form of GLP-1 Drugs is Mounjaro. This medicine also affects some other hormones that are involved in the controlling of your blood sugar level and appetite. All types of these medicines are not authorized for weight loss or other purposes but you can hear about their use commonly these days. Different types of GLP-1 Drugs are being sold in the country legally. They are considered licensed medicines. This means they are regulated by the Medicine and Health department of the country. Different types of popular GLP-1 Drugs in our country include:

• Liraglutide.
• Semaglutide.
• Tirzepatide.
• Wegovy.

Although these medicines have been approved as useful and effective medicines for certain users. But the approval doesn’t mean that these drugs have no side effects. They surely have some drastic side effects which are jotted below. In addition, if you use such medicines outside the licensed use you may be harmed by them. For example, if you’re not overweight or obese, then these drugs are not for you. 

According to studies, GLP-1 Drugs are licensed medicines that are usually prescribed by the healthcare providers to treat certain health conditions but they can be used only if you’re diabetic or obese. This means you cannot use these drugs to just lose weight only for aesthetic purposes.

What are GLP-1 Agonists?

The studies revealed that GLP-1 Drugs belong to the category of medicines that are specifically used to manage blood sugar levels in people suffering from type 2 diabetes. However, certain types of GLP-1 are also considered effective for managing excessively increased weight. These medicines are usually used in injectable form. Healthcare providers inject a medicinal liquid into your capillary through a syringe and needle. These shots are injected in your fatty tissues present under your skin, including back of your arm, belly, upper buttocks or thighs. These medications are known as different names in different regions, such as:

• GLP-1 Analog.
• GLP-1 Receptor Agonists.
• Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Agonists.
• Incretin Mimetics.

According to the information called from the research made by U.S Food and Drug Authority, the first and foremost type of these drugs was GLP-1 agonist which was discovered in 2005 but now there are a lot of new versions as mentioned above. Their increasing forms have forced the researchers to find out more potential benefits and uses of these medicines.

A false thinking has prevailed in modern society that the GLP-1 agonist alone can treat type 2 diabetes. But the reality is opposite. If you want to use these drugs to treat your obesity or type 2 diabetes, make some lifestyle and dietary changes along with the use of medications.

From Where You Get GLP-1 Drugs?

You cannot purchase GLP-1 drugs as over-the-counter medicines. Only certified healthcare providers prescribe them; this means these are only prescribed medicines. Different countries allow or approve different types of GLP-1 medicines. So it depends on the location you  are from, where and how you can get these medicines. Their availability or prescription also depends on the type of diseases you want to treat with them. For example if you have symptoms of type 2 diabetes or you’re overweight, your healthcare provider may prescribe these drugs for you but if you have none of these two conditions, the healthcare provider does not consider it good to prescribe GLP-1 for you.

In addition, sometimes people want to use these drugs privately. For this they make private meetings with their healthcare providers and convince them to preserve these drugs because their prescription is the only way to issue these drugs in the country. Prescription is in fact an assurance that the pharmacist is responsible for the results of use of these medicines and they take care of the patient after the use of GLP-1. 

Moreover, GLP-1 drugs should not be purchased from illegal or unauthorized sources. People often choose wrong ways to fulfill their needs and get such drugs from beauty salons or via social media platforms online. Their use without consultation and prescription from a certified healthcare provider can cause harmful impacts on your health. Many cases have been reported where people got severe side effects of these drugs after their unchecked or unsupervised use. Getting genuine GLP-1 medicine is not an easy task. The only way to get pure and genuine form is to buy it from a legitimate pharmacy with the consultation of a professional doctor or pharmacist. There are several fake medicine corners at social media platforms who supply impure forms of medicines, to avoid making a purchase for GLP-1 from those platforms.

How Does GLP-1 Drug Function?

Before delving into the river of information about the working of GLP-1 drugs, you have to understand how the naturally occurring GLP-1 hormone functions in your body. GLP-1 hormone is secreted through your small intestine. It this hormone is responsible for many functions in your body, including:

Increase in Satiety: This hormone is associated with affecting the areas of your brain that controls your satiety, appetite or hunger. This deals with your feelings of how full you feel after eating a meal.

Inhibit Glucagon Secretions: Glucagon hormone is responsible for raising the levels of sugar in your blood according to your need. But the GLP-1 hormone works to stop the diffusion of more glucose in your blood. Thus the blood sugar level remains in balance and you live a healthy life.

Stimulate Your Pancreas to Secrete More Insulin: Insulin is one of the most important hormones in your body. It functions as the energy booster and a;lows your body to use the energy released from the food you eat. Use of food energy actually lowers the amount of blood sugar. If insulin is not secreted normally in your bloodstream, your blood sugar level may go on increasing dangerously leading to diabetes.

Preventing the Emptying of Stomach: In the absence of GLP-1 hormone the digestion procedure slows down and the slower digestion links with release of less amount of sugar from the food you eat. Thus the levels of blood sugar decrease down. 

By understanding the role of GLP-1 hormone in your body, you can conclude that GLP-1 drugs actually work as mimicking the naturally occurring hormone. It works to replace the original one. Medical experts have defined the agonist as a medically approved substance that gets attached to the cell receptor and functions same as naturally occurring hormone performs. In addition, GLP-1 drugs get attached to naturally occurring GLP-1 receptors to enhance the effects of medicines. Its effects can be increased by increasing the dose of GLP-1 agonist. These medications help you manage type 2 diabetes by controlling your blood sugar levels by triggering your pancreas to secrete large amounts of insulin. This also slows down the rate of digestion process that plays a vital role in decreasing the blood sugar spikes. Thus the combined effects of satiety control, reduction in food intake, and reduced hunger results in weight loss.

Risks and Benefits of GLP-1 Drugs

As all types of medicines have certain side effects. Similarly, GLP-1 also is associated with some side effects, such as diarrhea, nausea and vomiting. These are some common side effects reported by the doctors after clinical trials of diabetic patients using GLP-1 drugs. The side effects go from mild to severe and last for a short duration. However, sometimes these side effects become more serious and lead to severe complications including dehydration. In this situation the patient should be shifted to hospital immediately.

In addition, some cases of GLP-1 drug users have also been reported with  pancreatic inflammation. This condition can be identified due to its severe pain in the stomach that originates from the stomach and then spreads to the back. This is am a;arming condition. One who experiences this type of pain, visits a nearby hospital as soon as possible. 

Along with all the above mentioned risks, GLP-12 drugs are also associated with more risks, such as:

Effects of GLP-1 Drugs on Pregnancy and Contraception

If you want to become pregnant or are planning to get conceived, GLP-1 drugs are not good for you. You should not use these medicines during or right before pregnancy because these medicines cause harm to the fetus. They cause severe complications in the development of unborn fetuses. So it’s important to talk to your healthcare provider before using GLP-1 medicines during pregnancy. 

If you’re not aware of pregnancy chances and have sex while using GLP-1 drugs, use contraceptives whether in the form of pills or condoms. These barriers will make sure that you won’t get pregnant. These precautionary measures help reduce the effectiveness of sexual intercourse.

Effects of Drugs on Breastfeeding People

If you’re a breastfeeding woman, avoid taking GLP-1 drugs. These medicines cause harm to the baby. Talk to your doctor if you have any concern about the bruise during breastfeeding. 

GLP-1 Drugs and Hypoglycemia

Lower blood sugar level is known as hypoglycemia that can be fatal in some situations. Taking GLP-1 drugs causes lower levels of blood glucose. It would cause severe side effects if taken along with other medications that control blood sugar levels. If your blood sugar level is below 65 mg/dL, you are at greater risk of being suffered by hypoglycemia. If proper treatment plans are not followed, hypoglycemia can be life-threatening. Common  symptoms of hypoglycemia are jotted below:

• Pale skin.
• Increased heart rate.
• Chills and sweating.
• Nausea.
• Trembling and shaking.
• Frequent hunger.
• Lightheadedness or dizziness.
• Difficulty in concentrating.
• General weakness.
• You can add more carbohydrates to your diet to treat hypoglycemia.

Depressive Effects of GLP-1 Drugs

Many studies found that depressive episodes or suicidal thoughts have not a direct link with GLP-1 Drugs. However, researchers are still busy in finding out any association between suicidal ideation and the drugs. Some researchers support the idea that these drugs affect mental health and cause several severe psychiatric reactions. However, more research is needed to verify the claim.

Type 2 Diabetes and GLP-1 Drugs

As it is a common assessment that GLP-1 Drugs have strong effects on blood sugar level, this is a private reality that it will also affect type 2 diabetes. It actually lowers the blood sugar level. Thus helps control or manage the type 2 diabetes symptoms. It is found in several types of diabetes medications. In some type it is an oral medication while in others it is taken as an injection. However, it is commission observation that most of healthcare provider suggest to take GLP-1 medications,when:

• Metformin doesn’t work for your condition.
• You are suffering from some other health conditions, like heart failure, chronic kidney problem, or atherosclerosis.
• You have crossed the optimum limit of A1C which is higher than your target.
• You have failed to achieve your A1C target within 120 days.

However, medical research also claims that you have some additional options to treat your type 2 diabetes, which are known as therapies. These therapies include:

• Exercise.
• Medications.
• Diet changes.
• Lifestyle changes.

So it’s good to talk to your healthcare provider and plan a better treatment plan by discussing all the factors of treatment options. This may help you and the provider to choose the best one. In most cases, healthcare providers suggest a combination of GLP-1 medications with other drugs to manage your blood sugar level at optimum range.

Effects of GLP-1 Drugs on Type 1 Diabetes

Studies show that these drugs are most effective for lowering your A1C and weight, both. Thus it is good for the people with type 1 diabetes. However, food and drug authorities do not accept it as safe medication for the treatment of type 1 diabetes. But in many countries it is sold over-the-counter. So, if you’re planning to try this option for the management of type 1 diabetes symptoms, talk to your doctor.

Effects of GLP-1 Drugs on Obesity

Studies show that GLP-1 medications are good for managing your excessive weight. Different types of these drugs, including liraglutide and semaglutide can help in weight loss.

In addition, many healthcare providers also prescribe the high doses of said GLP-1 medications. These medications also play a vital role in managing other health conditions coexisting with obesity. Therefore, you need several therapies to treat the condition. The therapies may include:

• Medications.
• Weight loss surgery.
• Exercises. Changes in your diet plans.
• Modifications in your lifestyle behaviors.

The best thing to remember is, never use a GLP-1 Drug for weight loss management without consulting your healthcare provider.

Conclusion

A number of people are suffering from high blood sugar levels and obesity in this modern era. Every person has different symptoms and needs a unique treatment plant hay can help manage these health conditions. People in the past were trying different types of medications to resolve these health issues but the recent research has shown that GLP-1 Drugs are the most effective treatment option for type 2 diabetes and obesity. However, it is good to talk to your doctor before using these medications to treat your blood sugar level for excessive weight.