The Strongest Weight Loss Prescription Pill in 2024: Comparing 14 New Drugs
Understanding The Landscape of Weight Loss Drugs
Imagine your body is like a big city, and the hormones are like messengers that help control different things in the city, like how hungry you feel or how much energy you use.
Brain and pancreas targeted drugs: GLP-1 drugs like semaglutide and oral semaglutide target the pancreas and brain, helping the pancreas release more insulin, making you feel less hungry, and slowing down digestion, but they may cause side effects such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and constipation.
- Tirzepatide, a GLP-1 and GIP drug, works similarly but also targets the gut, potentially leading to stronger effects on weight loss and blood sugar control.
Brain, pancreas, and liver targeted drugs: GLP-1 and glucagon drugs, such as survodutide, mazdutide, pemvidutide, and efinopegdutide, target the pancreas, liver, and brain, combining the effects of GLP-1 on blood sugar control and appetite with glucagon's ability to increase energy use and fat burning.
- Retatrutide, a GLP-1, GIP, and glucagon drug, takes this approach a step further by targeting the gut as well, potentially leading to even greater improvements in weight loss, blood sugar control, and energy balance, although it may cause mild to moderate gastrointestinal side effects.
Muscle targeted drugs: Bimagrumab targets muscles to help build muscle and burn fat, but it may cause side effects like diarrhea and transiently elevated pancreatic and liver enzymes.
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David Burke, PharmD, is a seasoned clinical pharmacist with over 10 years of experience in hospital and community pharmacy settings. He earned his Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.