GLP-1 drugs
The peptides that actually have human trials behind them. Each drug gets one overview and the same set of spokes: dosage chart, side effects, cost, and brand versus compounded. FDA status is printed first on every page.
| Drug | Sold as | Acts on | Maker | FDA status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tirzepatide | Zepbound, Mounjaro | GIP + GLP-1 | Eli Lilly | FDA approved |
| Semaglutide | Wegovy (pen, HD 7.2 mg, pill), Ozempic (pen, tablets), Rybelsus | GLP-1 | Novo Nordisk | FDA approved |
| Orforglipron | Foundayo (daily pill) | GLP-1, non-peptide | Eli Lilly | FDA approved |
| Liraglutide | Saxenda, Victoza (generics available) | GLP-1, daily | Novo Nordisk | FDA approved |
| Retatrutide | Investigational (LY3437943) | GIP + GLP-1 + glucagon | Eli Lilly | Investigational |
| Cagrilintide | Investigational (with semaglutide as CagriSema) | Amylin analogue | Novo Nordisk | Investigational |
Profiles
- Cagrilintide overviewCagrilintideInvestigational
A long-acting, once-weekly injectable copy of amylin, a pancreatic hormone that promotes fullness, developed by Novo Nordisk mainly as half of the fixed-dose combination CagriSema (cagrilintide plus semaglutide).
- Orforglipron overviewOrforglipronFDA approved
A once-daily oral small-molecule (non-peptide) GLP-1 receptor agonist made by Eli Lilly, sold as Foundayo tablets in six strengths from 0.8 mg to 17.2 mg.
- Retatrutide overviewRetatrutideInvestigational
An investigational once-weekly injectable from Eli Lilly (code name LY3437943) that activates the GIP, GLP-1 and glucagon receptors, studied for obesity, type 2 diabetes, knee osteoarthritis pain and sleep apnea.
- Semaglutide overviewSemaglutideFDA approved
A GLP-1 receptor agonist made by Novo Nordisk, sold as Wegovy injection and tablets (weight management, heart-risk reduction, MASH) and as Ozempic and Rybelsus (type 2 diabetes).
- Tirzepatide overviewTirzepatideFDA approved
A once-weekly injectable GIP and GLP-1 receptor agonist made by Eli Lilly, sold as Mounjaro (type 2 diabetes) and Zepbound (chronic weight management, obstructive sleep apnea).
Guides
- Cheapest without insuranceThe cheapest GLP-1 without insurance starts at $149 a month, but that buys a starter dose. Compare Wegovy, Zepbound and Foundayo at the dose you keep.
- MicrodosingNo trial has tested GLP-1 microdosing. Low doses still bring some weight loss, far less than full doses. See the evidence, units risk and other options.
- Semaglutide vs tirzepatideTirzepatide beat semaglutide 20.2% to 13.7% in the only head-to-head weight trial. See side effects, pills, heart data and cash prices side by side.
- Tirzepatide vs retatrutideTirzepatide is approved; retatrutide is not. Compare trial weight loss, side effects and access, and see why the gap may shift once TRIUMPH-5 reports.
What "peptides for weight loss" means
Almost always, GLP-1 receptor agonists. Semaglutide and tirzepatide are peptides: chains of amino acids built to mimic the gut hormone GLP-1 (and, for tirzepatide, GIP as well). They slow stomach emptying, reduce appetite and improve insulin response. In their main obesity trials, average weight loss was about 15% of body weight for semaglutide 2.4 mg at 68 weeks (STEP 1) and up to about 21% for tirzepatide 15 mg at 72 weeks (SURMOUNT-1). They are prescription drugs with FDA labels, boxed warnings and a defined dose ladder. Anything sold as a "weight loss peptide" without a prescription has none of that, and products sold "for research use only" are not legal to use on people. If you are starting from the goal rather than a drug, read peptides for weight loss.
How do the GLP-1 drugs compare?
They differ first in which hormone receptors they act on, and in whether the FDA has approved them. In SURMOUNT-5, the only head-to-head weight trial of the two best-known drugs, adults without diabetes lost 20.2% of body weight on tirzepatide versus 13.7% on semaglutide over 72 weeks. The full picture, including pills and doses, is in semaglutide vs tirzepatide. Tirzepatide vs retatrutide covers the drug people ask about next, and the compare tool sets any two profiles side by side.
Orforglipron (Foundayo) is the daily pill, a small molecule rather than a peptide. Retatrutide and cagrilintide are not approved. Lilly plans to file retatrutide with the FDA in early 2027, and Novo Nordisk expects a decision on CagriSema in the fourth quarter of 2026. We found none as of November 2, 2026.
How this section is organized
Each main drug has an overview, with spokes under it. For tirzepatide, those are a dosage chart that reproduces the label schedule, a side effects page with the label's adverse-reaction numbers, a cost page with dated prices, and a compounded page on what changed after the shortage ended. The semaglutide pages follow the same plan. If you use a compounded vial, the units calculator turns a milligram dose into syringe units. Asked about taking less than the label dose? Microdosing explains why no clinical trial has tested that as a strategy.
Getting a GLP-1 legitimately
Any licensed prescriber can prescribe an approved GLP-1. Telehealth services can too, as long as a clinician actually evaluates you and a licensed pharmacy dispenses it. Manufacturers also sell directly to cash-paying patients. The cheapest GLP-1 without insurance page lists every self-pay price, dated, and the price tracker keeps the monthly history. Our provider comparison will list price, medication type, and whether a service prescribes brand or compounded product, with the affiliate disclosure printed beside it. We do not list any service that ships without a consultation.