It’s secure to say the demand for (and recognition of) GLP-1 medication for weight reduction has by no means been increased. Drugs like Wegovy and Zepbound (to not point out the diabetes drug Ozempic, which isn’t truly meant to be prescribed for weight reduction) have taken the tradition by storm. And now, we’re seeing over-the-counter GLP-1 dietary supplements hit the market, claiming to get the identical job executed.
However can these non-prescription choices ship the identical outcomes, and are they really secure? Right here, weight problems drugs medical doctors give us the low-down on GLP-1 medication for weight reduction and over-the-counter choices.
First, a fast refresh on GLP-1 drugs
GLP-1 is brief for glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist drugs, initially created to deal with kind 2 diabetes, says Meghan Garcia-Webb, MD, an weight problems drugs professional who’s triple board-certified in inside drugs. It’d appear to be the time period “GLP-1” popped up out of nowhere, however these pharmaceuticals have been round for some time. They work by activating the receptor for the GLP-1 hormone, which is of course produced within the small gut.
“This hormone slows the motion of meals by the abdomen,” Dr. Garcia-Webb says. “It additionally acts on power regulation within the mind by up-regulating power expenditure and lowering power storage pathways.”
On this method, GLP-1 medication scale back meals cravings and starvation alerts, which regularly leads to weight reduction.
“A very powerful space the place these work is within the mind and an space known as the hypothalamus,” says Jorge Moreno, MD, an inside drugs doctor who can also be board-certified in weight problems drugs. “And so that is what controls urge for food and helps management your meals alerts.”
Are there over-the-counter GLP-1 medication (and do they work)?
Delusion-busting second: Technically, there are not any precise over-the-counter GLP-1 medication. Dietary supplements? Sure, however so as to be thought of respectable medication, they’d should be categorised as a medicine by the Meals & Drug Administration (FDA). GLP-1 dietary supplements miss the mark and are not authorised by the FDA, Dr. Garcia-Webb says.
“Dietary dietary supplements are regulated as meals, not medication, they usually can’t declare to deal with, diagnose, mitigate, stop, or remedy illnesses,” she says. “They’ll make claims to advertise or assist well being, however an over-the-counter complement couldn’t declare to deal with weight problems.”
Not like pharmaceuticals, dietary supplements aren’t required to undergo scientific trials, so you will discover that the majority haven’t any credible analysis to again up their claims. The FDA additionally would not consider these merchandise for security earlier than they’re offered, and except they’re third-party verified (by an organization like USP, NSF, or Shopper Lab), there isn’t any actual strategy to know that the complement contains the substances it claims within the quantity it claims.
For those who ask an weight problems drugs physician whether or not they’re even value your time (or cash!), the reply is… in all probability not.
“Apart from common multivitamins and commonplace dietary supplements resembling calcium and vitamin D, I don’t often advocate many different dietary supplements,” Dr. Garcia-Webb says. “And within the case of weight administration, I believe it’s a waste of time. A significantly better use of time could be to see how a affected person may optimize their wholesome consuming and train patterns.”
“As in lots of circumstances, if one thing appears too good to be true, it in all probability is.” —Meghan Garcia-Webb, MD, weight problems and inside drugs physician
Dangers of GLP-1 dietary supplements
As a result of GLP-1 dietary supplements aren’t properly regulated, we now have to watch out with them and be vital about what’s truly inside, Dr. Moreno says. Some dietary supplements could include substances like caffeine, which will be dangerous to anybody who’s delicate to stimulants or has a historical past of coronary heart well being points. “So that they must positively talk about the substances with their well being care supplier to essentially know precisely what’s in it,” Dr. Moreno says. This goes double for individuals who take different drugs, as a result of it is attainable for complement substances to negatively work together with sure medication.
The overall dangers of all dietary supplements is that they don’t seem to be held to the identical security requirements as a medicine.
“The FDA doesn’t routinely check dietary supplements for security or efficacy. The onus is on the producers and distributors to verify the product is secure, and the FDA usually will intervene if there are issues after a product goes to market,” Dr. Garcia-Webb says. “Particularly for GLP-1 dietary supplements, I fear that sufferers are being misled concerning the well being advantages that may be achieved with these over-the-counter dietary supplements.”
Options to OTC GLP-1 “medication”
Popping a once-a-day weight-loss complement may appear to be the best weight-loss possibility, however in the long term, it is not an efficient (or sustainable) technique.
“Sufferers usually need to attempt dietary supplements as a result of they’re straightforward to entry and add into one’s routine. However when it comes to weight, the simpler options are the boring ones,” Dr. Garcia-Webb says. As a substitute of taking weight reduction dietary supplements, she suggests these options:
“It sounds so easy, but it surely’s more durable to actively change this stuff than it’s to take a capsule, so it’s not stunning that dietary supplements are interesting,” she says. “However as in lots of circumstances, if one thing appears too good to be true, it in all probability is.”
One of the best ways to get a secure, dependable, and efficient GLP-1 treatment is thru a prescription out of your physician or an weight problems drugs specialist.
“It is usually of utmost significance that sufferers buy the FDA-approved variations of those drugs and don’t purchase from unregulated sources, resembling compounding pharmacies,” Dr. Garcia-Webb says.
The FDA notes that individuals ought to solely use medication they’ve gotten through prescription from a licensed well being care supplier, and they need to solely get these drugs from state-licensed pharmacies or outsourcing amenities registered with the FDA.
—reviewed by Jennifer Gilbert, MD, MPH