Weight Loss Injections: What to Know

Weight loss can be a challenge, even for those who eat healthily and exercise regularly. But injectable type 2 diabetes medications — also known as GLP-1 and GIP injections — are changing the way we think about weight management.

Weight loss injections are considered safe and effective for most people living with obesity and overweight. Still, like all medications, they can cause unwanted side effects — like nausea, constipation, and heartburn —  that typically subside within a few weeks. Serious complications of injectable weight loss medications injections are rare, but they can happen too.

Ahead, discover all the details you should know when considering type 2 diabetes injections for weight loss.

Weight loss injections are prescription drugs administered through the skin with a small needle to help with weight management.

Most of these medications are primarily used for type 2 diabetes, but they can also be prescribed off-label to support weight loss.

When a medication is used off-label, it means the drug is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for a particular use, but a healthcare provider prescribes it to treat something else. This is a legal — and common — practice for many medications.

Most type 2 diabetes injections for weight loss are glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists.

These drugs mimic the GLP-1 hormone, which is made in your gastrointestinal tract when you eat. The GLP-1 hormone is linked to:

• Reduced appetite

• Feelings of fullness

• Insulin production, which lowers blood sugar (glucose) levels

The most well-known injectables for weight loss are made by the pharmaceutical companies Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly. These drug manufacturers also funded many of the studies on these type 2 diabetes and weight loss medications.

Although these medications have shown promise with weight loss, they’re not a replacement for eating well and exercising. Weight loss injections are meant to be used alongside healthy lifestyle changes, like following a nutritious eating plan and getting plenty of exercise.

Most of the different weight loss injections are taken either once a week or once daily and usually self-administered by the patient (meaning you give yourself the shots at home).

A few different active ingredients are used to support weight loss. We’ll go over the most popular ones — semaglutide, liraglutide, and tirzepatide — below.

Semaglutide Weight Loss Injections

You’re probably familiar with one semaglutide brand name: Ozempic®. Other brand names for this drug include Wegovy® and Rybelsus® (the latter is taken orally daily, while the other two are injected once a week).

Ozempic is FDA-approved to treat type 2 diabetes, but it’s sometimes prescribed off-label to help with weight loss. Wegovy, on the other hand, is approved for weight loss in people with obesity or those with overweight and an obesity-related health condition, like high blood pressure (hypertension).

Ozempic and Wegovy are GLP-1 receptor agonists. They mimic the hormone glucagon-like peptide-1, which affects the parts of the brain responsible for regulating appetite.

Ozempic was approved by the FDA in 2017, while Wegovy was granted approval in 2021.

Liraglutide Weight Loss Injections

Liraglutide is the active ingredient in Saxenda® and Victoza®.

Like Ozempic and Wegovy, liraglutide is an injected GLP-1 receptor agonist that can suppress appetite and regulate hunger hormones. One difference is that liraglutide weight loss injections are injected once daily as opposed to weekly.

Saxenda is FDA-approved for weight management in people with obesity. Victoza is FDA-approved to treat type 2 diabetes but is sometimes used off-label for weight loss.

Tirzepatide Weight Loss Injections

Tirzepatide is the active ingredient in Mounjaro® and Zepbound®.

Like Ozempic, Mounjaro is FDA-approved as a diabetes drug. It can help folks with type 2 diabetes control blood sugar levels. Mounjaro is also sometimes prescribed off-label for weight loss, while Zepbound is FDA-approved for weight loss.

Beyond being a GLP-1 receptor agonist, tirzepatide is an insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) receptor agonist. It’s known as a GIP/GLP-1 receptor agonist.

In simpler terms, this medication targets two receptors in the body, whereas semaglutide drugs only target one.

The GLP-1 receptor agonist component works the same way it does in semaglutide: by reducing hunger and promoting feelings of fullness.

The GIP receptor agonist part works very similarly, mimicking the GIP hormone, which is also released after eating to trigger insulin production. It’s also linked with feelings of fullness.

Together, the GLP-1 and GIP receptor agonists can produce a reduced appetite that leads to reduced food intake — according to an Eli Lilly-sponsored study. And at the risk of stating the obvious, these effects promote weight loss.

You’ll need a prescription to get injections that help with weight loss. You can get a prescription from a healthcare provider in person or on certain telehealth platforms after some combination of an exam, medical evaluation, and review of your personal medical history.

Though the process of getting GLP-1 injections for weight loss varies by provider, they’ll typically ask you a few basic questions and calculate your BMI (body mass index).

This calculation is based on your height and weight. It’s not perfect, but BMI can offer a basic idea of body fat composition and whether a person falls within the overweight or obesity categories.

So, are weight loss injections safe? GLP-1 injections are generally considered safe. Still, like all medications, there are some side effects and risks to keep in mind.

On the other hand, carrying extra weight also has a number of health risks, including heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and certain types of cancer. These weight-related medical conditions are among the leading causes of preventable death.

It’s best to discuss the potential risks with a healthcare professional to figure out if weight loss injections are worth a try or whether an alternative medication might be a better option for someone with your health history.

Compounded GLP-1s are medications made by a compounding pharmacy that contain active ingredients used in the brand-name drugs — like semaglutide or tirzepatide.

Compounding pharmacies aren’t regulated by the same federal standards as FDA-approved pharmaceuticals — instead, they’re overseen by state boards. That doesn’t make them inherently unsafe; it just means they’re regulated differently. And the FDA can’t confirm the safety or efficacy.

The FDA advises getting semaglutide with a prescription from a licensed healthcare provider.

Compounded semaglutide that comes from state-licensed pharmacies or a licensed outsourcing facility that operates under the FDA’s Current Good and Manufacturing Practice (CGMP) guidelines is generally considered safe.

Even though GLP-1s and GIP/GLP-1s are safe for most people, there are some side effects to keep in mind. The most common side effects are gastrointestinal, particularly nausea and diarrhea. You may also experience vomiting and constipation.

Over five percent of people experience nausea and diarrhea on semaglutide and liraglutide. These adverse reactions also affect up to 10 percent of those who use tirzepatide. Other possible side effects can include:

• Dizziness

• Fatigue

• Headaches

• Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar)

• Indigestion

• Mild tachycardia (fast heart rate)

• Itching or redness at the injection site

Some people manage nausea, diarrhea, and headaches with over-the-counter medication and home remedies like ginger tea during the first couple of weeks while they adjust to the meds.

There’s also a risk that weight loss injections can cause more serious health problems. Although these issues are rare, they’re possible.

Some of these risks can include:

• Allergic reaction to the drug

• Complications with diabetic retinopathy (an eye condition occurring in people with diabetes)

• Dehydration

• Gallbladder disease

• Kidney issues

• Pancreatitis

• Tachycardia (fast heartbeat)

• Thyroid cancer

Weight loss injections also have certain contraindications, meaning healthcare providers may not recommend them for some people.

Liraglutide, semaglutide, and tirzepatide might not be a good fit if you have:

• Type 1 diabetes

• Diabetic retinopathy

• A history of pancreatitis.

• Gallstones or other gallbladder diseases.

• Kidney disease

• Family or personal history of thyroid tumors, especially medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC)

These medications may increase the risk of pancreatitis (swelling of the pancreas). Clinical trials have shown that they can cause an increase in thyroid C-cell tumors in rodents, but this observation hasn’t been made in human studies.

There isn’t much research on how safe weight loss injections are during pregnancy or breastfeeding. In some cases, a healthcare provider will determine whether a medication is worth prescribing when the benefits outweigh the potential risks (treating diabetes, for example).

Also, since weight loss injections delay gastric emptying, they might affect how your body processes medications, such as contraceptive pills. Discuss your current medications with a healthcare professional, as it might be necessary to use a different type of contraceptive (like condoms) while using weight loss injections.

Another thing to keep in mind is that, like other methods of weight loss, weight can be regained after using weight loss injections.

In a 2022 study sponsored by Novo Nordisk, participants gained most of their lost weight back after stopping semaglutide for a year. These people regained an average of two‐thirds of their prior weight loss, highlighting the importance of ongoing treatment and lifestyle changes.

If you’ve done your research, spoken with a medical provider, reviewed all the risks and side effects, and decided you’d like to consider weight loss injections, you’ll have some choices to make.

For instance, one Novo Nordisk-funded 2022 trial compared the weight loss effects of semaglutide with liraglutide. This trial looked at 338 non-diabetic adults who had obesity or overweight. Participants received counseling for diet and physical activity as well as either semaglutide or liraglutide injections.

The study found that once-weekly semaglutide injections were more effective for weight loss than once-daily liraglutide. On average, participants lost 15.8 percent of their body weight with semaglutide and 6.4 percent of their body weight with liraglutide over 68 weeks.

What about tirzepatide?

A 40-week trial supported by Eli Lilly looked at the effects of tirzepatide versus semaglutide in people with type 2 diabetes. Although the goal of the trial wasn’t to measure weight loss, the researchers noted that participants who used tirzepatide lost more weight than those who used semaglutide.

If you’re wondering about side effects, the story is slightly different.

The same study from Eli Lilly also found that five to seven percent of patients who used tirzepatide experienced serious side effects, as opposed to only three percent of those who got semaglutide.

Still, more research should be done before there’s an official consensus on which weight loss injection is safest and most effective. As always, medications can be tolerated differently by different people.

Cost is another thing you may want to factor into the decision.

Typically, a one-month supply of brand-name weight loss injections costs:

• Ozempic: $1,029

• Wegovy: $1,430

• Mounjaro: $1,335

• Victoza: $582

• Saxenda: $1,430

• Zepbound: $1,126

Of course, the price will vary depending on the pharmacy you visit and the dosage you’re prescribed. But there are a few things to keep in mind when considering cost.

First, weight loss medications are meant to be taken continuously, so think about your long-term plans and health goals.

Second, health insurance policies seldom cover weight loss injections. Most insurance companies don’t currently cover new weight loss medications, including treatments like semaglutide, liraglutide, and tirzepatide. But they might cover drugs prescribed for diabetes.

Compounded Semaglutide With Hers

Hers offers access to safe and affordable compounded semaglutide through licensed providers on our platform.

You can expect:

• A prescription from a licensed medical provider. After an initial consultation and virtual health evaluation, a licensed provider can prescribe semaglutide injections if they’re appropriate for your health needs and goals. They’ll then be delivered to you in discreet packaging.

• Regular check-ins. You’ll have ongoing check-ins and provider support to address concerns, help manage any early side effects, and monitor progress. You can do all of this online through a web browser or on the Hers app. There’s also a feature for 24/7 messaging with the care team.

• Affordability. There’s a range of pricing options, starting as low as $199 a month. You don’t have to pay for the initial consultation or have health insurance.

• Weight loss education. Through the Hers app, you can access helpful content about nutrition, movement, sleep, and more.

There are science-backed alternatives to weight loss injections. They include:

• Metformin. Metformin is used for treating diabetes 2, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), and obesity. Though it’s considered safe, up to 30 percent of people who take metformin experience gastrointestinal side effects like nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.

• Naltrexone-bupropion. An FDA-approved weight loss medication, naltrexone-bupropion is generally considered effective and safe to use. You may experience side effects like dizziness, mood changes, trouble sleeping, and headaches.

• Phentermine-topiramate. This is a combination of an appetite suppressant called phentermine and an anticonvulsant called topiramate. Phentermine-topiramate is effective for weight loss and seems to reduce blood pressure in people with hypertension.

Losing weight can be a challenging and complicated process, especially if you have a health condition that affects your metabolism.

Given the media hype around medications like Ozempic, Victoza, and Mounjaro, it’s no surprise there are lots of questions and concerns around how these meds work.

Here’s what to keep in mind about type 2 diabetes medications used to support weight loss and weight loss injections:

• Weight loss injections are safe and effective when used as prescribed. GLP-1s are usually prescribed alongside a healthy diet and frequent exercise.

• Some injectables are FDA-approved for weight loss, and others are used off-label for weight loss. FDA-approved weight loss drugs include Wegovy (semaglutide), Saxenda (liraglutide), and Zepbound (tirzepatide). Type 2 diabetes injectables with the same active ingredients are sometimes prescribed off-label for weight management. These include Ozempic (semaglutide), Victoza (liraglutide), and Mounjaro (tirzepatide).

• These drugs work by mimicking hormones that reduce appetite. Semaglutide and liraglutide are both GLP-1s and tirzepatide is a GIP/GLP-1. They both work by decreasing your cravings and helping you stick to healthier eating habits.

• There are side effects of weight loss injections to be aware of. Nausea and diarrhea are common with weight loss injections. Rarer (but more serious) health risks include kidney issues and pancreatitis.

All medications have potential side effects. A healthcare professional can help determine which weight loss medications will be safest for you.

If you’d like extra support, we can connect you with a healthcare provider to chat about potential solutions.

If you think you might be a good candidate, get started on our telehealth platform to explore new weight loss injections and other products to support your journey.

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. The information contained herein is not a substitute for and should never be relied upon for professional medical advice. Always talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of any treatment. Learn more about our editorial standards here.