Hormonal
Incretin-based therapies (GLP-1 and GIP/GLP-1 RAs) produce clinically significant weight loss and improve weight-related comorbidities, but their implementation is hindered by high costs, insurance coverage barriers, supply shortages, and gastrointestinal adverse events.
Incretin-based therapies like semaglutide and tirzepatide are highly effective for weight loss and improving health conditions like diabetes and heart disease. However, access is difficult due to high costs, insurance restrictions, and supply shortages. Side effects like nausea are common but often improve over time. Patients should work with pharmacists to navigate coverage and manage side effects through careful dosing.
The popularity of incretin- based therapies has increased substantially over the past several years due to their clinically significant efficacy for weight loss and positive impact on weight- related comorbid conditions, yet, few clinical practice guidelines for the management of overweight and obesity have been updated to incorporate these agents. The increased demand for incretin- based therapies for weight management has revealed barriers to their implementation related to cost, availability, and emerging safety concerns.
Why this rating
Based on a review of multiple randomized controlled trials and retrospective studies cited in the paper.
Source
The Pharmacist's Role in the Use of Incretin‐Based Therapies for Weight Management: An Opinion of the Endocrine and Metabolism Practice and Research Network of the American College of Clinical Pharmacy
Sara Lingow et al. · JACCP JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN COLLEGE OF CLINICAL PHARMACY · 2025
DOI 10.1002/jac5.70111
Related findings · Hormonal
- Initial treatment for type 2 diabetes should be a combination of metformin and either an SGLT-2 inhibitor or a GLP-1 receptor agonist to achieve cardiorenal protection, rather than monotherapy or older agents like sulfonylureas.Strong
- For patients with specific monogenic obesity syndromes (leptin deficiency, POMC/PCSK1/LEPR mutations), targeted pharmacotherapy (recombinant leptin or setmelanotide) is highly effective and should be prioritized, unlike in polygenic obesity.Strong
- Continued weekly administration of 2.4 mg subcutaneous semaglutide prevents weight regain and promotes further weight loss in adults with overweight or obesity, whereas switching to placebo results in significant weight regain.Strong
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