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Health Resources Hub / Endocrine Health / Type 2 Diabetes

5 Things to Know When Starting a GLP-1 Receptor Agonist, with Diana Isaacs, PharmD

An endocrine clinical pharmacist from the Cleveland Clinic offers tips for people starting therapy with a GLP-1 receptor agonist.

By

Patrick Campbell

 |  Published on January 24, 2025

3 min read

Welcome to "Things to Know When", a series from The Educated Patient showcasing expert perspective on the things they would want all their new patients to know in certain situations. In this installment, we tackle 5 things to know when starting a GLP-1 receptor agonist therapy.

The first GLP-1 RA to receive approval was awarded to liraglutide (Victoza) in January 2010. Since the initial approval, numerous there agents in the class have received approval, including semaglutide (Ozempic; Wegovy; Rybelsus). The latter agent has sparked a revolution in care, with clinical trials unearthing evidence of additional benefits beyond glycemic control in type 2 diabetes, including obesity, cardiovascular disease and kidney disease. More recently, combination agents have also begun to gain momentum, with one, tirzepatide (Mounjaro; Zepbound), gaining its own approval for type 2 diabetes and obesity.

With all this excitement, the number of US patients receiving a GLP-1 has skyrocketed, with one in eight adults now reporting to have taken a GLP-1 RA at some point. Although hailed as a significant breakthrough, use of GLP-1 RAs does not come without the risk of side effects.

All this considered, beginning therapy with a GLP-1 RA is becoming a decision many are facing now and will be faced with in the future. With this in mind, we enlisted the assistance of Diana Isaacs, PharmD, an endocrine clinical pharmacist at the Cleveland Clinic, to provide her insight on what she would want all new patients to know about starting a GLP-1 RA. Those thoughts are featured in the video above and summarized in the list below.

5 Things to Know When Starting a GLP-1 RA Therapy:

  1. GLP-1 RA medications are meant to be taken long-term as chronic treatments.
  2. Side effects, such as nausea and diarrhea, can occur, but can be mitigated by starting with lower doses.
  3. Strategies to reduce side effects can include eating smaller, lower-fat meals and staying hydrated.
  4. Weight loss results with GLP-1s can vary widely, so manage expectations and focus on overall health improvements.
  5. Incorporating strength training is essential to maintain muscle mass during your weight loss journey.

Editor's Note: This is created for the purposes of education and is not medical advice.