16
Anti-obesity Pharmacotherapy
Anti-obesity Medication Summary
Agent/Dose Description
Main Side Effects/
Adverse Reactions
Liraglutide
(Saxenda
®
)
Dose:
3.0 mg subcut daily
• Glucagon-like
peptide-1 receptor
agonist
• Average weight
loss 7%–8% of body
weight
• Nausea, vomiting,
bloating, fullness,
diarrhea, constipation,
dyspepsia, abdominal
pain, fatigue,
dizziness, headache,
worsening depression,
increase in lipase,
and rarely renal
insuff iciency
• Special
considerations:
Discontinue
with suspected
pancreatitis,
gallbladder disease, or
suicidal behavior and
ideation
• May promote
hypoglycemia,
particularly in patients
with diabetes mellitus
treated with insulin or
sulfonylureas.
Semaglutide
(Ozempic,
Rybelsus, Wegovy)
Weekly
subcutaneous
injection
Glucagon-like
peptide-1 receptor
agonist.
Average weight loss
15–16% of body weight
• Same as liraglutide
• Additional
considerations: can
worsen preexisting
diabetic retinopathy
Tirzepatide
(Mounjaro,
Zepbound)
Weekly
subcutaneous
injection
• Dual glucagon-like
peptide-1 receptor
agonist and
glucose-dependent
insulinotropic
peptide receptor
agonist
• Average weight loss
21% of body weight
• Same as liraglutide
and semaglutide
• Studies suggest that
the medications have
fewer gastrointestinal
side effects than
liraglutide and
semaglutide
(cont'd)
