Incretins have been studied for more than 140 years, but advancements in the 2010s and 2020s highlight two: GIP (glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide), from the upper gut, and GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1), from the lower gut
Patients with a personal history of pancreatitis should generally abstain from alcohol, as both the medication and alcohol independently increase pancreatitis risk, and the combination may pose unacceptable risk
Some patients have lost 20% or more of their body weight
Some common semaglutide side effects include nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea
Across major studies of semaglutide and tirzepatide, roughly 10% to 15% of patients failed to lose at least 5% of their starting body weight
Q: How do these drugs affect appetite and cravings at a brain level