Tips for Taking GLP-1s and More

GLP-1 agonists (GLP-1s) and GLP-1/GIP agonists are a group of medicines that boost the actions of hormones we already make in our body called incretin hormones. Incretin hormones help control blood sugar and food intake. Examples of these medicines are Mounjaro^®, Ozempic^®, Rybelsus^® Trulicity^® and Victoza^®/liraglutide. These medicines are called incretin mimetics because they mimic incretin hormones.

Incretin hormones are made in your small intestine and work in the following ways:

• Trigger the release of insulin from your pancreas to lower the amount of sugar in your blood
• Prevent extra sugar from entering your blood as a hormone called glucagon
• Slow food digestion and food emptying from your stomach
• Affect the areas of your brain that make you feel full

If you have type 2 diabetes:
Incretin hormones in the body don’t work as well in patients with type 2 diabetes. To help, healthcare providers prescribe GLP-1 medicines in combination with diet, exercise, and even other medicines. All this together helps patients control blood sugar and helps the heart and kidneys.

Common, usually mild, side effects include nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, heart burn and decreased appetite.

Tips to manage common GLP-1 side effects:

• Follow the dose schedule and do not increase your dose without talking to your healthcare provider.
• Eat slowly, eat only if you are hungry, and stop eating once you feel full.
• You can also try eating smaller and more frequent meals.
• Avoid lying down after having a meal or eating too close to bedtime; and try not to be too active right after eating.
• Fiber rich foods help with digestive side effects and help maintain blood sugar while foods low in fat can minimize heart burn, nausea, and vomiting.
• Keep a diary of what you eat or drink and how you feel afterward. This helps you learn foods or mealtimes that make side effects worse.

Beware of low blood sugar:
If you are taking a GLP-1 along with other medicines that control blood sugar, you could be at risk of experiencing low blood sugar, or hypoglycemia.

Let your healthcare provider know if you take or start taking insulin or a sulfonylurea, such as glimepiride or glipizide, while taking a GLP-1 agonist.

If you experience side effects or have concerns, talk to your healthcare provider or pharmacist about what you are experiencing and ways to manage it. You can also talk to your Louisiana Blue Pharmacist.

Most GLP-1 medicines are administered by injection. If you’re afraid of needles, don’t worry. These needles are very small to make the injections as painless as possible. Almost anyone can administer these injections appropriately and safely. Here are some tips to make taking your medicine easier:

• Read the instructions that come with your medicine. You should have your medicine ready to use before you prepare your injection site.
• Make sure you are in a clean area and wash your hands with soap and water. Then clean your injection site with an alcohol wipe.
• Inject your GLP-1 medicine under the skin in one of these areas: The stomach at least 2 inches from the belly button, the outer thigh or the back of your upper arm. (Another person should help you with an injection in the back of your upper arm.) Change or rotate your injection site with each injection. 
• Dispose of your pen or needle safely. Do not throw away pens or needles in your trash. Use an FDA-cleared sharps disposal container. If you don’t have a disposal container, you can also use a household leak resistant container made of heavy-duty plastic with a puncture-resistant lid such as a plastic laundry detergent container. Be sure to properly label it to warn of hazardous waste. Always dispose of needles after one use, and do not share needles or pens with anyone.

If you take a GLP-1 type medicine, and you miss a dose, don’t fret! You can call your doctor’s office or pharmacist to help you decide if you should take your dose or skip the missed dose and wait until your next scheduled dose. You can use this chart as a guide.

To prevent missing your dose in the future, make taking your medicine part of your routine. Set an alarm or leave yourself reminders to take your medicine as prescribed.