GLP-1 Medications Explained: Semaglutide, Tirzepatide & More

The Simple Rule

The drug name is not always the same as the brand name.

One drug can have multiple brand names, and each brand may be approved for a different use (like diabetes vs weight loss) or come in a different form (like injection vs pill).

Semaglutide

Drug name: semaglutide

Brand names:

• Ozempic
• Wegovy
• Rybelsus

Quick version: Semaglutide is one of the best-known GLP-1 drugs. Ozempic and Wegovy are the names most people hear first. Rybelsus is the tablet version people often forget belongs in the same family.

All three contain the same active drug, but they have different FDA approvals and dose strengths. Ozempic is approved for type 2 diabetes. Wegovy is approved for weight management. Rybelsus is a daily pill approved for type 2 diabetes.

Read more: Semaglutide Guide: Ozempic, Wegovy, and Rybelsus Explained

Tirzepatide

Drug name: tirzepatide

Brand names:

• Mounjaro
• Zepbound

Quick version: Tirzepatide is the drug behind Mounjaro and Zepbound. It works on both GLP-1 and GIP receptors, which is why it tends to produce more weight loss than semaglutide in head-to-head trials.

Mounjaro is approved for type 2 diabetes. Zepbound is approved for weight management.

Read more: Tirzepatide Guide: Mounjaro and Zepbound Explained

Orforglipron

Drug name: orforglipron

Brand names:

• none approved yet

Quick version: Orforglipron is Eli Lilly's oral GLP-1 drug candidate. The key difference is form: it is being studied as a once-daily pill, not a weekly injection.

That makes it different from Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, and Zepbound, which are injections. It is also different from Rybelsus, the older oral semaglutide tablet, because orforglipron is being studied without the same strict food-and-water timing rules.

Read more: Orforglipron GLP-1 Pill: What We Know

Retatrutide

Drug name: retatrutide

Brand names:

• none approved yet

Quick version: Retatrutide is one of the most talked-about investigational drugs in this category. It targets three hormone receptors (GLP-1, GIP, and glucagon), which could make it even more effective than current options. But it does not have an approved retail brand name yet.

Read more: Retatrutide Guide: What It Is, How It Works, and Why People Are Watching It

Survodutide

Drug name: survodutide

Brand names:

• none approved yet

Quick version: Survodutide is an investigational dual agonist from Boehringer Ingelheim. It targets GLP-1 and glucagon receptors. It is being studied for MASH, a serious form of fatty liver disease, with weight loss data as part of the clinical picture.

Most readers will not be prescribed survodutide right now. It is not a consumer weight-loss medication. If you see it in headlines, the key point is simple: not Ozempic, not Mounjaro, not available yet.

Read more: Survodutide: The Next GLP-1 Weight Loss Drug

Liraglutide

Drug name: liraglutide

Brand names:

• Saxenda
• Victoza

Quick version: Liraglutide is an older but still important GLP-1 medication. It requires a daily injection instead of weekly. It does not get as much online attention as semaglutide or tirzepatide now, but it still matters when you are trying to understand the full drug family.

Saxenda is approved for weight management. Victoza is approved for type 2 diabetes.

Read more: Liraglutide Guide: Saxenda and Victoza Explained

Other GLP-related Names You May Run Into

These matter less for most readers right now, but they are part of the bigger picture.

Dulaglutide

• Brand name: Trulicity

Exenatide

• Brand names: Byetta, Bydureon

Lixisenatide

• Brand name: Adlyxin

Why This Gets Confusing Fast

Because people often use the most famous brand name as shorthand for the whole category.

That is why you hear people say:

• "Ozempic" when they really mean semaglutide
• "GLP-1" when they really mean semaglutide or tirzepatide
• "weight-loss shot" when they do not know which drug they mean

Drug Name Summary

If you want the clean mental model, use this:

Semaglutide family

• Ozempic (diabetes)
• Wegovy (weight loss)
• Rybelsus (diabetes, daily pill)

Tirzepatide family

• Mounjaro (diabetes)
• Zepbound (weight loss)

Orforglipron family

• no approved brand name yet
• oral GLP-1 drug candidate

Liraglutide family

• Saxenda (weight loss)
• Victoza (diabetes)

Retatrutide

• no approved brand name yet

Survodutide

• no approved brand name yet
• investigational GLP-1/glucagon dual agonist

Common Side Effects Across GLP-1 Medications

GLP-1 medications often share similar side effects because many work on the same digestive pathways. The most common include:

• Nausea — the most frequently reported side effect
• Sulfur burps — rotten-egg burps from slowed digestion
• Constipation — slowed GI motility
• Diarrhea — especially in the first weeks
• Headache and fatigue

Side effects are usually worst when starting or after a dose increase. For guidance on managing the ramp-up period, see GLP-1 Dosage Guide for Beginners, or use the broader side effects guide if you are trying to match a symptom to a likely cause.

If you are starting a GLP-1 injection, these supplies come in handy:

• Alcohol prep pads — for cleaning your skin before each injection
• A sharps container — for safe needle disposal

GLPSpot may earn from qualifying purchases.

For a full setup checklist, see the GLP-1 injection supplies starter kit.

Bottom Line

If you remember nothing else, remember this:

• Semaglutide = Ozempic, Wegovy, Rybelsus
• Tirzepatide = Mounjaro, Zepbound
• Orforglipron = no approved brand name yet
• Liraglutide = Saxenda, Victoza
• Retatrutide = no approved brand name yet
• Survodutide = no approved brand name yet

That one map will clear up a lot of confusion.

Work with your healthcare provider to determine which medication is right for you. Individual results and experiences vary.

More GLP-1 guides

• GLP-1 Start Here
• Semaglutide Guide
• Tirzepatide Guide
• Orforglipron Guide
• GLP-1 Side Effects Guide
• Browse all recommended products

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