GLP-1 glossary: terms to understand your care

Oral GLP-1. A GLP-1 medicine taken by mouth. Approved uses and instructions depend on the exact product; check its current prescribing information.

GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1). A natural gut hormone your body releases after you eat. It signals fullness to the brain and slows how fast the stomach empties. GLP-1 medications mimic this hormone.

Semaglutide. A GLP-1 receptor agonist. It acts on the single GLP-1 pathway. It is the molecule inside several branded weight and diabetes products.

Satiety. The feeling of being full and satisfied. GLP-1 medicines raise satiety, so meals feel like enough sooner.

Gastric emptying. How fast food leaves your stomach. These medicines slow it, which is part of why appetite drops and why early fullness is common.

Off-label. Use of an approved medicine for a use not listed in its approved labeling. A clinician assesses whether a particular use is appropriate.

Maintenance dose. The steady dose a clinician may settle on after the titration period. It is the level meant to be held over time, not the starting point.

Compounded medication. A medicine prepared by a state-licensed pharmacy for a specific patient under a patient-specific prescription. It is a distinct preparation. It is not a branded product, and it is not equivalent to one.

Active ingredient. The component in a medicine that does the work. Whether two products share an active ingredient is a regulatory and clinical question, so the honest move is to read the label and ask your pharmacist and clinician, not to assume.

Negative option. A billing arrangement that continues until canceled. Read the recurring amount, timing and cancellation terms before agreeing.

Full cost disclosure. Showing you the total price, the recurring charge, and how to cancel, all before your card is charged. A clear provider gives you every number in writing first.

Boxed warning. The most prominent type of FDA label warning. Warnings differ by product; your clinician can explain those on your prescribed medicine.

Clinical trial. A research study that tests an intervention in a defined group. Results from that group do not predict an individual outcome.

GI side effects. Digestive symptoms such as nausea or constipation. Discuss new or concerning symptoms with the clinician managing your treatment.

Bookmark the terms relevant to your questions, then discuss them with your clinician or the provider handling your payment.

Bring your questions to a licensed clinician. A glossary explains words. A clinician applies them to you. That is the line this article will not cross.

Full cost, recurring charge, online cancellation, in writing, before your card is charged. If they are missing, keep looking.