Tirzepatide and Semaglutide

About Tirzepatide and Semaglutide:

• These two weight loss drugs have been approved by the FDA for chronic weight management in adults.
• Semaglutide and tirzepatide are polypeptides, small proteins that boost the levels of naturally-occurring hormones in the body, including that of glucagon-like-peptide 1 (GLP-1), which control weight through the brain and digestive tract.
• Functioning
  • Higher GLP-1 levels, released in the gut, spark a reaction by stimulating neurons that alter gut function, leading to a sense of fullness.
  • This process also taps into a brain mechanism that lights up neural pathways, triggering the sensation of satiety — the feeling of being satisfied and having had enough to eat.
  • They also help manage glucose levels, making them an effective treatment for diabetes.
  • Semaglutide only targets GLP-1 receptors.
  • On the other hand, tirzepatide also boosts a second hormone: glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP).
  • The GIP also regulates weight through receptors in brain and fat cells.
• These drugs can be prescribed to those who are obese (with a body mass index of over 30), or overweight (with a BMI between 27 and 30), and have at least one other health condition related to their weight (such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or type 2 diabetes).
• Side effects: Nausea, diarrhoea, vomiting, constipation, abdominal pain, indigestion, injection-site reactions, fatigue, allergic reactions, belching, hair loss, and heartburn.

Q1: What is Glucose?

It is a simple sugar (monosaccharide) generated during phosynthesis involving water, carbon and sunlight in plants. It is produced in humans via hepatic gluconeogenesis and breakdown of polymeric glucose forms.

Source: India could soon allow ‘game-changing’ weight-loss drug tirzepatide: How it works, its side effects