GLP-1 Terminology for Beginners: A Plain-English Guide
Author
glp winnerDate Published
- Twitter
- Facebook
- LinkedIn
- Instagram
- Copy Link
If you’re new to GLP-1 medications, it can feel like everyone is speaking a different language. People toss around words like “semaglutide,” “agonist,” “FDA-approved,” and “compounded” as if you’ve been studying pharmacology for fun.
This guide translates the most common GLP-1 terms into plain English. Each section is written so you can read it on its own and still understand the term completely.
Prescription medication disclaimer: GLP-1 medications are prescription drugs. This article is for education only and not medical advice.
What does GLP-1 mean?
GLP-1 stands for glucagon-like peptide-1. It’s a hormone your body naturally releases after you eat that helps regulate blood sugar and signals fullness. (This is why people sometimes say GLP-1s help you feel full sooner) (GLP-1 Agonists).
In plain terms: GLP-1 is one of your body’s “handle this meal” signals.
What is a GLP-1 agonist?
A GLP-1 agonist is a medication that activates the GLP-1 receptor in your body. When that receptor is activated, it can increase insulin release after meals, reduce glucagon (which raises blood sugar), slow gastric emptying, and reduce appetite (Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists).
“Agonist” just means it turns the receptor on.
What does FDA-approved mean?
When a medication is FDA-approved, it means the FDA reviewed evidence for a specific product (not just an ingredient name) and approved it for a specific use, dose, and population (Development and Approval Process).
This matters because the same ingredient can appear in different products with different approved uses.
What is semaglutide?
Semaglutide is the generic (drug) name. It’s used in multiple brand-name medications, including Ozempic, Wegovy, and Rybelsus, and each of those has its own approved use and dosing (Semaglutide).
Key beginner takeaway: “Semaglutide” tells you the molecule, not the exact product label or what it’s approved for.
Is Ozempic a GLP-1 medication, and is it FDA-approved?
Yes. Ozempic is a GLP-1 receptor agonist that contains semaglutide, and it is FDA-approved for type 2 diabetes (Ozempic Prescribing Information).
This section stands alone: Ozempic is an FDA-approved brand-name drug with an official prescribing label.
What is Wegovy, and how is it different from Ozempic?
Wegovy also contains semaglutide, but it is a different FDA-approved product from Ozempic, with its own approved use and dosing guidance. Wegovy is FDA-approved for chronic weight management (Wegovy Prescribing Information).
Simple translation: same ingredient name you hear (semaglutide), but Wegovy and Ozempic are not the same labeled product.
What is tirzepatide?
Tirzepatide is a different drug than semaglutide. It activates the GLP-1 receptor and also activates a second receptor called GIP, so it is often described differently than “traditional GLP-1 only” medications (Zepbound Prescribing Information).
Standalone point: tirzepatide is not semaglutide. Different molecule, different labeling, different product family.
What is Mounjaro, and is it FDA-approved?
Mounjaro is a brand-name medication that contains tirzepatide and is FDA-approved for type 2 diabetes, with an official prescribing label (Mounjaro Prescribing Information).
What is Zepbound?
Zepbound is a brand-name medication that contains tirzepatide and is FDA-approved for chronic weight management (FDA Approves New Medication for Chronic Weight Management).
Standalone point: Zepbound is the weight-management-labeled tirzepatide product.
What does “dual agonist” mean?
A dual agonist is a medication that activates two receptors instead of one.
In the GLP-1 space, people usually mean a drug that activates GLP-1 and GIP. Tirzepatide is the most well-known example (Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists).
Translation: dual agonist means “two hormone pathways, not one.”
What does “off-label” mean?
Off-label means a clinician prescribes an FDA-approved drug for a use that is not specifically listed in the FDA-approved labeling. This can be legal and common in medicine, and it reflects clinician judgment (Understanding Unapproved Use of Approved Drugs).
Standalone point: off-label is about the label, not automatically about safety or “sketchiness.”
What does “compounded” mean in the GLP-1 space?
“Compounded” means a medication is prepared by a compounding pharmacy instead of being a manufactured, FDA-approved brand-name drug.
Important distinction: compounded drugs are not FDA-approved, but the FDA does oversee and inspect certain types of compounding operations and provides regulatory oversight for compounders (Compounding and the FDA: Questions and Answers; Compounding Inspections and Oversight FAQ).
Standalone point: FDA approval applies to drugs. FDA oversight and inspection can apply to compounding facilities, depending on the type of compounder.
What does “unapproved GLP-1” mean, and why do people warn about it?
When you see warnings about “unapproved GLP-1s,” it often refers to products being sold as semaglutide or tirzepatide that are not FDA-approved drugs and may be marketed illegally. The FDA has published consumer and provider safety information on this topic (FDA’s Concerns with Unapproved GLP-1 Drugs Used for Weight Loss).
Standalone point: “unapproved” is a regulatory status term, not a brand name.
What does “receptor” mean?
A receptor is like a docking station on a cell that receives chemical signals. GLP-1 medications work by activating the GLP-1 receptor, which triggers effects related to insulin, digestion, and appetite (Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists).
Standalone point: receptors are where the drug “pushes the button.”
What does “gastric emptying” mean?
Gastric emptying is how quickly food moves from your stomach into your small intestine. GLP-1 medications can slow gastric emptying, which is one reason people may feel full sooner (Wegovy Prescribing Information).
Standalone point: it’s a digestion-timing term, not a scary diagnosis by itself.
Why learning these terms actually helps
Knowing the vocabulary helps you:
- Understand what you’re being prescribed
- Know whether something is FDA-approved and for what use
- Compare options more accurately
- Ask clearer questions in a provider visit
Most confusion in the GLP-1 space comes from language, not from you.
If you enjoy posts like these, you can subscribe to receive newsletter updates.
Sources
Keep Reading
How clinicians determine GLP-1 eligibility for weight management or type 2 diabetes, including BMI criteria, medical review, and FDA approval status.
Which GLP-1 medications are FDA-approved for weight management vs diabetes? Clear labels, approved uses, and common misconceptions explained.
Learn the real questions providers ask before prescribing GLP-1 medications, what they are checking for, and what they are not judging you on.
Categories
Curated by
