Making a commitment to losing weight so you can improve your health can be challenging. Some may even find it more difficult than they anticipated. While many individuals try multiple diets, exercise plans, and other strategies, they may still struggle to meet their goals. For diabetic individuals, this can be especially disheartening and concerning. Fortunately, there is an alternative solution that could be effective for those trying to lose weight.
A type of drug known as glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) has been shown to help control blood sugars and help patients lose weight. While the specific type of GLP-1 you take can influence how much weight you lose, people have lost anywhere from ten to 33 pounds while taking this medication. While you must continue making lifestyle changes, GLP-1 therapies for weight loss have proven to be effective for those who need additional help.
The team at Compounding Pharmacy of America is dedicated to providing a range of vitamins, supplements, and medications that can aid in weight loss, including GLP-1 therapies. Our goal is to provide reliable health tools to help our clients reclaim their health and live full lives. If you are currently struggling to lose weight and are considering medications for extra help, it’s important to understand what GLP-1 therapies are, how they work, and which may benefit you the most.
How Do GLP-1 Therapies Work?
When your blood sugar (blood glucose) levels rise, your body produces insulin to help the excess glucose pass into the cells to be stored for later energy. However, if your body can’t produce enough insulin or if your cells become resistant to insulin, you risk developing Type 2 diabetes. If your body develops a tendency to attack insulin, you may experience late-onset Type 1 diabetes. If you take a GLP-1, such as the well-known semaglutide, it behaves similarly to the hormones needed to make your body produce insulin. This can help relax your appetite and control the movement of food from your stomach to the intestines.
It’s important to know that most GLP-1 medications must be injected. While GLP-1 therapies can have side effects, such as diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting, they can be effective in helping patients lose weight or control their Type 2 diabetes. Early research also indicates that GLP-1 therapies may have benefits for patients with late-onset Type 1 diabetes, and it is being studied for its effectiveness in preventing stroke, heart disease, fatty liver disease, and even addiction.
Can You Use GLP-1 Medications Alone?
Many people have the misconception that GLP-1 medications are designed to reduce fat and cause weight loss without the need for other lifestyle changes. However, this is not the case, as you’ll still need to make healthy lifestyle changes in order to benefit from these medications. If you’ve been exercising and eating healthy without seeing results, GLP-1 medications won’t eliminate the need for these changes. Instead, they will make them more effective.
Nonetheless, you don’t have to push yourself too hard. In fact, most physicians advise patients to make changes slowly at first, as drastically altering their lifestyle too quickly without proper planning can be problematic. However, if you can cut back on just a few high-calorie foods while adding 30 minutes of exercise to your daily routine, you could start to see results while you’re taking GLP-1 medications. Then, as you get used to your new lifestyle changes, you’ll begin to realize what works and what could be improved or changed.
Who Can Use GLP-1 Medications?
Generally, anyone with health problems related to weight can potentially benefit from GLP-1 medications like semaglutide or tirzepatide. However, there are a few cases in which you may want to consider alternative treatments instead. GLP-1 injections may not be recommended if any of the following apply to your situation:
- You have a family or personal history of medullary thyroid cancer
- You or your family have a history of multiple endocrine neoplasia
- You previously experienced pancreatitis
These conditions contraindicate GLP-1 injections, so you may want to research different treatment methods to avoid complications.
What Is the Most Effective GLP-1 for Weight Loss?
Currently available GLP-1 medications include:
- Semaglutide (Rybelsis): the only medication generally available in an oral format
- Semaglutide (Ozempic): injection taken once weekly
- Dulaglutide (Trulicity): weekly injection
- Liraglutide (Victoza): daily injection
- Exenatide and Exenatide extended-release (Bydurion or Byetta): either twice daily or once weekly
- Lixisenatide (Adlyxin): once daily
Tirzepatide is a medication that has been approved for weight loss treatment by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) fairly recently. Despite its approval by the FDA, some individuals may want to take a medication that has already been in use for a longer amount of time. In addition, while tirzepatide is often recommended for patients with Type 2 diabetes or those attempting to lose weight, the most effective GLP-1 that is readily available is semaglutide
Semaglutide is an injectable medication that can help manage hunger, control blood sugars, and ultimately reduce weight. While semaglutide is most often used by people who are severely obese or need to lose weight more quickly, anyone who needs to lose weight may benefit from this medication. Another significant advantage of semaglutide is that you don’t always need to visit your doctor to receive a prescription, as there are supplements on the market you can use instead.
Many argue that semaglutide is the most reliable GLP-1 therapy for weight loss, though certain people may prefer non-injectable medications. Fortunately, there are multiple semaglutide alternatives for weight loss in both prescription and supplemental forms.
Semaglutide Alternatives for Weight Loss
There’s no shame in seeking a non-injectable semaglutide alternative, and we stock several supplements that include the vitamins and nutrients necessary to help you lose weight. In fact, our staff at Compounding Pharmacy of America has compiled a list of STAAR Labs supplements we offer to those looking for efficient supplementation.
Ultra Burn
We are proud to offer Ultra Burn, a type of nutrient cocktail that consists of vitamins, metabolism-boosting agents, amino acids, and more. These ingredients work together to improve your metabolism, break down fat, and lower your weight. The ULTRABRN Weight Loss Supplement is taken orally and can help you lose weight and enhance your physique. If you wish to avoid an injection for any reason, this supplement has what you need.
SHOP NOWEGCG
Not only does this type of supplement control blood sugar, but it may also reduce inflammation. For example, STAAR Labs’ EG3G Green Tea Extract can work to reduce inflammation while also supporting weight loss. With its antioxidant properties, this particular supplement may be ideal if you’re struggling with inflammation as you exercise, for instance.
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STAAR Labs weight loss products each come with their own unique properties, and they can be used simultaneously alongside lifestyle changes to accelerate your weight loss journey.
Bundling Supplement Packages
If semaglutide alternatives for weight loss seem intriguing, you may benefit from using more than one at a time. In fact, we offer bundles of supplements that can complement your therapies and improve your weight loss results. While you focus on making your lifestyle changes over time, these supplements can help ensure you are accelerating your weight loss journey.
Compounding Pharmacy of America offers multiple supplement bundles to address your weight loss needs.
Semaglutide Optimization Package
For $129.95 a month, you can receive a bundle containing STAAR LABS EG3G, ULTRABRN, and SLM+. Each supplement contains various vitamins required to help boost insulin production and metabolism, cut down on hunger cravings, and keep track of blood sugar levels. Rather than purchasing each component individually for an additional cost, this bundle saves you almost $90. Since each supplement addresses specific factors of your weight loss progress, this bundle may be exactly what you need to see better results.
SHOP NOWTirzepatide Optimization Package
If you’ve achieved better results from tirzepatide or prefer to try this GLP-1 therapy over semaglutide, consider purchasing the Tirzepatide Optimization Package. For those seeking to transition to a different supplement strategy, both bundles are priced the same and are more cost-effective than buying each supplement on their own. As you can see, STAAR LABS weight loss products are designed to be fairly priced without compromising on quality or efficacy.
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STAAR LABS Weight Loss and Wellness Package
Similar to the Semaglutide Optimization Package, the STARR LABS Weight Loss and Wellness Package includes the ULTRABRN, SLM+, and EG3G supplements. However, this bundle also includes the OMEGA supplement, which contains omega-3 fatty acids from high-quality ingredients. As you use semaglutide supplements to control your weight, hunger, and more, you can use OMEGA to reduce inflammation and enhance your heart, brain, and ocular health.
This bundle costs $149.95 per month, which again saves you money compared to buying each component individually. If you’re already working toward losing weight, but also want to control other aspects of your health, we suggest considering this bundle over adding the OMEGA supplement individually.
SHOP NOWAre Semaglutide Alternatives Right for Me?
If you’ve never taken any medication for weight loss, it’s normal to have questions about a new method for reducing your weight. In addition, while semaglutide can be effective for many individuals, some people prefer to avoid an injectable medication at all costs. Whether you have a poor history with injections or a phobia of needles, there are other methods of taking semaglutide.
These alternatives exist for many reasons, including:
- Semaglutide injections or their side effects interfere with other health complications
- Supply chain issues may occur, which can make semaglutide difficult to obtain
- Other medications you take could disrupt the efficiency of semaglutide
- Your weight problems may not be significant enough to require semaglutide
Everyone is unique and requires a unique combination of methods to maintain or improve their health. If semaglutide or another GLP-1 does not meet your needs, a compounding pharmacy like ours can help you find a solution to boost your weight loss progress and help you achieve better results.
A Note About Other Pharmaceutical Medications
While supplements can be effective for weight loss, other methods can also help you reduce your weight. Compounding Pharmacy of America also offers a variety of pharmaceutical medications alongside our supplement packages. If you still need additional support for losing weight as you practice healthier habits, you can consider the following:
- Metformin – One of the most popular semaglutide alternatives, metformin, is usually prescribed for individuals with type 2 diabetes. This medication increases your insulin sensitivity, which can reduce your blood sugar levels. Metformin is also able to work alongside other medications due to its versatility.
- Bupropion or Naltrexone – Bupropion is an antidepressant that prevents your body from reabsorbing dopamine. In doing so, it can rebalance your neurotransmitters and prevent the need for excessive eating, smoking, and more.
- Phentermine and Topiramate – The well-known appetite suppressant phentermine can be combined with topiramate, a medication that calms your brain’s electrical activity and helps you feel fuller for a longer period of time. Our team at Compounding Pharmacy of America supplies various dosages of these medications if you’re searching for a simple alternative weight loss method.
If supplements aren’t working quickly enough for you or if you need an additional boost of support, pharmaceutical medications can be a viable option to help you reduce your weight.
Trust Compounding Pharmacy of America for Weight Loss Solutions
GLP-1 therapies for weight loss are used by many people seeking to lose weight and improve their health. GLP-1 medications such as semaglutide or the recently-approved tirzepatide have been effective in helping people regain control of their health. While lifestyle changes on their own can be difficult to begin and maintain, these medications and supplements act as additional support as you change your diet, exercise, and more.
If you’re looking for the highest-quality supplements and expertly compounded medications, Compounding Pharmacy of America can help. Whether you’re interested in purchasing featured STAAR LABS weight loss products or need a custom pharmaceutical medication, our pharmacists can help you make an informed decision that improves your health.
Ready to start or enhance your weight loss journey? Shop our weight loss products and supplements today! Need help with a custom weight loss program? Contact us for more info.
Sources:
- Division of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. (2024). Real-world weight-loss effectiveness of glucagon-like peptide-1 agonists among patients with type 2 diabetes: A retrospective cohort study. Obesity (Silver Spring, Md.). https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36621904/
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (n.d.). FDA approves novel dual-targeted treatment for type 2 diabetes. FDA. Retrieved from https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-approves-novel-dual-targeted-treatment-type-2-diabetes
- Singhal, M., Unni, S., Schauerhamer, M., Nguyen, H., Hurd, J., & McAdam-Marx, C. Retrieved from https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMc2302677
Chief Executive Officer, The Compounding Pharmacy of America
Victor Poteet, Pharm.D. graduated Magna Cum Laude from Mercer University School of Pharmacy and received his Masters in Business Administration from the University of Miami’s Miami Business School. Since graduation, Victor accepted a pharmacist position at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville. At Vanderbilt, Dr. Poteet received extensive training in sterile products compounding.
Victor accepted a position as a pharmacist with a compounding pharmacy in North Carolina, where he further expanded his practical experience in both sterile and non-sterile compounding. Some of Victor’s responsibilities include creating corporate strategy and culture and allocating resources based on the company’s goals.
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