GLP-1 Drugs List: Every Major Option Explained

This GLP-1 drugs list covers the major GLP-1 receptor agonist medications, their brand names, their approved uses, and — most importantly — their regulatory status. Most are FDA-approved, prescription-only medicines for type 2 diabetes and/or chronic weight management. One closely related agent, retatrutide, is investigational and not FDA-approved for any use. This overview deliberately excludes dosing, administration, and sourcing: those belong with a licensed clinician who knows your history.

How to Read This List

Three things distinguish the entries below, and confusing them is the source of most misunderstanding about this class.

Molecule vs brand name. The same drug is frequently sold under different brand names for different approved uses. Semaglutide is Ozempic, Wegovy, and Rybelsus. Tirzepatide is Mounjaro and Zepbound. The brand tells you the approved indication and the marketing, not a different medicine.

Indication. Approval for type 2 diabetes and approval for chronic weight management are separate regulatory decisions with separate criteria. A drug approved for one is not automatically appropriate for the other.

Status. FDA-approved and prescription-only means a defined safety and efficacy profile, published labeling, and a legitimate supervised path to use. Investigational means the questions are still open. This distinction is not a technicality.

FDA-Approved GLP-1 Drugs List (and Dual Agonists)

Semaglutide — Ozempic, Wegovy, Rybelsus. A GLP-1 receptor agonist. Ozempic and Rybelsus (an oral tablet form) are approved for type 2 diabetes; Wegovy is approved for chronic weight management. All are FDA-approved and prescription-only. See Ozempic vs Wegovy.

Tirzepatide — Mounjaro, Zepbound. A dual GIP and GLP-1 receptor agonist, commonly grouped with GLP-1 therapies because it also activates the GLP-1 receptor. Mounjaro is approved for type 2 diabetes; Zepbound for chronic weight management. FDA-approved and prescription-only. See Mounjaro vs Ozempic and Zepbound vs Wegovy.

Dulaglutide — Trulicity. A GLP-1 receptor agonist approved for type 2 diabetes. FDA-approved and prescription-only.

Liraglutide — Victoza, Saxenda. A GLP-1 receptor agonist. Victoza is approved for type 2 diabetes; Saxenda is approved for chronic weight management. FDA-approved and prescription-only. See liraglutide vs semaglutide.

Exenatide — Byetta, Bydureon. An earlier GLP-1 receptor agonist approved for type 2 diabetes. FDA-approved and prescription-only. Availability of particular formulations has changed over time.

Lixisenatide. A GLP-1 receptor agonist available in some formulations and markets for type 2 diabetes. Availability varies; where offered, it is prescription-only.

Investigational Agents (Not FDA-Approved)

Retatrutide. An investigational agent studied as a triple-receptor agonist. It is not FDA-approved for any use and is available only within clinical research. Interest in it online frequently outpaces what is actually known — see retatrutide explained, tirzepatide vs retatrutide, and retatrutide side effects for context on what remains open.

Other pipeline agents. Additional combination and multi-receptor agonists, including oral formulations and amylin-based combinations, are in various stages of development. Cagrilintide, an amylin analogue studied in combination with semaglutide, is one example of this direction.

Being "in trials" is not the same as being approved. Investigational compounds have not completed the process that establishes their risk-benefit profile, and we do not cover how to obtain them.

Single-Agonist vs Dual and Triple Agonists

Organizing the list by mechanism clarifies why these are not interchangeable:

• GLP-1 only: semaglutide, dulaglutide, liraglutide, exenatide, lixisenatide.
• GIP + GLP-1 (dual): tirzepatide.
• Investigational multi-receptor: retatrutide and other pipeline agents.

Each mechanism carries its own trial data and side-effect profile. Adding receptor targets means engaging more physiological systems, which is a reason for careful study rather than an automatic improvement. For structured comparisons, see GLP-1 drugs compared and semaglutide vs tirzepatide.

Oral vs Injectable

Most agents in this class are injectable, which reflects a basic pharmacological constraint: peptides are large molecules that are poorly absorbed and readily degraded in the digestive tract. Rybelsus is the notable oral entry, made possible by specific formulation work rather than by the peptide simply being swallowable.

This constraint is worth understanding because it explains why over-the-counter "GLP-1 patches" and similar products do not belong on this list at all — see do GLP 1 patches work. Delivery route is a hard problem that approved products solved deliberately.

Important Safety Context

All approved GLP-1 medications share class considerations. Before prescribing, clinicians screen for a personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma and multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2, and for a history of pancreatitis. Gastrointestinal effects — nausea, constipation, diarrhea — are the most common adverse events across the class. Gallbladder events, pancreatitis, and dehydration from persistent vomiting are recognized concerns that warrant prompt medical attention.

Other considerations that require a prescriber's judgment include interactions with other diabetes medications, kidney function, planned surgery or procedures involving anesthesia, and pregnancy or plans for pregnancy. None of this can be worked out from a list. Only a licensed clinician can determine which medication, if any, is appropriate for you — and this article intentionally omits dosing and sourcing for that reason. For broader risk context, see peptide side effects.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which GLP-1 drugs are FDA-approved? Semaglutide, tirzepatide, dulaglutide, liraglutide, exenatide, and (in some markets) lixisenatide are approved, prescription-only medications. Retatrutide is investigational and not approved.

Is tirzepatide a GLP-1 drug? Tirzepatide is a dual GIP/GLP-1 receptor agonist. It is often discussed alongside GLP-1 medications because it also activates the GLP-1 receptor, but it is mechanistically distinct.

What is the difference between the diabetes and weight-loss versions? Several molecules are marketed under different brand names for different approved uses — Ozempic vs Wegovy, Mounjaro vs Zepbound, Victoza vs Saxenda. The molecule is the same; the approved indication differs. Your clinician determines what applies.

Is retatrutide available by prescription? No. Retatrutide is investigational and not FDA-approved for general use.

Which one is best? There is no universal best. The right option depends on your health, your goals, other medications, and a clinician's assessment. See GLP-1 drugs compared.

Where to Go From Here

The GLP-1 landscape includes several FDA-approved, prescription-only medications — semaglutide, tirzepatide, dulaglutide, liraglutide, exenatide, lixisenatide — plus investigational agents like retatrutide that are not approved for any use. Knowing each one's status, molecule, and mechanism is a useful starting point, but the choice itself is a medical decision made with a licensed clinician.

• Browse the weight loss peptide hub for the full evidence-based category.
• Read GLP-1 drugs compared for the adjacent head-to-head overview.
• Start with our safety pillar, are peptides safe, before considering anything.