Research
Evidence-based research
Every sourced explainer this desk publishes on GLP-1 medicines, grouped by the question it answers. 45 pieces, 131 references between them, each tied to a primary source — a trial, a label, or an FDA database — and cited inline rather than gestured at. Most recently updated .
Looking for the companies rather than the evidence? Every program we track is scored and written up on the full deal review index — that is where this page used to live, and where the briefs are now.
45 articles.
- How to Choose a GLP-1 Provider Without OverpayingA savings-first checklist for picking a GLP-1 program: read the real 12-month price, verify the pharmacy, match the molecule, and skip teaser bait.3 references
- How to Spot a GLP-1 Teaser-Rate TrapThe $99-first-month-then-triples pattern is the most expensive GLP-1 trap. Here's how to spot the teaser rate and price the deal you'll actually pay.2 references
- Oral GLP-1 Pills vs Injections: What the Trial Evidence ShowsFoundayo (orforglipron) and oral semaglutide put a pill next to the needle. Here's how their trial results actually compare to Wegovy and Zepbound injections.7 references
- How to Verify a Compounding Pharmacy Is Legitimate: A Practical ChecklistLegitScript certification, state board license lookup, and USP <797>/<795> standards — the actual steps to check before trusting a compounded GLP-1 source.3 references
- The Edit Review: $209/mo, and the $109 CatchThe Edit's real semaglutide rate is $209 a month, not the $109 it advertises — that is a one-time $100 off. Honest pricing, but not a cheap program.3 references
- Pepti Review: $99 Semaglutide, One Big CaveatPepti prices semaglutide at $99 a month, flat at every dose. Its own production data carries an unrendered ladder that contradicts the headline.2 references
- Trellis Vitality Review: $150/mo SemaglutideTrellis publishes a real one-, three- and six-month table: $150, $140, $133 semaglutide. Everything else it sells is a starting-at figure with no ladder.3 references
- Auren Rx Review: $199 Semaglutide, No Lock-InAuren Rx prints a no-commitment rung beside a subscribe rung on every product: $199 or $169 for semaglutide. It never publishes which states it serves.2 references
- Vyvron Review: 13 Charges a Year, Not 12Vyvron bills every four weeks while printing a monthly price. At $199 that is $2,587 a year, not $2,388 — and tirzepatide has no monthly rung at all.2 references
- Rehydra+ Review: The $119/mo You Can't BuyEvery Rehydra+ GLP-1 membership is six months and explicitly non-cancelable. The real minimum is $714 to $2,514 against an advertised $119 a month.2 references
- Lighter You Review: The $99 That Buys NothingLighter You advertises $99. Its cheapest program is $145 and no price is reachable without a login. It is not a shell — four named pharmacies say so.2 references
- GLP-1 and Cardiovascular Risk: The SELECT Trial EvidenceSemaglutide cut heart attacks, strokes, and CV death by 20% in a 17,604-person trial of people without diabetes. Here's what SELECT actually measured.2 references
- Does GLP-1 Cause Hair Loss? What the Evidence Actually ShowsZepbound's label puts hair loss at 4-5% of patients versus 1% on placebo. Here's what the dermatology literature says about why it happens and when it stops.3 references
- GLP-1 and Gallbladder Disease: What the Meta-Analysis of 76 Trials ShowsA pooled analysis of 76 trials and 103,371 patients found gallbladder disease risk more than doubles in weight-loss trials specifically. The actual data.2 references
- GLP-1 Lawsuits: What the Claims Allege, and What the Evidence Actually ShowsTwo active federal litigations now cover GLP-1 injury claims — one for gastroparesis, one for vision loss. What's actually alleged, and the real data behind it.4 references
- CagriSema: What the REDEFINE Trial Data Actually ShowCagriSema produced 20.4% weight loss at 68 weeks in a 3,417-person Phase 3 trial. It's not FDA-approved or for sale — the real data, and why that matters.2 references
- GLP-1 and Bone Density: What the Evidence ShowsA meta-analysis of 25 randomized trials found GLP-1s modestly improved bone mineral density and did not raise fracture risk. Here's the actual data.1 reference
- Is a GLP-1 Prescription HSA or FSA Eligible? Here's the Actual IRS RuleThe IRS allows weight-loss treatment as a medical expense only when it treats a diagnosed disease. The exact rule, and how it applies to a GLP-1 prescription.1 reference
- GLP-1 and PCOS: What the Fertility and Weight-Loss Evidence ShowsA randomized trial of liraglutide in women with PCOS found meaningful weight loss and improved androgen levels. What the actual RCT data shows — and doesn't.2 references
- Does Ozempic Cause Depression? What the Evidence Actually ShowsA pharmacovigilance database shows an elevated signal for suicidality with semaglutide. A more rigorous cohort study found no increased risk. Why they differ.2 references
- Phentermine vs GLP-1: Cost and Effectiveness ComparedA 2026 meta-analysis of 262 trials put phentermine-topiramate's weight loss at 8.1% vs. tirzepatide's 14.9%. The real gap, and where cheap drugs still work.1 reference
- GLP-1 Side Effects: What the STEP and SURMOUNT Trials Actually ReportedNausea, vomiting, diarrhea, discontinuation rates — the real percentages from the semaglutide and tirzepatide obesity trials and FDA labeling, not guesswork.4 references
- What Happens When You Stop GLP-1 Medication: The Weight-Regain EvidenceWithdrawal data from the STEP 1 extension and SURMOUNT-4 show most lost weight returns within a year of stopping. Here's what the trials actually measured.4 references
- GLP-1 Drug Interactions: What to Tell Your PrescriberInsulin, sulfonylureas, oral contraceptives, and other oral medications can all be affected by GLP-1 treatment. Here's what the FDA labeling actually says.4 references
- GLP-1 Dosing and Titration: How the Schedule Actually WorksSemaglutide and tirzepatide don't start at the maintenance dose. Here's the actual FDA-labeled titration schedule for Wegovy, Ozempic, Mounjaro, and Zepbound.4 references
- GLP-1 and Pregnancy or Breastfeeding: What the Labels Actually SayThe Wegovy breastfeeding restriction applies to the TABLET, not the injection. The pre-conception washout window differs by drug — sourced to FDA labeling.4 references
- GLP-1 Shortage Status: What the FDA Actually Declared and WhenThe FDA declared the tirzepatide and semaglutide shortages resolved in late 2024 and early 2025 — the exact orders, dates, and what changed for compounders.2 references
- Semaglutide vs Tirzepatide: Comparing Side Effects and TolerabilitySURPASS-2 put tirzepatide and semaglutide head to head. Here's how nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, and discontinuation rates actually compared in the trial data.3 references
- Wegovy vs Zepbound: What's Actually DifferentDifferent molecules, different manufacturers, a widening gap in approved indications. Here's the head-to-head trial data and what each brand actually treats.3 references
- Mounjaro vs Zepbound: Same Drug, Different PriceMounjaro and Zepbound are both tirzepatide, made by the same company. Here's why the FDA treats them differently — and why the self-pay prices don't match.5 references
- GLP-1 Boxed Warnings: What the Label Actually SaysThyroid C-cell tumors, pancreatitis, gallbladder disease, and a newer optic-nerve signal. The exact language from the FDA labels, not internet paraphrase.4 references
- GLP-1 and Alcohol: What the Evidence Actually ShowsA 2025 randomized trial tested semaglutide against alcohol use disorder directly. Here's what it found — and what the FDA labels say about drinking on a GLP-1.2 references
- GLP-1 and Muscle Loss: What the Body-Composition Data ShowsDXA data from the SURMOUNT-1 substudy and a 2025 meta-analysis show roughly a quarter of GLP-1 weight loss is lean mass. Here's what that does and doesn't mean.2 references
- GLP-1 and Dental Side Effects: What "Ozempic Teeth" Claims Actually Have Behind ThemA 2023 case series and a 2025 mechanistic review documented real dry-mouth cases linked to semaglutide. Here's the evidence behind the "Ozempic teeth" trend.3 references
- GLP-1 and Sleep Apnea: The SURMOUNT-OSA Trial EvidenceTirzepatide cut breathing interruptions by roughly 25 events per hour in a 2024 trial — real enough that the FDA approved Zepbound to treat sleep apnea.2 references
- Semaglutide vs Liraglutide: Is the Older, Cheaper GLP-1 Worth It?Liraglutide is the older, once-daily GLP-1 that lost the efficacy race to semaglutide in a phase 2 trial. Here's the head-to-head data and where it still wins.3 references
- GLP-1 Microdosing: What the Evidence Actually SupportsNo trial has tested 'microdosing' as a defined protocol. Here's what the official dose-ranging trials for semaglutide and tirzepatide measured at low doses.2 references
- The Medicare GLP-1 Bridge Program: What It Actually Covers in 2026Starting July 1, 2026, eligible Medicare Part D beneficiaries can get certain GLP-1s for a flat $50 copay. Here's what's covered, who qualifies, what isn't.2 references
- Retatrutide: Is It Available Yet, and Is It Safe to Buy Right Now?Retatrutide isn't FDA-approved. DailyMed lists 'export only' retatrutide products from a single Chinese packager — here's what that means and why it matters.4 references
- GLP-1 and Kidney Disease: The FLOW Trial EvidenceSemaglutide cut major kidney disease events by 24% in a 2024 randomized trial large enough to change the FDA label. Here's what it actually measured.2 references
- Compounded vs Brand-Name GLP-1: Which Actually Saves You MoneyCash-pay compounded GLP-1 runs $65-$349/mo; brand-name Wegovy and Zepbound list near $1,000+. Here's when each one is actually the cheaper choice.3 references
- Semaglutide vs Tirzepatide: The Cheaper Effective GLP-1Tirzepatide loses more weight in trials, but semaglutide costs less. Here's how to decide which GLP-1 gives you the most effect per dollar.3 references
- The Cheapest Legit Way to Start GLP-1 in 2026Cash-pay GLP-1 starts under $99/mo in 2026 — but 'cheapest' only counts if it's legit. Here's how to get a low price from a verified pharmacy.3 references
- Is Cheap Compounded GLP-1 Safe? How to Vet a Low PriceA low compounded GLP-1 price can be legit or a red flag. Here's how 503A/503B, LegitScript, and FDA compounding rules help you vet the source.2 references
- Do GLP-1 Manufacturer Savings Cards Actually Lower the Price?Wegovy and Zepbound savings cards can cut the price hard — but only if you have the right insurance. Here's who actually saves, and who's left paying list.10 references