GLP-1 Medications: Complete Drug List & Comparison
People searching for a GLP-1 medications list are usually trying to solve a practical problem, not win a trivia contest. They want to know which drugs are actually in this category, which brands are approved for weight loss versus diabetes, how they differ in dosing, and where compounded options fit into the picture. That is exactly the right instinct, because the market is crowded with overlapping names and a lot of sloppy explanations.
This guide gives you a clean GLP-1 drug list built from the FDA reference file and organizes it in a way real patients can use. If you want deeper brand-to-brand breakdowns after this overview, compare semaglutide vs tirzepatide, Ozempic vs Wegovy, Zepbound vs Mounjaro, or browse clinics near you.
The main GLP-1 medications list
According to the reference file, the major medications patients commonly compare in this space are:
- Semaglutide: Ozempic, Wegovy, Rybelsus
- Tirzepatide: Mounjaro, Zepbound
- Liraglutide: Saxenda, Victoza
- Compounded GLP-1 options: compounded semaglutide and compounded tirzepatide
That list already reveals one of the biggest sources of confusion: different brand names can use the same active ingredient but carry different FDA-approved indications.
Quick comparison table
Semaglutide
- Brands: Ozempic, Wegovy, Rybelsus
- FDA-approved uses in the reference file: Ozempic for type 2 diabetes, Wegovy for chronic weight management, Rybelsus for type 2 diabetes
- Dosing: weekly injection for Ozempic and Wegovy, oral tablet for Rybelsus
- Trial context: STEP 1 trial, 2021, showed 14.9% average weight loss with Wegovy over 68 weeks vs 2.4% placebo
Tirzepatide
- Brands: Mounjaro, Zepbound
- FDA-approved uses in the reference file: Mounjaro for type 2 diabetes, Zepbound for chronic weight management
- Dosing: weekly injection
- Trial context: SURMOUNT-1 trial, 2022, showed 20.9% average weight loss at the highest 15 mg dose over 72 weeks vs 3.1% placebo
Liraglutide
- Brands: Saxenda, Victoza
- FDA-approved uses in the reference file: Saxenda for chronic weight management, Victoza for type 2 diabetes
- Dosing: daily injection
- Trial context: SCALE trial showed average 8% body weight loss over 56 weeks vs 2.6% placebo
Which GLP-1 drugs are approved for weight loss?
From the reference file, the branded drugs specifically approved for chronic weight management are:
- Wegovy (semaglutide)
- Zepbound (tirzepatide)
- Saxenda (liraglutide)
That does not mean the diabetes-labeled products are irrelevant to weight-loss conversations. It means patients should know the difference between an FDA-approved weight-management indication and a broader real-world discussion around active ingredients and off-label use.
Which GLP-1 drugs are approved for diabetes?
The diabetes-labeled products in the reference file are:
- Ozempic (semaglutide)
- Rybelsus (semaglutide)
- Mounjaro (tirzepatide)
- Victoza (liraglutide)
This is where brand confusion can get expensive. A patient may hear “semaglutide” and assume every semaglutide product is basically the same from a coverage or prescribing standpoint. That is not how it works in practice.
Semaglutide vs tirzepatide vs liraglutide
Semaglutide
Semaglutide is one of the most familiar names in the category because it appears across multiple brands. The reference file describes it as a GLP-1 receptor agonist and notes the best-known weight-loss results come from the STEP program, especially STEP 1, 2021. It is weekly in its injectable forms and oral in Rybelsus.
Tirzepatide
Tirzepatide is described in the reference file as a dual GIP/GLP-1 receptor agonist. That is one reason it stands out from classic GLP-1 discussions. It also has some of the strongest headline weight-loss data in the category from the SURMOUNT program.
Liraglutide
Liraglutide matters because it is still part of the real comparison set even if newer options have overtaken it in search hype. The reference file highlights a key practical difference: it is a daily injection, not a weekly one. That alone changes how some patients think about fit.
Side effects across the list
The category overlap is real. The reference file lists common gastrointestinal side effects across semaglutide, tirzepatide, and liraglutide. But each drug family has its own label percentages and trial context. Semaglutide, for example, lists nausea at 44% in the Wegovy label, while tirzepatide lists nausea at 31% in the Zepbound label and liraglutide lists nausea at 39%.
That is why a generic “all GLP-1 side effects are the same” article is too loose to be fully useful.
Where compounded GLP-1s fit
The reference file says compounded semaglutide and compounded tirzepatide became more common during official shortage periods. It also says compounded versions are not FDA-approved, are not generics, and can vary in quality by pharmacy. They usually cost less than brand-name products, but that lower price comes with more legal and sourcing complexity.
If you want to dig into that piece, read compounded semaglutide and compounded tirzepatide.
Which GLP-1 drug is best?
There is no single best GLP-1 medication for everyone. The reference file specifically warns against simplistic direct claims, especially when trials compare different doses, populations, or indications. For example, SURPASS-2 compared tirzepatide with semaglutide 1 mg, not Wegovy’s 2.4 mg dose, so it is useful but not definitive for every consumer question.
The better question is which medication fits your indication, tolerance, dosing preference, insurance path, and medical history.
Final takeaway
A useful GLP-1 medications list should do more than rattle off names. It should help you separate active ingredients from brands, diabetes labeling from weight-loss labeling, weekly injections from daily injections, and FDA-approved products from compounded alternatives. The major names to know are semaglutide, tirzepatide, and liraglutide, with Wegovy, Zepbound, and Saxenda standing out as the branded products in the reference file approved for chronic weight management.
Use that list as your starting map, then compare individual products in more detail before choosing a clinic or booking a consultation.
Information sourced from FDA-approved prescribing labels. Consult your doctor before starting any medication.