Peptide therapy Weight and metabolism
Semaglutide / Tirzepatide GLP-1 class
What it is, what people take it for, and how it works, in plain language.
What is Semaglutide / Tirzepatide?
Peptide medicines modeled on gut hormones: semaglutide acts on the GLP-1 receptor, tirzepatide on both the GIP and GLP-1 receptors.
What do people take Semaglutide / Tirzepatide for?
Weight and blood sugar.
How does Semaglutide / Tirzepatide work?
They mimic hormones the gut releases after a meal, which reduce appetite, slow stomach emptying and help the body handle blood sugar.
Questions people ask about Semaglutide / Tirzepatide
Are semaglutide and tirzepatide peptides?
Yes. Both are peptide medicines modeled on gut hormones.
Should I talk to a physician about Semaglutide / Tirzepatide?
If you are considering it, or already using it, a physician can look at your history, your labs and your goals, and at what else might explain what you are hoping to change. At Aether Medicine in King of Prussia, near Philadelphia, or by video for patients in Pennsylvania.
Further reading
- Wilding JPH, et al. Once-Weekly Semaglutide in Adults with Overweight or Obesity. N Engl J Med. 2021. doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa2032183
- Aronne LJ, et al. Tirzepatide as Compared with Semaglutide for the Treatment of Obesity. N Engl J Med. 2025. doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa2416394
- Sanyal AJ, et al. Phase 3 Trial of Semaglutide in Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatohepatitis. N Engl J Med. 2025. doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa2413258
Educational information only, not medical advice. Reading this page does not create a physician-patient relationship.