Foundayo, Trulicity, and More: 11 GLP-1 Drugs Explained and How to Choose the Right Option Safely
Reviewed by a Passion Health physician
If you’ve been hearing about Foundayo, Ozempic, Trulicity, or GLP-1 drugs for weight loss and diabetes, you’re not alone. These medications are transforming how doctors treat type 2 diabetes and obesity—but with so many options available, choosing the right one can feel confusing.
Some help control blood sugar. Others are approved specifically for weight loss. And a few do both.
In this guide, you’ll learn:
What GLP-1 drugs actually do
A breakdown of 11 popular medications
Key differences between Ozempic, Trulicity, and others
How to choose the safest and most effective option
If you’re considering these medications, this guide will help you make a doctor-informed, confident decision.
Not sure which GLP-1 medication is right for you? Don’t guess. Talk to a qualified physician and book an appointment with a primary care provider to evaluate your weight, blood sugar levels, and overall health.Â
What Are GLP-1 Drugs and How Do They Work?
GLP-1 receptor agonists are medications that mimic a natural hormone in your body called glucagon-like peptide-1.
They work in three powerful ways:
Increase insulin release (lowers blood sugar)
Reduce glucose production in the liver
Slow digestion and increased fullness
This combination helps improve diabetes control and often leads to weight loss as a side benefit.Â
1. Ozempic (Semaglutide Injection)
FDA-approved for: Type 2 diabetes in adults
Dosing: Once-weekly injection, any time of day, with or without food
Device: Multi-dose pre-filled pen
Ozempic does more than lower blood sugar. Clinical trials show it reduces major cardiovascular events. If you have Type 2 diabetes and heart disease, Ozempic lowers your risk of heart attack, stroke, and cardiovascular death. The same benefit applies if you have chronic kidney disease. Ozempic slows kidney disease progression and reduces kidney failure risk.
Weight loss effect: Ozempic is not approved for weight loss. However, clinical trial participants lost 8 to 10 pounds on average after 30 weeks. Higher-dose semaglutide products (Wegovy) target weight loss specifically.
Key trial evidence: The SUSTAIN series of trials enrolled over 8,000 patients. Results showed consistent HbA1c reductions of 1.0% to 1.5%. Cardiovascular outcomes improved by 26% compared to placebo.
2. Rybelsus (Oral Semaglutide)
FDA-approved for: Type 2 diabetes in adults; also reduces MACE risk in high-risk adults.
Dosing: Once daily, first thing in the morning, with no more than 4 ounces of water. Wait 30 minutes before eating or drinking anything else.
Device: Oral tablet (R1 formulation; R2 formulation now sold as Ozempic branded pill)
Rybelsus solves the injection problem. You get semaglutide in a daily pill. Absorption requires strict timing. Take it immediately upon waking. Use only plain water. Wait half an hour. This ensures the medication reaches your bloodstream effectively.
Switching between Ozempic and Rybelsus: Possible, but not if your Ozempic dose exceeds 1 mg. Your prescriber can guide the transition.
Clinical data: The PIONEER trial program demonstrated HbA1c reductions of 1.0% to 1.3%. The highest dose (14 mg) produced these results consistently.
3. Wegovy Injection (Semaglutide 2.4 mg)
FDA-approved for: Weight loss in adults and adolescents (ages 12+); also reduces MACE risk in adults with heart disease and larger body size; treats MASH with moderate-to-advanced liver fibrosis.
Dosing: Once-weekly injection, single-dose pen
Device: Single-dose pre-filled pen
Wegovy is not for diabetes. You do not need a diabetes diagnosis. The approval covers obesity (BMI ≥30) or overweight (BMI ≥27) with at least one weight-related condition like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or Type 2 diabetes.
Weight loss results from clinical trials:
Adults lost nearly 15% of their starting body weight on average
Adolescents lost almost 15% of their starting body weight
Wegovy HD (higher dose) produced 19% average weight loss
Cardiovascular benefit: The SELECT trial showed a 20% reduction in MACE risk compared to placebo. This trial included over 17,000 adults.
MASH approval: In 2025, the FDA approved Wegovy for metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis with moderate-to-advanced fibrosis but without cirrhosis.
4. Wegovy Pill (Oral Semaglutide for Weight Loss)
FDA-approved for: Weight loss in adults only (not adolescents)
Dosing: Once daily, same timing as Rybelsus (morning, empty stomach, 4 oz water, wait 30 minutes)
Device: Oral tablet
The Wegovy pill delivers semaglutide for weight loss without injections. Adults in clinical trials lost nearly 14% of their starting body weight on average. Those who completed the full trial lost about 17%.
Important limitation: Unlike the Wegovy injection, the pill version is not approved for MASH treatment. It does carry the MACE risk reduction indication for adults with larger body size and heart disease.
5. Trulicity (Dulaglutide)
FDA-approved for: Type 2 diabetes in adults and children (ages 10+)
Dosing: Once-weekly injection, same day each week, any time of day
Device: Single-use pre-filled pen
Trulicity reduces MACE risk in adults with heart disease or heart disease risk factors. It also provides kidney-related benefits. However, Trulicity is not approved for weight loss.
Weight loss as a side effect: One study found that adults on the highest Trulicity dose (4.5 mg) lost up to 10 pounds over 9 months.
Pediatric use: Trulicity is one of the few GLP-1 drugs approved for children aged 10 and older with Type 2 diabetes.
6. Victoza (Liraglutide)
FDA-approved for: Type 2 diabetes in adults and children (ages 10+)
Dosing: Once-daily injection, any time of day
Device: Multi-dose pre-filled pen
Victoza reduces MACE risk in patients with heart disease. Evidence also suggests it slows kidney disease progression. Weight loss averages around 5 pounds in clinical trials.
Cost advantage: Generic liraglutide is available. Victoza has a lower-cost generic alternative. If insurance denies coverage or copays remain high, generic Victoza offers an affordable entry point into GLP-1 treatment.
Note on higher dosing: Saxenda (see below) contains the same active ingredient at a higher dose for weight loss.
7. Saxenda (Liraglutide 3.0 mg)
FDA-approved for: Weight loss in adults and adolescents (ages 12+)
Dosing: Once-daily injection
Device: Multi-dose pre-filled pen
Saxenda uses the same liraglutide molecule as Victoza, but at a higher strength. Approval criteria match Wegovy: BMI ≥30 or BMI ≥27 with a weight-related condition.
Weight loss results from clinical trials:
Adults lost 8% of their starting body weight on average
Adolescents lost just over 2.5% on average
Head-to-head comparison with Wegovy: A direct study showed Wegovy produced 16% weight loss versus Saxenda’s 6%. Wegovy also requires weekly injections instead of daily. Your prescriber will help you weigh convenience against cost.
Generic availability: Generic liraglutide for weight loss (the Saxenda strength) is now available. This makes Saxenda the first GLP-1 weight loss medication with a generic alternative.
8. Byetta (Exenatide)
FDA-approved for: Type 2 diabetes in adults
Dosing: Twice daily, within 60 minutes before morning and evening meals
Device: Multi-dose pre-filled pen
Byetta was the first GLP-1 drug ever approved. It remains useful for patients who experience blood sugar spikes after meals. The twice-daily schedule aligns with meal times.
Limitations: Byetta lacks the proven cardiovascular benefits seen with newer GLP-1 drugs. It does cause weight loss as a side effect, but not at the level of semaglutide or tirzepatide.
Generic availability: Generic exenatide is available at a lower cost. However, the twice-daily dosing makes Byetta less convenient than once-weekly options.
9. Mounjaro (Tirzepatide)
FDA-approved for: Type 2 diabetes in adults and children (ages 10+)
Dosing: Once-weekly injection
Device: Single-dose pen, multi-dose pen (KwikPen), or vial
Mounjaro is not a pure GLP-1 agonist. It belongs to a new class: dual GLP-1/GIP agonists. It activates two gut hormones at once. This dual action produces superior blood sugar control and weight loss compared to semaglutide alone.
Head-to-head trial against Ozempic (SURPASS-2):
After 40 weeks, Mounjaro patients achieved better HbA1c reduction. They also lost significantly more weight.
Pending indications: The FDA is currently reviewing Mounjaro for MACE risk reduction. Tirzepatide continues to be studied for additional uses, including heart failure and sleep apnea.
10. Zepbound (Tirzepatide for Weight Loss)
FDA-approved for: Weight loss in adults; also treats moderate-to-severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in adults with larger body size.e
Dosing: Once-weekly injection
Device: Single-dose pen, multi-dose pen (KwikPen), or vial
Zepbound contains the same tirzepatide molecule as Mounjaro. The approval covers the same BMI criteria as Wegovy and Saxenda. However, Zepbound is not yet approved for adolescents.
Weight loss results from clinical trials (SURMOUNT-1):
At 72 weeks, participants lost up to 20.9% of their starting body weight
The placebo group lost only 3%
Head-to-head with Wegovy: A recent study showed greater weight loss with Zepbound compared to Wegovy. Zepbound has not been compared directly to Wegovy HD in published trials.
OSA approval: Zepbound became the first GLP-1 drug approved for obstructive sleep apnea in December 2025.
11. Foundayo (Orforglipron) – Emerging Oral GLP-1
FDA-approved for: Weight loss in adults (as of February 2026)
Dosing: Once daily by mouth, with or without food
Device: Oral tablet
Foundayo represents a new chemical class. Unlike other GLP-1 pills (Rybelsus, Wegovy pill), Foundayo is a small-molecule drug. It does not require strict fasting or water restrictions. You can take it with food at any time of day.
Weight loss results from phase 3 trials:
The highest dose produced approximately 11% body weight loss over 72 weeks
No increased risk of gallbladder disease compared to placebo
Choosing between GLP-1 drugs can feel overwhelming—but you don’t have to figure it out alone.
A medical provider can help you compare effectiveness, side effects, and cost based on your personal health profile.
 Schedule a consultation today at Passion Health Primary Care to find the safest and most effective option for your goals.
How to Choose the Right GLP-1 Medication
Selecting the best option depends on several clinical factors:
1. Treatment Goal
Diabetes control → Ozempic, Trulicity, Mounjaro
Weight loss → Wegovy, Zepbound, Saxenda
2. Dosing Preference
Weekly injections → More convenient
Daily injections or pills → More flexibility
3. Health Conditions
Heart disease → Choose medications with proven cardiovascular benefits
Kidney disease → Consider protective options like Ozempic
4. Cost and Access
Generic options like Victoza and Byetta may reduce expenses
When to See a DoctorÂ
You should speak with a healthcare provider if you experience:
Uncontrolled blood sugar levels
Difficulty losing weight despite lifestyle changes
Severe side effects like persistent nausea or vomiting
Signs of complications (abdominal pain, dehydration, fatigue)
A history of thyroid issues, pancreatitis, or digestive disorders
Early medical guidance ensures you choose the right medication, dosage, and monitoring plan for long-term safety.
How Passion Health Helps You Choose the Right GLP-1 Treatment
At Passion Health Primary Care, our experienced providers help you navigate GLP-1 medications with a personalized, evidence-based approach. Whether you’re managing diabetes or looking for sustainable weight loss, we focus on:
Customized treatment plans
Ongoing monitoring and support
Safe medication selection based on your health history
Book your consultation with Passion Health today and take the first step toward better health with expert guidance you can trust.
Final Takeaway
GLP-1 medications offer powerful benefits for managing type 2 diabetes and obesity, but the right choice depends on your individual health profile, goals, and tolerance.
For stronger weight loss → consider newer options like tirzepatide-based treatments.
For diabetes with heart protection → semaglutide or dulaglutide may be preferred.
For convenience → weekly injections or flexible oral options
Reviewed by a Passion Health physician
