Ozempic has made such a significant mark on global culture that the term “Ozempic face” was nominated for a major dictionary’s word of the year in 2025.
It’s worth noting that Ozempic isn’t the only medication that imitates the natural GLP-1 hormone, which helps users feel full longer and eat less. Other options include Zepbound, Mounjaro, Trulicity, and Victoza, with more anticipated for those coping with obesity or Type 2 diabetes.
GLP-1 drugs, in a nutshell, encourage insulin production during high blood sugar episodes, curb the liver’s sugar release, and slow down stomach emptying to help stabilize blood sugar levels post-meals.
With an ever-growing array of GLP-1 treatments available, choosing the right one can be tricky. Some come as injections, while others are pills—some require daily doses, whereas others are weekly.
Let’s examine the current marketplace and what might be on the way for 2026.
Even though there are older GLP-1 options, Novo Nordisk’s Ozempic is likely the most recognized. The FDA approved it in 2017 for Type 2 diabetes, and Wegovy followed in 2021, tailored for obesity management.
Both are administered via weekly injections, but Wegovy involves a higher dose of semaglutide than Ozempic. In December 2025, the FDA approved a daily pill version of Wegovy.
A semaglutide pill already existed—Rybelsus was approved in 2019 for Type 2 diabetes, marking the first oral GLP-1 treatment.
Currently, there’s no generic version of semaglutide approved by the FDA.
Common side effects often include symptoms like nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, bloating, gas, and stomach pain.
Those with a history of medullary thyroid carcinoma or multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2 should avoid semaglutide due to potential risks linked to thyroid tumors in studies with rodents.
Tirzepatide sets itself apart from other GLP-1s as it mimics not just GLP-1 but also the GIP hormone, which can promote fat storage and sometimes work more effectively than GLP-1 alone.
The FDA cleared Lilly’s Mounjaro for Type 2 diabetes in 2022 and Zepbound in 2023 for obesity; both require weekly injections and follow the same dosing schedule.
There’s no FDA-approved generic for tirzepatide either, and frequent side effects include nausea, diarrhea, and vomiting, among other gastrointestinal issues.
This medication, like others, carries a warning for those with personal or family histories of MTC or MEN 2.
The FDA gave the green light for Novo Nordisk’s Victoza in 2010 for Type 2 diabetes and Saxenda for obesity in 2014. The main distinction is dosage: Saxenda allows for a higher liraglutide maximum than Victoza.
Generic Victoza became available in 2024, and generic Saxenda followed shortly after.
Common side effects also include nausea, diarrhea, and indigestion, similar to other GLP-1 medications. Both carry warnings about thyroid C-cell tumors.
Dulaglutide
Eli Lilly’s Trulicity, the sole version of dulaglutide, received FDA approval in 2014 for Type 2 diabetes management paired with diet and exercise. Unlike Saxenda and Victoza, it’s not authorized for weight loss.
Common side effects include nausea and stomach pain. Additionally, Trulicity has a warning regarding potential thyroid tumors, although it’s still unclear if there’s a human risk.
Exenatide
Approved back in 2005, exenatide was the first GLP-1 medication for Type 2 diabetes, available in several forms: Byetta offered twice-daily injections, while Bydureon came as a weekly shot.
Though AstraZeneca has recently removed these options from the U.S. market, generic Byetta gained FDA approval in late 2024.
Common side effects are similar here, with nausea and diarrhea among them. Those with severe kidney issues or slowed digestion should avoid this medication.
Lixisenatide
Lixisenatide, branded as Adlyxin, received FDA approval in 2016 but was withdrawn from the U.S. market in 2023. It was often used alongside insulin.
In contrast, its presence continues in Europe and other locales under the name Lyxumia, and it’s also part of the diabetes medication Soliqua.
Usual side effects include gastrointestinal discomfort and sometimes headaches or dizziness.
Watch for these drugs in 2026
Lilly’s orforglipron stands out as it’s not a peptide that disintegrates in stomach acid, due to its small molecule structure enabling it to endure through digestion intact. This once-daily pill is expected to receive FDA approval for obesity in mid to late 2026.
Furthermore, Lilly’s retatrutide, nicknamed “GLP-3” or “triple G” for mimicking GLP-1, GIP, and glucagon, is expected to be submitted to the FDA for approval in 2026.
