How Weight Loss Medications Actually Work in Your Body

We break down the mechanism of action for GLP-1 receptor agonists like tirzepatide (Zepbound/Mounjaro) and semaglutide, explaining how these medications work in the body to regulate appetite and metabolism.

• GLP-1 medications contain a C20 fatty diacid that binds to albumin, prolonging half-life
• These drugs target both GIP and GLP-1 receptors to regulate appetite and caloric intake
• Receptors are found in brain areas involved in appetite regulation and throughout the GI system
• Pharmacodynamics include increased insulin sensitivity, reduced glucagon secretion, and delayed gastric emptying
• Medications are absorbed subcutaneously with about 80% bioavailability 
• Distribution occurs throughout the body with 5-6 day half-life, explaining weekly dosing
• Metabolism occurs primarily through the liver with excretion via urine
• Common injection sites include arms, legs, stomach, or back (the "margarita" zones)

Never do this on your own without real supervision. Everything has to be done safely, with a healthcare provider and someone that is aware of where you stand and how you are.

Transcript

Mechanism of Action Explained

Speaker 1 0:25

Hi, how are you? So we're talking about in this episode a lesson that a mechanism guide in GLP-1 and GLP-I. So the brand is Zepam Manjura for the two and GLP-1. So the mechanism of action for that is depending upon the use. So we're talking about why we're using it, what's the purpose, and you know the content. So I'm literally reading word for word and how. What it is for the mechanism of action.

Pharmacodynamics and Weight Loss Benefits

Speaker 1 1:00

For trisapatine, which is a GIP receptor and GLP-1 receptor agonist, which is a GIP receptor and GLP-1 receptor agonist, it contains C20 fatty diacin that enables albumin binding and prolongs the half-life. Terzepatide selectively binds to and activates both the GIP and GLP-1 receptors. This targets for native, which is natural, gip and GLP-1. So we're talking about the physiological regulation of this. It regulates your appetite. It helps with caloric intake. Non-clinical studies have shown that it may further contribute to other food regulation and there has been more studies in use for these medications. Both of these receptors are found in areas of the brain to involve appetite regulation and also have been secreted through the um GI system and animal studies have shown that it distributes and activates neurons in the brain to evolve regulation of food and intake. So that is the mechanism of it and you know I want to discuss that because why are we using it. So pharmacodynamics is what is it for? Um and terzapatide, which I'm talking about is the Zepbowner Majora on this one Um, but both are used to lower body weight and they're helping with greater um, fat loss and helping with um managing your lean muscle, which is appetite, as I had spoken with, is two, insulin secretion in the glucose dependent manner and reduces glucagon secretion and increases insulin sensitivity and lower your insulin resistance and helps with demonstrating decrease of hyperinsulinia. And that is where you know, most individuals have major issues and other health issues and it will delay gastric emptying, which we had does say that and it may over time that will diminish. But initial dosing, you know, sometimes people feel very full and may have some initial problems.

Absorption and Distribution Process

Speaker 1 3:07

So pharmacokinetics, meaning, how does it absorb, how does it distribute, how is it eliminated and how is it metabolized? Okay, so how is it absorbed? It's absorbed subcutaneously, so usually people inject it in I call it the old margarita the arms, the legs, the stomach or the back, and so it's like oh, margarita, you know it's a silly thing, but think that those kinds of areas, um, it's concentrated in within about 24 hours and the bioavailability is about 80%. So that uh subcutaneous and the abdomen thigh are apart. Now it distributes throughout the body, uh in a coefficient variation, um, which it's distributed by subcutaneously to help patients, and um OSA and obesity, so those with sleep apnea and obesity, and it's around 29% respectively in that change. And it does bind and um through the albumin of the blood.

Metabolism and Safe Administration Guidelines

Speaker 1 4:08

So how is it eliminated? So, apparently, you know, through the population of tridapatide or the semaglutide, overweight patients. They're approximately eliminates with a half-life of five to six days. So that's why, when the injections for most patients are weekly, unless you're in a maintenance, which then you may go into a microdosing or maintenance mode, which I'll discuss in another lesson. But everything has to be done safely, with a healthcare provider and someone that is aware of where you stand and how you are. Never do this on your own without real supervision.

Speaker 1 4:49

And how does it metabolize in the body? So it metabolizes by. You know, the peptide itself is attached to a beta oxide of C20 fatty acid and amide hydrolysis. So it is pretty much the liver and it will go through the pathway of C20 fatty diacid and it will absorb and metabolize there and then it's excreted through metabolites via urine and that's why sometimes you'll see some patients that are on this will have a higher nitrate protein ketones. So usually not ketones, protein and nitrates, but if they drink a number of weight things then it won't be a problem and that's the general.

Speaker 1 5:35

Just another um slides I've discussed is, you know, side effects and contraindications for these medications. Like no patient should ever just be on something, but you know we're just talking about. You know the benefits of these and also is it a tool and natural ways, but right now it's just kind of what exactly does it do and how is its potential administration for an individual? So that's what that is. If you have any questions, obviously reach out and I'm here to help in any way that I can and talk with you soon.