GLP-1 receptor agonist
Also called: GLP-1 RA, GLP-1 agonist
Clinical reviewer: Jacob Moore, MD · Last checked September 16, 2026
What is a GLP-1 receptor agonist?
GLP-1 receptor agonist is a medication that activates the GLP-1 receptor. Approved drugs in this class include semaglutide, marketed as Wegovy, and tirzepatide, marketed as Mounjaro and Zepbound, which activates the GIP receptor as well as the GLP-1 receptor. Using more than one GLP-1 receptor agonist at the same time is not recommended.
What defines a GLP-1 receptor agonist?
GLP-1 receptor agonists are medications built to act on the GLP-1 receptor. Tirzepatide, sold as Mounjaro, is described in its FDA prescribing information as both a glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) receptor agonist and a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist, making it a dual agonist [1]. Semaglutide, sold as Wegovy, is labeled as not to be combined with other semaglutide-containing products or any other GLP-1 receptor agonist [2], and tirzepatide's own labeling carries the same limitation for GLP-1 receptor agonists generally [3]. This class is distinct from compounded or unapproved versions of the same active ingredients, which carry different FDA oversight. See GLP-1 for related background.
Which drugs are GLP-1 receptor agonists?
Two FDA-approved active ingredients anchor this class: semaglutide, sold under the brand name Wegovy, and tirzepatide, sold under the brand names Mounjaro and Zepbound [1][2][3]. Tirzepatide is a dual agonist, activating both the GIP and GLP-1 receptors [1], while semaglutide is described as a GLP-1 receptor agonist [2]. Prescribing information for both drugs states that combining them with another semaglutide- or tirzepatide-containing product, or with any other GLP-1 receptor agonist, is not recommended [2][3].
Related terms
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This entry is for education and is not medical advice. Talk with a licensed clinician about your own situation before starting, stopping, or changing any treatment.
