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Injectable medications

Glucagon like peptide (GLP-1) agonists and dual GLP-1, Gastric inhibitory polypeptide (GIP) receptor agonists (Ozempic, Mounjaro, Trulicity, Rybelsus, Diavic, Zegluxen)

Help the body produce more insulin after eating and lower the amount of glucose produced by the liver when it’s not needed.

They also slow down emptying of food from the stomach which can make you feel less hungry and can help with weight loss. They have a low risk of causing low blood glucose levels (hypoglycaemia) as long as you are not taking it with a sulphonylurea, repaglinide or insulin.

	Oral options	Injectable options
Licensed preparations and how to take your medication	Oral Semaglutide (Rybelus) tablets Your healthcare professional will advise you on the dose to take. Tablets should be swallowed whole with up to half a glass of water on an empty stomach once a day. You should then wait at least 30 minutes before eating, drinking or taking other oral medicines. If you are taking levothyroxine it is recommended that your thyroid hormone levels should be checked when taking Rybelsus as it may affect your thyroid levels. Your GP or practice healthcare can arrange this for you.	There are a few different options that are available in pen devices to be given by subcutaneous injection Your healthcare professional will advise you on the dose, how to give and store. All injections are given once weekly, except Diavic or Zegluxen (Iiraglutide) which is given once a day.
Common side effects	Headache, feeling tired and dizzy Stomach side effects such as feeling or being sick, diarrhoea, stomach-ache, belching, constipation and indigestion or reflux symptoms. These usually go away quite quickly. Doses are increased slowly to lessen the risk of stomach side effects. Eating smaller portion sizes more slowly and stopping eating when you feel full; avoiding sweet or spicy food, alcohol and smoking cigarettes may help lessen these. You should inform a healthcare professional if these symptoms continue or are causing you a problem Changes in vision: It is important you attend your diabetes retinal screening eye test, and hospital eye specialist appointments you have. If eye symptoms such as loss of, or new blurring of your eye sight develop seek urgent advice from your GP, optician or eye specialist as these medicines have been linked to a worsening of diabetic eye damage (retinopathy) and of eye sight. Gallbladder problems have been reported. If you suffer severe, sudden upper stomach pain, feeling or being sick, especially after fatty meals; fever; clay-coloured poo or yellowing of skin or eyes (jaundice) seek medical attention Hair loss has been reported. Inform your healthcare professional if this occurs. It usually doesn’t last long and is usually reversible
Uncommon and rarer side effects	Inflamed pancreas (insulin producing gland), referred to as pancreatitis has been reported. Symptoms of pancreatitis include a severe and persistent stomach pain, and feeling of or being sick. It is important to seek medical advice if these symptoms occur and if pancreatitis is confirmed treatment should be stopped. Injection site reactions
Further information	Can be found in the manufacturers patient information leaflet and Diabetes UK: GLP-1 agonists patient information leaflet. Trulicity video and information Ozempic video and information Mounjaro video and information For advice when you are ill see type 2 diabetes (what to do when you are ill) If having surgery or a procedure that uses anaesthesia or deep sleepiness as these medicines may increase the risk of food or liquid getting into the lungs in these situations. Your healthcare team can inform your anaesthetist who can review your management to reduce this risk.

Injectable medications

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