The most talked-about drugs in health right now — and among the most misunderstood. Before the hype makes the decision for you, here's the honest picture, and why the right testing and a real doctor come first.
A powerful tool for the right person — not a shortcut, and not for everyone.
GLP-1 medications (the semaglutide and tirzepatide family, better known by brand names in the weight and diabetes space) have genuinely changed what's possible for metabolic and weight health. For the right person, under proper care, the results can be significant. But they are prescription-only medicines with real effects, real side effects, and real reasons they aren't suited to everyone — and the internet tends to skip all of that.
DrFuncKey doesn't prescribe or sell anything. We help you understand what these medications are, whether they're even worth exploring for you, and what to check first — then connect you with an independent registered doctor who makes that call and looks after you if you go ahead.
They mimic a natural gut hormone that slows stomach emptying and reduces appetite — so you feel full sooner and the constant "food noise" settles.
They improve how the body releases insulin and handles sugar, which is why this class began as a diabetes treatment.
Meaningful weight loss is common — but some of it can be muscle, which is exactly why testing, protein and strength work matter alongside.
People with obesity or significant excess weight, or weight-related conditions, where a doctor judges the benefit worthwhile.
Where blood-sugar control and metabolic health are the goal, this class was built for exactly this.
Sometimes considered where insulin resistance drives the picture — always doctor-assessed, never assumed.
Nausea, vomiting, constipation or diarrhoea, reflux and fatigue — often early and dose-related, but enough that some people stop.
Rapid loss can cost muscle and leave nutrient gaps without a plan for protein, strength work and monitoring.
There are people who shouldn't take them at all, and serious risks a doctor must screen for. This is why it's prescription-only.
Weight often returns if the medication stops without the habits to hold it — the medicine is a tool, not the whole answer.
These are ongoing, not one-off, and supply and price vary. Worth understanding before you begin.
Grey-market and unverified pens are a real danger. A GLP-1 should only ever come via a prescription and a pharmacy.
A proper baseline — fasting insulin and HbA1c, a full metabolic and thyroid picture, kidney and liver markers, nutrients — tells you and your doctor whether a GLP-1 makes sense, and gives you something to track against once you start.
It's the difference between a considered plan and a guess.
See the Testing Library →Tell us where you're at. We'll help you understand your options and what to test first, then connect you with a doctor who can assess whether it's right for you.
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