Medications you take as a shot

Amylin mimetics

Medications

• Pramlintide (Symlin)

Action

• Help regulate blood sugar
• Slow food moving through the stomach
• Used with insulin shots

Advantages

• May decrease hunger
• May lead to minor weight loss

Possible side effects

• Blood sugar levels drop too low
• Nausea
• Abdominal pain

Incretin mimetic (GLP-1 receptor agonists)

Medications

• Dulaglutide (Trulicity)
• Exenatide (Byetta, Bydureon Bcise)
• Liraglutide (Saxenda, Victoza)
• Lixisenatide (Adlyxin)
• Semaglutide (Ozempic, Rybelsus, Wegovy)
• Tirzepatide (Mounjaro), a similar kind of medicine called a dual-acting GLP-1/GIP agonist.

Action

• Cause the release of insulin as blood sugar levels are rising
• May be used with metformin, basal insulin or a sulfonylurea

Advantages

• May decrease hunger
• May lead to weight loss

Possible side effects

• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Abdominal pain
• Increased risk of inflamed pancreas — a condition called pancreatitis