Currently approved delivery methods include: Subcutaneous injection : The most common route, using pre-filled pens for once-weekly (semaglutide, dulaglutide) or once-daily (liraglutide) administration Oral tablets : Semaglutide (Rybelsus) is the only FDA-approved oral GLP-1 medication, utilizing absorption-enhancing technology No transdermal patch formulation has received FDA approval for GLP-1 delivery
A prospective study involving individuals initiated on semaglutide, evaluated via ultrasound after an overnight fast, demonstrated that 70% of those receiving semaglutide exhibited retained solid gastric content, in contrast to 10% in the control group [17]
This could indicate complications such as pancreatitis, a rare but serious adverse effect associated with GLP-1 medications
Patients should never inject into areas with lipohypertrophy (fatty lumps), scars, bruises, or skin abnormalities
These represent savings of 60 to 85 percent compared to brand name pricing
However, more research is needed