GLP-1 Receptor agonists include liraglutide (Victoza), semaglutide (Ozempic), dulaglutide (Trulicity), exenatide (Byetta), lixisenatide (Lyxumia), albiglutide (Tanzeum)
Glp-1 receptor agonists and dpp-4 inhibitors explained in four minutes let’s begin glp-1 receptor agonists and dpp-4 inhibitors are two classes of medications that are commonly used in type 2 diabetes to lower blood glucose glp-1 receptor agonists are subcutaneously injected medications and can be identified by their suffix tied for instance liraglutide where it’s
Brand-name victoza or sima glue tied or ozen peck in contrast dpp-4 inhibitors are oral tablets and can be identified by their suffix clip tip for example siddig lipton or lena gluten or saxagliptin but how exactly do these medications act to lower blood glucose well when food moves through our intestinal tract some special cells in our intestines called knl cells
Detect these nutrients and release a peptide called glp-1 or glucagon-like peptide one now glp-1 has a number of different effects on the body it binds to the glp-1 receptors on the pancreas to increase insulin secretion and reduce glucagon secretion secondly it acts to slow down our gi tract to reduce the absorption rate of sugar lastly glp-1 also acts on the
Brain to reduce our appetite as a result all these effects results in a reduction in blood glucose unfortunately the natural glp-1 produced by our bodies is very quickly degraded by an enzyme called dpp for or dipeptidyl peptidase-4 so the effects of glp-1 are quite short-lived however based on this natural glp-1 that our body produces scientists have designed a
Drug that mimics all the actions of natural glp-1 but is resistant to dpp-4 degradation so the effect of glp-1 lasts longer and we get better blood glucose lowering these drugs are known as the glp-1 receptor agonists alternatively scientists have designed dpp-4 inhibitors as well these are drugs that bind to the enzyme dpp for preventing it from degrading the
Glp-1 produced from our body this allows the glp-1 to last longer and carry out its effects without being degraded by dpp-4 resulting in reduced blood sugar it is worth noting that both of these drugs are very low risk for hypoglycemia and the glp-1 receptor agonists are also known to help with weight loss moving on to the side effects of these medications the
Main side effect we see is gi related since part of the effect of these medications do involve the intestinal tract thus some patients may experience nausea diarrhea or constipation another side effect is increased heart rate by about 10 to 20 beats per minute and this is only seen with glp-1 receptor agonists and flu-like symptoms such as headaches runny nose
And sore throat are also potential side effects
Transcribed from video
GLP-1 Receptor Agonists and DPP4 Inhibitors Explained in 4 Minutes By Drug Matters