GLP-1 glossary
Plain-language definitions of the GLP-1 terms you'll see on your treatment journey — from titration to steady state.
- GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1)
- A hormone the gut releases after eating that stimulates insulin, slows stomach emptying, and reduces appetite. GLP-1 receptor agonist medications mimic this hormone to improve blood sugar and support weight loss. Track any GLP-1 medication.
- Semaglutide
- A GLP-1 receptor agonist sold as Ozempic and Rybelsus (type 2 diabetes) and Wegovy (weight management). It is dosed once weekly by injection (or daily as an oral tablet for Rybelsus). Semaglutide tracker.
- Tirzepatide
- A dual GIP and GLP-1 receptor agonist sold as Mounjaro (type 2 diabetes) and Zepbound (weight management). It is dosed once weekly by injection. Tirzepatide tracker.
- GIP (glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide)
- A second gut hormone involved in insulin release and fat metabolism. Tirzepatide acts on both GIP and GLP-1 receptors, which is why it is called a dual agonist.
- Titration
- The gradual increase of your dose over several weeks so your body can adjust and side effects stay manageable. Most GLP-1 medications follow a fixed titration schedule before reaching the maintenance dose. See a titration schedule.
- Maintenance dose
- The steady, ongoing dose you stay on after finishing titration — for example, 2.4 mg weekly for Wegovy or up to 15 mg weekly for Zepbound.
- Subcutaneous injection
- An injection into the fatty layer just under the skin (abdomen, thigh, or upper arm) rather than into muscle. GLP-1 injections are subcutaneous. Injection site rotation.
- Injection site rotation
- Moving each injection to a different spot to avoid repeatedly using the same tissue, which helps prevent lipohypertrophy and bruising and keeps absorption consistent. Rotate sites with a body map.
- Lipohypertrophy
- Hardened or thickened fatty tissue that can form when injections are given in the same spot too often. Rotating sites reduces the risk and keeps medication absorbing properly. Injection sites guide.
- Half-life
- The time it takes for the amount of medication in your body to fall by half. Semaglutide has a long half-life (about 7 days), which is why it is dosed weekly.
- Steady state
- The point — usually after several weeks of consistent dosing — where the medication level in your body stabilizes between doses. OffGrid Dose's estimated-levels chart helps you visualize when you reach it. Weight-loss timeline.
- Compounded medication
- A version of a drug prepared by a compounding pharmacy rather than the brand manufacturer. Compounded semaglutide and tirzepatide are not FDA-approved and can vary in concentration — always follow your prescriber's instructions. Compounded semaglutide tracker.
- Off-label use
- Prescribing an approved medication for a condition it is not specifically FDA-approved for — for example, using Ozempic (approved for diabetes) for weight management.
- Bioavailability
- The fraction of a dose that actually reaches your bloodstream. It influences how injected and oral GLP-1 medications are dosed.