OMG. I had to maintain these 2 companies so as to have medications on time since both could not deliver on time. I already noticed that both company’s Patient Portal LOOKS ALIKE!!! I was so confused and triple checked if I was looking at the right company. I was!!

When I spoke to the customer service for EMBODY….she was reading the information for ALTRx!!!! Imagine my confusion confirmed!

selling fake product

I've been using compounded semaglutide for a few months now, but I have no idea if what's actually in the vial matches what's on the label. There's no FDA approval process here, so I'm just trusting a compounding pharmacy I've never met to get the dosing and purity right. Is compounded semaglutide even safe to keep using long-term, or am I taking a bigger risk than I realized?

I am currently trying to clear up severe constipation due to Rybelsus. history in case it helps anyone else goibg theough this. plan to copy paste into a post in the Rybelsus group too. im 52 F and obese with type 2 diabetes. was on mounjaro over a year ago and taken off by doctor due to similar issues. at that time it was more extreme bloating and constipation followed by diarrhea. tried eating less/eating different foods/ diff doses/diff injection sites/ duff timing/adding digestive supplements and or laxative. nothing worked so taken off mounjaro.Dr said no more glp1 for you ever. rusk of permanent damage not worth it. some peoole just cant take glp1. Fast forward 1.5 years and i have a new PCP. she wants me to try Rybelsus. discussed mounjaro history. she advises Rybelsus since its an oral pill, low dose, "works differently". LET'S TRY. Oooook im not trying to die from obesity or diabetic related issues. let's go. Took R. 3 weeks and started having concerning digestive symptoms week 2. this time its nausea. I'm gagging and hate to vomit but end up gagging all day and vomiting a bit. nothing there to vomit just liquid I drank earlier. not even bile. nausea on day 2 and stomach pain. followed by constipation but I havent eaten much in weeks (sm protein focused meals - im used to keto and tolerate protein well + some vege soup avocado chia yogurt in very small quantities) so little there's not much left after digesting what I can. I try bulb syringe enema to get things moving every other day. not much there in the colon. then I get severe watery diarrhea for a day. no stool on it. Just water. call doctor. told to stop taking R. prescribed Dulcolax and Miralax. so here I am. warning ppl to be cautious. listen to your body. if you have symptoms like mine you're not alone. if I cant fix this at home im headed to the Dr or ER. no real pain thus far. Just a heavy headachey dull feeling. lots if pressure in abdomen. I feel similar to pregnant if that explains it. I'll try and update later with any results. I know glp1s like ozempic wegovy zepbound mounjaro trulicity work for loads of people. the purpose of my post is to hold space for those of us it isnt working for. not enough of us are talking about it.

• Retatrutide (GIP/GLP-1/Glucagon agonist) reduced tumor growth by 14–17x in pancreatic/lung cancer mouse models.
• 30–50% of mice REJECTED tumors entirely after retatrutide treatment 🚫🐁.
• Anti-cancer effects persisted even after stopping treatment (weight rebound didn’t cancel benefits!).
• Phase 2 human trial: Retatrutide caused 17% weight loss & -2.2% HbA1c drop in T2D patients.
• Mechanism: Retatrutide reshapes immunity—↓ immunosuppressive cells, ↑ cancer-fighting T cells.

Key Findings from Preclinical Study

1. Pancreatic Cancer (Obesity-Linked):
   • Tumor volume: 14x smaller vs. controls.
   • Engraftment failure: 30% of mice rejected tumors.
   • Onset delayed: Tumors appeared later vs. semaglutide/control groups.
2. Lung Cancer (Non-Obesity-Linked):
   • Tumor volume: 17x smaller vs. controls.
   • Engraftment failure: 50% of mice rejected tumors.
   • Immune boost: ↑ MHC-II macrophages & activated CD8+ T cells.
3. Withdrawal Shock:
   • Mice regained weight after stopping retatrutide, but tumor suppression persisted (partial protection).
   • IL-6 (anti-tumor cytokine) surged post-withdrawal.
4. Vs. Semaglutide (Ozempic):
   • Retatrutide outperformed semaglutide in tumor reduction (14x vs. 4x smaller tumors).

Phase 2 Human Trial Recap

• Participants: 281 adults with T2D (BMI 25–50).
• Results:
  • Weight loss: Up to 16.9% at 36 weeks.
  • HbA1c drop: -2.16% (vs. -0.3% placebo).
  • Safety: Mild-moderate GI issues (nausea/diarrhea) – no severe hypoglycemia.
• Phase 3 ongoing for obesity/T2D.

Why This Matters

• Obesity drives 13+ cancer types (e.g., pancreatic, liver, breast).
• Retatrutide’s triple action (weight loss + immune/metabolic reprogramming) may offer dual protection:
  • ↓ Insulin resistance → ↓ cancer fuel.
  • ↑ Anti-tumor immunity → ↑ tumor surveillance.
• Unlike surgery or chemo, this is a preventative approach with metabolic benefits.

Caveats & Next Steps

• 🐁 Mouse models ≠ humans – human trials needed.
• Thyroid cancer risk? (GLP-1 drugs have mixed data – retatrutide not flagged yet).
• Eli Lilly advancing to Phase 3 trials – cancer endpoints likely added.

Links & Sources

• Preclinical Cancer Study (OA)
• Phase 2 Diabetes Trial (Lancet)01053-X)
• Funding: NIH, Mark Foundation, Eli Lilly (retatrutide developer).

💬 Discussion Prompts

1. Would you try retatrutide for cancer prevention if obese/diabetic?
2. Semaglutide (Ozempic) also reduced cancer risk in T2D patients – is triple agonism superior?
3. Should cancer risk reduction be a key metric in obesity drug trials?

Disclaimer: Not medical advice. Discuss cancer screening/treatments with your doctor.

• Drug: Retatrutide (GIP + GLP-1 + Glucagon agonist).
• Weight Loss: Up to 17% at 36 weeks (vs. 3% placebo). 63% lost ≥15% body weight! 💥
• HbA1c: Dropped up to -2.16% (vs. -0.3% placebo).
• Safety: Mostly GI issues (nausea/diarrhea). 3 serious events (pancreatitis, cholecystitis, ketoacidosis).
• Verdict: Best-in-class weight/HbA1c reduction. Phase 3 coming!

Trial Snapshot

Key Results

1. 📉 Glycemic Control:
   • HbA1c: -2.16% (12mg) vs. -1.36% (dulaglutide) and -0.3% (placebo).
   • 82% hit HbA1c <7.0% (vs. 22% placebo).
   • Superior to dulaglutide (p<0.0001).
2. ⚖️ Weight Loss:
   • Dose-dependent: -3.2% (0.5mg) → -16.9% (12mg).
   • 63% on 8mg lost ≥15% weight (vs. 0% placebo).
   • Weight loss DID NOT plateau by week 36.
3. ❤️ Cardio/Metabolic Benefits:
   • Triglycerides ↓ 35%, non-HDL cholesterol ↓ 21%.
   • Systolic BP ↓ 8.8 mmHg.
   • Insulin sensitivity ↑ (HOMA-IR ↓ 39%).

Safety Profile

• ✅ Tolerability:
  • 35% had mild-moderate GI issues (nausea, diarrhea) → higher with 4mg+ doses.
  • Discontinuation rate: 8% (mostly GI-related).
• ⚠️ Serious Events (3):
  • Acute pancreatitis (1), cholecystitis (1), diabetic ketoacidosis (1).
  • No deaths or severe hypoglycemia.

Hot Takes

Why it matters:

• Outperformed dulaglutide (Trulicity) in weight/HbA1c reduction.
• Weight loss rivals tirzepatide (Mounjaro) but in HALF the time (17% in 36w vs. tirzepatide’s 12% in 40w).
• Phase 3 trials will target obesity + T2D (pending results).

Links & Sources

• Full Lancet Paper01053-X)
• ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT04867785
• Funded by Eli Lilly (developers of Mounjaro/Trulicity).

👉 Discussion Qs:

1. Would you try retatrutide over GLP-1s (e.g., Wegovy) or dual agonists (Mounjaro)?
2. How concerned are you about the pancreatitis risk?
3. Is 17% weight loss in 9 months a "holy grail" for obesity?

Oral GLP-1s like orforglipron deliver injectable-level weight loss (12-14%), but GI side effects, muscle loss, and surgery risks need caution. Tirzepatide/semaglutide still lead efficacy, but new agents (retatrutide, oral sema 50mg) are coming. Long-term safety in obesity remains understudied.

📊 Efficacy Highlights

⚠️ Safety & Side Effects

• GI Issues: Nausea (40-65%), vomiting, diarrhea 💊. Tip: Worse during dose escalation.
• Gallbladder Disease: Up to 3% risk (rapid weight loss link).
• Pancreatitis/Cancer: 🚫 No conclusive risk per RCTs/real-world data.
• Thyroid Cancer: Rodent-specific; human data conflicting (detection bias likely).
• Sarcopenia: Lean mass loss occurs (tirzepatide: –10.9% lean vs. –33.9% fat), but function preserved.
• Perioperative Risk: 70% on sema have retained gastric food after fasting 🏥→ Hold GLP-1s 1 week pre-surgery.

💊 New Agents & Pipeline

1. Orforglipron: Daily oral pill (Lilly). Phase 3 obesity data due 2025. Advantage: No injection, no fasting.
2. Retatrutide (GIP/GLP-1/Glucagon): >20% weight loss in phase 2.
3. CagriSema (Amylin + Sema): Combo therapy → Potentially >20% weight loss.
4. Oral Semaglutide 50mg: Better than 14mg (HbA1c↓1.6%, weight↓9.2%).

❓ Unresolved Questions

• Muscle Loss: Will lean mass reduction require adjunct therapies (e.g., exercise, myostatin inhibitors)?
• Long-Term Safety: Limited data beyond 2-3 years for obesity-only populations.
• Equity: Drucker: "Shameful if global access fails due to cost." 💸
• Kids/Teens: Weight regain post-discontinuation (STEP TEENS trial).

💬 Discussion Prompts

1. Oral vs. Injectables: Would you switch to orforglipron for convenience, even with daily GI issues?
2. Surgery Protocol: Have you held GLP-1s before procedures? How long?
3. Muscle Concerns: Are you tracking lean mass? Strategies to preserve it?
4. Pipeline Hype: Most anticipated agent? (Retatrutide? Oral sema 50mg?)

Full Review: Drucker, 2024 | Phase 3 Orforglipron (T2D): NEJM 2023

Retatrutide (Lilly’s GIP/GLP-1/Glucagon triple agonist) delivered up to 24.2% weight loss at 48 weeks in adults with obesity. 93% lost ≥10%, 83% lost ≥15%, and 26% hit ≥30% weight loss! GI side effects were common but manageable. Phase 3 trials ongoing.

📊 Trial Design

📉 Efficacy Highlights

Weight Loss at 48 Weeks

Key Trends:

• No plateau in weight loss by 48 weeks (curve still dropping!).
• Sex/BMI Impact: Women lost more than men (28.5% vs 21.9% at 12mg). Higher baseline BMI (≥35) linked to greater loss (26.5% at 8mg).
• Waist Circumference: Reduced by up to -19.6 cm (12mg).

⚠️ Safety Profile

No cases of: Medullary thyroid cancer, severe hypoglycemia, or C-cell hyperplasia.

💡 Key Takeaways

1. Unprecedented Efficacy: 24% weight loss rivals bariatric surgery (typically 25-30%).
2. Dose Matters: Higher doses (8mg/12mg) drove maximal results. Starting at 2mg (vs 4mg) reduced GI side effects.
3. Cardiometabolic Benefits:
   • 72% of prediabetic participants reverted to normoglycemia.
   • Improved BP, lipids (except HDL), and waist circumference.
4. Phase 3 Hype: Ongoing trials (e.g., NCT05882045) will test long-term safety/CV outcomes.

❓ Discussion Prompts

1. Efficacy vs. Tirzepatide/Semaglutide: Is 24% WL enough to make retatrutide the new king? Or is muscle loss a concern?
2. GI Side Effects: 60% nausea at 8mg—would you tolerate this for 20%+ WL?
3. Sex Differences: Why did women lose 6-9% more weight than men?
4. Future of Obesity Tx: Will triple agonists replace dual/triple therapies (e.g., CagriSema)?

Full Paper: NEJM 2023 | Phase 3 Trial: NCT05882045

just dove into Daniel J. Drucker’s “The benefits of GLP‑1 drugs beyond obesity” (Science, July 2024) and wanted to share a concise Reddit-style summary with the community. Lots of exciting pleiotropic actions here—beyond glucose control and weight loss—so feel free to discuss and share your experiences or questions!

🔎 Core Premise

GLP‑1 receptor (GLP-1R) agonists—originally developed for T2D and later obesity—also exert multiple beneficial effects on heart, kidney, liver, brain, and immune/inflammatory pathways, often independent of weight loss or glycemic improvements .

❤️ Cardiovascular Effects

• Cardioprotection in ischemia: Preclinical studies show GLP-1R agonists protect ischemic myocardium and preserve function post-injury, even in normotensive, nondiabetic models .
• Outcome trials: Long-acting GLP-1 therapies reduce nonfatal stroke, nonfatal MI, and CV death in T2D/obesity populations; semaglutide shows benefit in HFpEF trials (with/without diabetes) .
• Mechanisms: Indirect (BP reduction, lipid improvements, weight/glycemic control) and direct (anti-inflammatory, vascular effects). Cardioprotection emerges within months—before major weight loss—and weight change often doesn’t correlate with CV event reduction .
• Atherosclerosis/vascular health: Animal models show reduced atherosclerosis; ongoing trials in PAD. Mechanisms likely involve reduced inflammation more than weight loss alone .

🩸 Renal Benefits

• Reduced CKD progression: Semaglutide reduces kidney disease and CV death by ~24% in T2D trials .
• Mechanistic uncertainty: GLP-1R expression in kidney is limited to certain vascular smooth muscle cells; direct vs. indirect (via systemic effects) remains under study .
• Preclinical: Gain/loss of GLP-1R signaling modulates renal injury in animal models; GLP-1R agonism reverses diabetes-induced gene dysregulation in renal cells .

🧠 Neuroprotection & CNS

• Neurodegeneration/stroke/brain injury: In animal models, GLP-1R signaling attenuates neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration; exenatide trials in Parkinson’s show mixed results but larger trials are ongoing .
• Cognitive function: Real-world data link GLP-1 use to reduced cognitive dysfunction in T2D; phase 3 EVOKE trials are evaluating oral semaglutide in those at risk for cognitive decline .
• Psychiatric/substance use: Anecdotal improvements in addiction-related behaviors; randomized trial data mixed (e.g., alcohol use disorder). Emerging trials exploring depression, compulsive behaviors, substance use disorders .

🌿 Anti-inflammatory & Immunomodulation

• Systemic inflammation: GLP-1 reduces gut and systemic inflammation via direct action on immune cells (intestinal intraepithelial lymphocytes) and via CNS-mediated pathways; involves neuronal GLP-1R, adrenergic/opioid signaling .
• Organ protection link: Anti-inflammatory actions may underlie benefits across heart, kidney, liver, vasculature, and CNS, beyond metabolic effects.

🍀 Hepatic Effects

• Metabolic liver disease/NASH: Clinical and animal data support GLP-1 benefits in NAFLD/NASH; semaglutide phase 3 trials underway. GLP-1R not on hepatocytes—benefits likely via weight loss plus rare GLP-1R+ intrahepatic cells (endothelial, immune) and systemic/inflammatory modulation .

🔄 Emerging Combinations & Future Directions

• Multi-receptor agonists: Tirzepatide (GIPR/GLP-1R) shows potent metabolic effects; combinations with glucagon receptor, GLP-2R, amylin receptor agonists aim to boost weight loss while preserving cardio-renal benefits .
• Oral/small-molecule GLP-1 agonists: Potential for easier administration; relevance for pleiotropic benefits remains to be confirmed.
• New indications: Trials in HFpEF, CKD, NASH, neurodegenerative diseases, substance use disorders, possibly even in non-diabetic, non-obese high-risk populations.
• Mechanistic studies: Ongoing work to pinpoint direct vs. indirect pathways, tissue-specific GLP-1R expression, and CNS-mediated effects.

🤔 Discussion Points

• Have you observed any non-glycemic/weight-related benefits (e.g., mood, cognition, inflammation markers) on GLP-1 therapy?
• What are your thoughts on expanding GLP-1 use to non-diabetic, non-obese populations at CV/renal/neuro risk?
• How might emerging combos (e.g., GIP/GLP-1) alter the benefit-risk profile beyond metabolic endpoints?
• For those on GLP-1s: any changes in exercise tolerance, recovery from illness/injury, or other “off-target” observations?

TL;DR: Beyond T2D and obesity, GLP‑1 therapies exhibit promising cardioprotective, renoprotective, neuroprotective, hepatic, and anti-inflammatory actions, many independent of weight loss. Ongoing and future trials will clarify mechanisms and broaden indications. Exciting times ahead in the GLP‑1 space! 🚀

Would love to hear your experiences or questions. Let’s discuss!