If you have been researching prescription weight loss medications, you may have come across one called retatrutide that is currently in clinical trials. This new weight loss injection being developed by Eli Lilly will be the first of its kind because it mimics three of the hormones that are naturally produced by your body, and other GLP-1 medications that are currently available only mimic one or two.
This article will provide an overview of the retatrutide peptide, discuss retatrutide’s benefits and side effects, and answer some frequently asked questions.
An Overview of Retatrutide Peptide
When approved for use in the United States, retatrutide will be the newest weight loss injection on the market. It will be joining other GLP-1 medications like tirzepatide (Mounjaro and Zepbound), which are made by Eli Lilly, and semaglutide (Ozempic and Wegovy). Retatrutide does not have a brand name yet, but it is often identified by its development code of LY‑3437943.
It is the first and only medication that is a triple agonist, which means it copies three of the natural hormones your body produces that regulate your metabolism and digestive process. The combination of these mimicked hormones has been shown to help the participants in the phase 2 trials lose an average of 24% of their total starting body weight in around 11 months, which surpasses the results of any other GLP-1 medication currently available.
Which Natural Hormones Does Retatrutide Mimic?
When you eat, your body releases a series of natural hormones that help keep your metabolism running like it should. They help control hunger, regulate your blood sugar, and manage how fast and efficiently your body uses the calories you eat. Retratrutide copies three of these important hormones, including:
- GLP-1, which helps your body produce and regulate insulin to help keep your blood sugar under control, helps you feel full sooner and stay satisfied longer by slowing down how fast your stomach empties;
- GIP, which helps balance your levels of insulin and streamlines the performance of your metabolism to help your body burn calories rather than store them as fat;
- Glucagon, which speeds up the rate your body burns calories and helps break down those already stored as fat, which helps you lose weight.
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Retatrutide Benefits
This new medication has been undergoing testing since August 2023 and is currently in Phase 3 clinical trials, but so far, the reported results have been noteworthy and have shown many benefits, including:
Weight Loss Results
The individuals using retatrutide during the phase 2 clinical trials lost about 24% of their starting weight in only 48 weeks, which demonstrated the fastest and most weight lost compared to any other weight loss medication.
Losing a significant amount of weight can improve or even prevent health problems that are related to obesity, such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and sleep apnea.
Improvement in Fatty Liver Disease
Some individuals who participated in the clinical trials who also had fatty liver disease saw significant reductions in their liver fat, and a little over 90% of the individuals who were using the 8 mg or 12 mg strength of retatrutide had their levels of liver fat reduced to normal.
Excellent Blood Sugar Regulation
Retatrutide has proven to do an excellent job in keeping blood sugar levels stable. The combination of the three copied hormones helps those naturally produced by your body to do a better job with manufacturing and releasing insulin to keep your blood sugar levels at a steady, balanced level. This prevents spikes and crashes and also helps keep food cravings under control and lowers your risk of experiencing type 2 diabetes.
Improves Your Body’s Sensitivity To Insulin
Retatrutide helps the cells in your body respond better to insulin, which means your blood sugar levels stay in a healthier range, reducing the risk of serious metabolic conditions like type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome. This makes it easier for your body to burn fat instead of storing it, which causes weight gain.
Speeds Up Thermogenesis
Retatrutide helps increase the speed at which your body burns calories (thermogenesis) and how efficiently it breaks down fat and converts it to energy. It also helps you to burn more calories when you are sleeping or sitting around by increasing your resting metabolic rate (RMR) and helps you lose weight faster because it makes it a bit easier to create a calorie deficit. People with more muscle usually have a higher RMR because muscle tissue burns more calories than fat, even when the body is resting.
Reduces Inflammation in the Body
Another additional retatrutide benefit that has been discovered is that it can help reduce low-grade inflammation in your body. This type of inflammation involves your immune system continuously releasing small amounts of inflammatory chemicals, which can sneakily damage your tissues and cells and cause weight gain, insulin resistance, heart disease, and even certain types of cancer.
Improves the Efficiency of Other Metabolic Hormones
Aside from the amazing weight loss results that are being reported, retatrutide is also showing that it assists other metabolic hormones in your body to work more efficiently. When you carry excess fat, your metabolic hormones can become out of balance and make it much harder for you to lose weight. Bringing these into a level balance can help reduce the risk of developing metabolic health issues, and it will help trigger weight loss.
Retatrutide influences a hormone called adiponectin and helps your body process and eliminate fat, and early findings also show that retatrutide helps to lower your triglyceride levels (fat found in your blood) and balances your level of leptin, which is the hormone that makes you feel full.
Side Effects of Retatrutide
Some of the most frequently reported side effects that every GLP-1 medication has in common, including retatrutide, involve your gastrointestinal system. They are most prominent when first starting on the medication or increasing the dosage but will gradually resolve on their own as your body gets used to it.
- Nausea and possible vomiting, which can be mild to moderate in severity and sometimes can be controlled by adjusting the dose of medication;
- Diarrhea;
- Constipation (less common);
- Stomach discomfort, including bloating and mild indigestion.
Other Possible Side Effects Of Retatrutide
Cardiovascular Changes
Retratrutide has been shown in some instances to cause:
- A faster heart rate;
- Changes in blood pressure;
- Arrhythmias.
Some participants using retatrutide in the clinical trials have experienced a small increase in their resting heart rate, occurring after about 3 months of usage. In most cases, their heart rate returned to normal after a short time, but a few mild cases of irregular heart rhythms continued, but appeared to be connected to other medications the participants were already using.
Retatrutide may also slightly lower blood pressure, which can help people with hypertension, but those already on blood pressure medication should work with their doctor to determine if their treatment plan needs to be adjusted to avoid their blood pressure dropping too low during their weight loss journey.
Feeling Tired and Poor Sleep
Some people in the clinical trials reported that retatrutide made them feel fatigued when they first started using it, but this resolved on its own in a short time.
Some participants found it hard to sleep, but many said it was mostly related to the gastrointestinal side effects they were experiencing from the medication.
Effects on Other Organs
A very small number of individuals (1%) using retatrutide in the trials experienced a slight increase in their liver enzymes. This did not seem to cause any other problems or symptoms and resolved unassisted.
Rare instances of pancreas or gallbladder issues have been reported similar to the reports seen regarding other GLP-1 medications.
Ensure your doctor monitors how the medication is affecting your vital organs through scheduled blood tests to make sure any possible issues are identified early.
Rashes and Other Skin Issues
A small number (7 %) of participants using retatrude noticed some mild-to-moderate skin sensitivity, such as pain, tingling, or tenderness, when any type of pressure or heat was applied.
Some minor reactions at the injection site were also reported, including swelling, mild redness, and itching, which usually could be managed by making adjustments in the administration of the injections and also frequently changing the injection sites.
to see the entire table
| Frequency | Details | |
|---|---|---|
| Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, & constipation. | Very common | These side effects of retatrutide can range from mild to moderate and normally occur when the medication is first started or when the dose is increased. |
| Arrhythmias or an increase in heart rate. | Very Rare | These have been mostly mild, but close monitoring is recommended. |
| Changes in blood pressure | Common | Can cause a decrease in blood pressure and should be closely observed if using other medication to keep it under control. |
| Feeling tired or fatigued | Common | Most cases reported were mild and resolved quickly. |
| Trouble sleeping | Rare | Found to be mostly caused by discomfort from other retatrutide side effects. |
| Higher liver enzymes | Very rare | Close monitoring of blood work is recommended. |
| Skin reactions | Uncommon (7 %) for most users. | Skin feels tender to the touch or is very sensitive to heat. |
| Issues at the injection site. | Occasionally | Mild redness, rash, or irritation located near or at the injection site. |
Where Can I Learn More About GLP-1 Medications?
Dr. Okeefe Simmons and his team at Simmons MD Advanced Weight Loss Solutions can answer your questions about the different GLP-1 medications that are currently available and monitor the availability of retatrutide.
Dr. Simmons will talk with you to determine if GLP-1 medication will be a good fit for you based on your personal or family medical history. He offers a wide range of non-surgical weight loss interventions that can help you reach your goals and improve your health. Set up your personal consultation today and get started on a safe and evidence-based program that will help you reach and maintain a healthy weight.
FAQs About Retatrutide
Does Retatrutide Cause Hair Loss?
Hair loss has not been commonly reported during the ongoing clinical trials for retatrutide, but rapid weight loss and not getting enough vital nutrients are known to cause hair shedding and loss.
Clinical trials for other GLP-1 medications showed that some individuals experienced hair thinning, but the percentages of those using the medication vs. the placebo were very close, indicating that the medication is not directly related.
Is Retatrutide Better than Semaglutide?
Semaglutide (Ozempic & Wegovy) is a type of medication that mimics metabolic hormones your body makes naturally and is already FDA-approved to be used for weight loss and blood sugar management for individuals with type 2 diabetes. Semaglutide only mimics one of these hormones and retatrutide mimics three of these hormones, making it the first and only to provide this triple coverage.
Ongoing clinical trials continue to report that retatrutide can promote more significant weight loss results compared to semaglutide, and to date, the triple-receptor benefits appear to go above and beyond those of semaglutide. Studies have shown that most semaglutide users lost between 15% and 17% of their total starting weight in 68 weeks compared to the users of retatrutide, who lost 24% of their body weight in only 48 weeks. Retatrutide also helped lower participants’ liver fat, which may make it a more preferable treatment for those with weight-related metabolic conditions.
How Long Does It Take for Retatrutide to Work?
Retratrutide begins to work immediately after you take your first injection. There are many changes that begin to take place, and it may take several weeks for you to even notice a difference, but behind the scenes, it is making improvements to the way your metabolism works.
Everyone’s body reacts differently to weight loss injections, so some people may see improvements in their health and weight loss results earlier than others, depending on how their metabolism responds to the medication, their dosage, and the types of lifestyle changes they make and stick to.
