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They have “GLP-1” in their name, but they are not medicines. What is in capsules, drops and patches from chemists and online shops, and what can be said about their effect.
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Since medicines with a GLP-1 effect became well known, chemists, supermarkets and online shops have been stocking products with similar names: GLP-1 capsules, drops, powders or patches. Many people wonder whether these are a non-prescription version of medical therapy. The short answer: no.
GLP-1, short for glucagon-like peptide-1, is a gut hormone produced by the body. Certain cells of the intestinal lining release it after eating. It signals satiety to the brain, slows the emptying of the stomach and helps regulate blood sugar after a meal. Products from the chemist with “GLP-1” in their name do not contain this hormone. The name is meant to express that the ingredients support the body’s own release.
Legally, such capsules and drops are food supplements, i.e. foods. The manufacturer must notify the Federal Office of Consumer Protection and Food Safety before they are first sold. There is no assessment of efficacy of the kind a medicine undergoes before approval. Food supplements are also not allowed to claim to treat or cure diseases such as obesity. Only health claims that have been assessed and authorised in the EU are permitted – in the authorised sense and under the conditions laid down for them.
The formulations differ from product to product. These groups of ingredients are commonly found:
GLP-1 drops usually contain the same groups of ingredients in liquid form, often plant extracts or bitter substances. The form of administration does not change the assessment: what matters is what they contain and in what quantity.
GLP-1 patches are meant to release plant substances into the body through the skin. However, the skin is an effective protective barrier that lets many substances through only to a very limited extent. It is worth looking at the labelling: it shows what the product is sold as and which substances it contains in what quantities.
There are hardly any published studies on the finished blended products. The evidence almost always relates to individual ingredients, often in a different quantity or form than in the product, and frequently to small groups over a few weeks.
The most important difference lies in the body itself. The body’s own GLP-1 is broken down again. Its effect is therefore short and occurs mainly around a meal. Prescription GLP-1 medicines are modified so that they resist this breakdown and work evenly over several days. An ingredient that slightly stimulates the body’s own release after eating cannot be compared with this.
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Experience reports in forums and reviews give an impression, but they do not replace a study. People who start a new product often pay more attention to their eating at the same time. Whether the scales move because of the capsule or because of changed habits cannot be distinguished in an individual case. If you would like to try such a product, you should be aware of these points:
Medicines with a GLP-1 effect are prescription-only in Germany. Whether they are an option is decided by a doctor after taking a medical history and carrying out an examination; they are dispensed only by pharmacies. Online offers that promise such medicines without a prescription are not legal.
Obesity is not a matter of discipline but a chronic disease in which hormones, metabolism and predisposition play a part. According to the World Health Organization’s classification, it starts at a BMI of 30. The BMI calculator shows where you stand.
It is well established that a permanently changed diet can support the body’s own satiety signals – with protein, fibre and unhurried meals. What this looks like in everyday life is described in the guide GLP-1 diet.
If that is not enough, there are medical options. Weight Doctors® GLP-1 pharmacotherapy is generally considered from a BMI of 30, or from 27 if there are weight-related comorbidities such as high blood pressure or type 2 diabetes. A specialist assesses your health situation, prescribes only if it makes medical sense and monitors progress every month. The medicine alone is not the solution: the therapy is designed to change diet and exercise permanently during this time.
Whether a change in diet is sufficient or medical treatment makes sense is clarified by the Weight Doctors® specialists in a 100% no-obligation consultation – in person, by phone or by video. In everyday life, Weight Doctors® 360° nutrition coaching supports you, if you wish together with Weight Doctors® GLP-1 pharmacotherapy. Book a consultation
Your question isn’t listed? Your specialist will take time for it during the consultation.
In Germany, medicines with a GLP-1 effect are only available on prescription from a pharmacy. What is sold as “GLP-1” without a prescription in chemists and online shops are food supplements containing no hormone and no active pharmaceutical ingredient. Offers that promise prescription medicines without a prescription are not legal and may be counterfeit.
There are no robust studies on the finished products. Individual ingredients such as fibre can support satiety, and for glucomannan a claim relating to weight loss in the context of an energy-restricted diet is authorised. An effect like that of a medicine is not to be expected.
Gastrointestinal symptoms such as bloating or diarrhoea are common. Individual plant substances can alter the effect of medicines. If you take medicines, are pregnant or are breastfeeding, ask a doctor before taking them.
The skin lets many substances through only to a very limited extent. If you want to lose weight, you are better off relying on methods whose effect has been studied.
This is best discussed with your treating doctor. Both can put a strain on the gastrointestinal tract, and bulking agents can delay the absorption of other medicines. Studies do not show any additional benefit of the capsules during medical therapy.
No food contains GLP-1; the body produces it itself. In studies, protein-rich and high-fibre meals and eating slowly are associated with a slightly higher release. More on this in the guide GLP-1 diet.
* For patients with German statutory health insurance: if the medical indication is established in line with the DGAV guidelines, reimbursement may be possible.
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