What it means
GLP-1 medicines are not started at their full dose. The FDA label for each one sets a schedule. For the weekly shots, the dose usually goes up once every 4 weeks until it reaches a maintenance dose.
The main reason is the stomach. Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and constipation are most common in the weeks after a dose increase. Raising the dose slowly gives the gut time to adapt.
Your prescriber may hold you at a dose longer, or not go all the way up, depending on how you feel and how you respond. The label describes the allowed steps; your prescriber decides which ones fit you.
If you miss doses for a while, the label may call for restarting at a lower step. Check the missed-dose section of your drug's label and ask your prescriber before picking back up.
Why it matters
Most side effects cluster around dose steps, so knowing your titration calendar helps you plan meals, travel and workouts.
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