GLP-1 Medications

How GLP-1 and GLP-1/GIP medications work, how to take them correctly, dosing schedules, contraindications, FDA approvals, and important safety guidance.

“Semaglutide and tirzepatide with metformin and insulin for type 2 diabetes, showing GLP-1 and GLP-1/GIP therapy lowering A1C and blood sugar safely.”

Can GLP-1 / GLP-1–GIP (semaglutide / tirzepatide) Medications Be Used With Diabetes Medications? (insulin, metformin, & what the evidence shows)

Can you take semaglutide or tirzepatide if you’re on insulin or metformin? This evidence-based guide explains which diabetes medications are compatible, what the ADA recommends, and how GLP-1/GIP therapy affects blood sugar and A1C.

Joshua Silva, MD

Jun 45 min read

Medical diagram illustrating two proposed mechanisms for how GLP-1 medications may lower dementia risk. The left shows the indirect vascular pathway protecting brain blood vessels, while the right shows the theoretical direct neurobiologic pathway reducing neuroinflammation and cellular stress.

Semaglutide and Tirzepatide: Do GLP-1 Medications Protect Brain Health?

Early studies suggest GLP-1 medications like semaglutide and tirzepatide might protect brain health and lower dementia risk. Discover the science behind these claims, what Alzheimer's clinical trials actually show, and why promising observational signals aren't definitive proof yet.

Joshua Silva, MD

May 114 min read

Medical infographic by Potere Health MD showing how GLP-1 agonists modulate brain dopamine pathways to reduce addiction cravings.

Can GLP-1 Medications Help With Addiction? Alcohol, Smoking, Opioids Explained

Medically authored by Joshua Silva, MD | Evidence-Based Weight Loss at Potere Health MD Yes—early research shows GLP-1 medications like semaglutide and tirzepatide may reduce cravings and reward-driven behaviors related to alcohol and other substances. However, they are not FDA-approved for addiction, and evidence varies by substance and study type.¹ How GLP-1 Medications Affect Addiction (Brain and Dopamine Explained) GLP-1 medications may influence addiction by modulating r

Joshua Silva, MD

Apr 295 min read

Infographic by Potere Health MD illustrating the mechanical and biological pathways of Semaglutide for knee osteoarthritis relief and surgery prevention.

Can Semaglutide Help Delay Knee Replacement? What STEP 9 Shows

A physician-written review of the STEP 9 trial explaining how semaglutide improves knee osteoarthritis pain, how weight-loss milestones relate to knee replacement risk, and what this means for patients in Utah.

Joshua Silva, MD

Apr 205 min read