From the FDA Drug Label
ADVERSE REACTIONS Reactions which may occur because of this solution, added drugs or the technique of reconstitution or administration include febrile response, local tenderness, abscess, tissue necrosis or infection at the site of injection, venous thrombosis or phlebitis extending from the site of injection and extravasation The results of Retatrutide include adverse reactions such as:
- Febrile response
- Local tenderness
- Abscess
- Tissue necrosis or infection at the site of injection
- Venous thrombosis or phlebitis extending from the site of injection
- Extravasation 1
From the Research
Retatrutide has shown significant promise in clinical trials for weight loss, with participants losing up to 24% of their body weight over 48 weeks, and improvements in cardiometabolic markers. The medication works as a triple GLP-1/GIP/glucagon receptor agonist, targeting multiple hormonal pathways involved in appetite regulation and metabolism 2. Common side effects include nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, which typically improve over time as the body adjusts to the medication. Retatrutide is administered as a weekly subcutaneous injection, with doses typically starting low (1mg) and gradually increasing to minimize side effects. Some key points to consider when evaluating retatrutide include:
- The highest dose (12mg) showed the best outcomes in terms of weight loss and improvements in cardiometabolic markers 2
- Retatrutide has a safety profile comparable to placebo, with no significant difference in adverse events reported 2
- The medication has shown significant improvements in body weight and metabolic outcomes among adults with obesity, with a mean difference in body weight of -14.33% compared to placebo 2
- Additional large and long-term trials are required to establish the effectiveness of retatrutide, as current evidence is limited to phase II studies and has yet to prove its worth in a larger population 3. Overall, retatrutide represents a potential advancement in obesity treatment with its multi-hormone approach, which appears to be more effective than currently available GLP-1 agonists like semaglutide (Wegovy) and tirzepatide (Mounjaro) 4.