The complete history of GLP-1 drugs — from 1902 incretin research to exenatide (2005), Victoza (2010), Ozempic (2017), Rybelsus (2019), Wegovy (2021), Mounjaro (2022), Zepbound (2023), and pipeline candidates retatrutide and orforglipron — with where PlexusDx Semaglutide, Tirzepatide, Microdose, and GLP-Squared protocols fit in 2026.

The honest 2026 trade-off on GLP-1 medications: substantial weight loss and cardiometabolic benefits balanced against GI side effects, cost, lean-mass loss risk, and long-term maintenance. Compares branded vs compounded options and where PlexusDx Weight Management Protocols fit at $129–$509/mo across six protocols.

An honest read on the cons of GLP-1 therapy — GI side effects, the boxed warning, cost, weight regain on cessation, and body composition — plus where PlexusDx Weight Management Protocols ($129–$325/mo, all 50 states, no membership) fit when insurance friction is itself one of the cons.

Step-by-step guide to getting a GLP-1 prescribed online in 2026: eligibility self-screen, the three pathways (insurance, branded cash-pay, compounded cash-pay), pharmacy verification, and how PlexusDx Weight Management Protocols handle the telehealth pathway in all 50 states with no membership fee.

FDA labels list hair loss in 3% of Wegovy and 4–5% of Zepbound users, but the real trigger is rapid weight loss producing telogen effluvium — a reversible 6–12 month shedding pattern. This guide covers the FDA evidence, the timeline you can plan around, why women report it more often, the genetic variants behind GLP-1 response, and how a slower-titration PlexusDx protocol plus the Precision Peptide Genetic Test reduces risk before week one.

Mounjaro side effects from the FDA-approved label — common GI reactions (nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, abdominal pain), less common serious reactions (pancreatitis, gallbladder disease, acute kidney injury), and the boxed warning for thyroid C-cell tumors with MTC and MEN 2 contraindications. Plus how compounded tirzepatide protocol oversight from PlexusDx Tirzepatide Injection ($229–$309/mo) and Tirzepatide Oral ($229–$509/mo) compares, and where the Precision Peptide Genetic Test fits as a $99 add-on for GLP1R, GIPR, FTO, MC4R, and TCF7L2 baseline.