How Pharmacists Can Support Adherence Among Patients Using GLP-1s
Lydia Newsom, PharmD, discusses how to support patients who are struggling with injection techniques or gastrointestinal side effects of GLP-1s.
In the United States, data from the CDC shows that over 40% of adults have obesity and 9.7% have severe obesity.1 Obesity, which is a chronic condition, increases the risk of several disease states, including hypertension, type 2 diabetes (T2D), coronary heart disease, stroke, and some cancers.
Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists, which were originally approved to treat T2D, have shown significant efficacy in treating overweight and obesity and have become increasingly popular. According to a poll from KFF, 1 in 5 patients said they took GLP-1s for weight loss.2 However, side effects of GLP-1s can include gastrointestinal issues such as nausea, diarrhea, constipation, and vomiting, which can limit adherence.
In a recent interview, Drug Topics® sat down with Lydia Newsom, PharmD, clinical associate professor of pharmacy practice at Mercer University College of Pharmacy, to discuss how pharmacists can support patients in maintaining adherence to GLP-1 therapy, and how they can collaborate with physicians, dietitians, and other healthcare professionals to optimize patient outcomes with GLP-1 therapy.
“I think many of these patients may discontinue [GLP-1s] because of [side effects] and we’ve seen that in clinical studies,” Newsom said. “I think education is, to me, one of the most important pieces.”
“In addition to injection technique, adherence and cost, there are some specific things I think pharmacists can really have high-value in when [they] communicate to patients about those things,” she added.
READ MORE: Obesity Management Resource Center
Ready to impress your pharmacy colleagues with the latest drug information, industry trends, and patient care tips? Sign up today for our free Drug Topics newsletter.
