Your questions, answered.

Peptides are short chains of amino acids, the same building blocks that make up proteins. Many of the body's hormones, such as insulin and GLP-1, are peptides.

Peptide medicines like tirzepatide are lab-made versions designed to act on specific hormone receptors and to last longer in the body.

No. Steroids are built from a completely different chemical structure (a ring-shaped molecule based on cholesterol). Peptides are chains of amino acids that mostly work by switching on specific receptors, much like natural hormones do.

No. Medicines like tirzepatide support weight loss; they don't replace a healthier diet and regular exercise. Tirzepatide is approved for weight management together with a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity.

In the main trials, everyone, including people on placebo, also followed a diet and exercise programme.⁵¹

Both copy gut hormones that the body releases after eating. Tirzepatide activates two receptors (GIP and GLP-1), which helps the body release insulin when blood sugar is high, slows stomach emptying and increases fullness.

Retatrutide also activates a third receptor, for glucagon, which increases the energy the body uses.

Tirzepatide (Mounjaro) has been listed in the Philippine FDA product register, and it is a prescription medicine. Check the FDA register and ask your doctor for its current approved uses.

Retatrutide is not approved anywhere in the world yet. It is only available inside clinical trials, and the Philippine FDA has warned the public against unregistered retatrutide products.¹³

In the SURMOUNT-4 trial, people who switched from tirzepatide to placebo regained much of the weight they had lost over the following year. Lasting results depend on lasting habits and ongoing care planned with a doctor.¹⁶

Tirzepatide is not known to cause chronic kidney disease, and its label does not require a dose change for people with kidney problems. Research actually points the other way: in a related GLP-1 medicine (semaglutide), the FLOW trial showed fewer serious kidney events, and analyses of tirzepatide trials suggest slower kidney decline.

The real kidney risk is dehydration. Vomiting or diarrhoea can cause sudden (acute) kidney injury, especially in people who already have kidney disease, so they should drink enough fluids and have their kidney function checked.⁵¹⁷¹⁸

Tirzepatide's label does not require a dose change for liver impairment. For fatty liver disease (MASLD/MASH), results are encouraging: in the phase 2 SYNERGY-NASH trial, tirzepatide cleared liver inflammation in many more people than placebo, and retatrutide cut liver fat by more than 80% on average in its phase 2 study.

These are still being studied in larger trials, and anyone with liver disease should be treated and monitored by their own doctor.⁵¹⁹⁸

Acute pancreatitis has been reported with tirzepatide and similar medicines, though whether they truly raise the risk is still debated. The label says to stop the medicine and get checked if pancreatitis is suspected. The warning sign is severe, persistent stomach pain, sometimes spreading to the back, with or without vomiting.

People who have had pancreatitis before should discuss it with their doctor first. Retatrutide's phase 3 trials exclude anyone with a history of pancreatitis.⁵

Only two thyroid situations rule it out: a personal or family history of medullary thyroid cancer, or MEN 2 syndrome. A goiter, thyroid nodules, Hashimoto's or an overactive thyroid are not contraindications, but nodules found on an exam or scan should be evaluated first.⁵¹⁴

Gallbladder problems, including gallstones, were more common with tirzepatide, especially with rapid weight loss. Pain in the upper right abdomen, fever or yellowing of the skin or eyes need prompt medical attention.⁵

Tirzepatide (as Mounjaro) is approved for type 2 diabetes. It is not approved for type 1 diabetes. People who also take insulin or a sulfonylurea have a higher risk of low blood sugar, so their doctor may lower those doses.

People with diabetic eye disease (retinopathy) should be monitored, because rapid improvements in blood sugar can temporarily worsen it.⁵

Heart disease is not a contraindication for tirzepatide, and Mounjaro's US label now includes lowering the risk of major cardiovascular events in adults with type 2 diabetes. Weight loss in the trials also lowered blood pressure on average.

Retatrutide raises heart rate in a dose-related way, and some of its trials exclude people with a recent heart attack or stroke. Anyone with a heart condition should be assessed by their doctor first.⁵⁶

Tirzepatide for weight loss should not be used in pregnancy and should be stopped when pregnancy is recognised. Anyone planning a pregnancy or breastfeeding should plan with their doctor. Tirzepatide can also make birth control pills less reliable for a few weeks after starting and after each dose increase.⁵

Earlier weight-management labels carried a warning about suicidal thoughts, which was removed in February 2026 after review. Even so, anyone with a history of depression or other mental-health conditions should tell their doctor and report any changes in mood.⁵

Yes. Tirzepatide is a prescription medicine. It should only be used after a licensed doctor has assessed you, and only from an FDA-registered pharmacy. A doctor decides whether it suits you, sets the dose and watches for side effects.

Mostly digestive: nausea, diarrhoea, vomiting, constipation, indigestion and reduced appetite. They are usually mild to moderate and most common while the dose is being increased. Some people also notice hair thinning, which was reported more often with tirzepatide than placebo.⁵

Some of the weight lost with any weight-loss method is muscle, and this is true for these medicines too, though most of the loss is fat. Eating enough protein and doing strength exercise helps protect muscle. This is one more reason lifestyle changes matter.

No. Products sold online as "research use only" are not approved medicines. Nobody has checked their identity, purity, dose or sterility. In 2026 the Philippine FDA issued public health warnings against unregistered tirzepatide and retatrutide products sold this way.¹³¹⁵

Tirzepatide slows stomach emptying, which can change how some tablets are absorbed. The label advises monitoring medicines that need precise blood levels (such as warfarin), and switching from or adding to birth control pills for a period. It should not be combined with other GLP-1 medicines. Always give your doctor a full list of what you take.⁵

Tell your surgeon and anaesthetist that you use tirzepatide. Because it slows stomach emptying, there is a risk of breathing in stomach contents during general anaesthesia or deep sedation, so your care team may give special instructions.⁵

In the US, Mounjaro is approved for type 2 diabetes from age 10, but no tirzepatide product is approved for weight loss in people under 18. Retatrutide's trials enrol adults only. Care for young people should be led by a paediatric specialist.⁵

No. Gtides does not currently sell, supply or take orders for any product. In the future we plan to become a licensed supplier, but only once we hold a Philippine FDA License to Operate, business permits and registered products.

No. Everything here is for educational purposes only and doesn't replace a consultation with a licensed doctor. Never start, stop or change a medicine based on this website or our community.

Gtides is based in the Philippines. We follow Philippine FDA advisories and write with Filipino readers in mind.

Use any "Join the community" button on the site and scan the QR code, or tap "Open in Telegram" on your phone. The group is for discussion and research updates only. Nothing is sold there, and no medical advice is given.