This is an excerpt from MEGA Feb-March 2026 Beauty All-Access
Everybody is on it. That is something that you would often hear whenever someone brings up everyone’s favorite miracle jab: Incretin and Dual-Incretin-based medicines. This class of injection medications, which includes popular brand names such as Ozempic, Mounjaro, Saxenda, and Wegovy, is primarily used to manage blood sugar levels and combat chronic weight issues. But, if you know you know, they have also become a popular weight loss tool for those who are in the loop.
It’s a wonder drug, as they say.
Hollywood is convinced. No, scratch that. Hollywood is obsessed. Celebrities like Oprah, Meghan Trainor, Serena Williams, and Amy Schumer are on the jab. What was once a mystery to many fully pulsed into mainstream consciousness. The talk about incretin-based medicines is no longer something that you would only hear inside the doctor’s office. It’s in everybody’s algorithm. It’s in everybody’s social vernacular.
RELATED: Body Language: Can you love your body on Ozempic?
The volume search on social media for incretin-based medicines is massive. The Philippines market, on the other hand, has a certain jab of desire: Tirzepatide, a powerful once-weekly injection that functions as a dual-agonist for GIP (glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide) and GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) receptors, meaning it targets two hormone receptors instead of one, which makes it more effective than older single-action drugs.
It’s a rabbit hole. The thread under the search “Tirzepatide” shows results from Filipinas who are on the jab. In nine weeks, a user revealed that she lost a total of 26 pounds. The other published her drastic transformation from 302 pounds to 273 pounds in the same timeline. This makes the promise easier to sell, especially online. More accessible. More affordable. More attainable.
The demand was answered with a supply. While Mounjaro (KwikPen) is the only FDA-approved Tirzepatide in the country as of today, Compounded Tirzepatide became social media’s favorite alternative to name-brand injectable weight-loss drugs
“This appeals more to women in their 30s-40s who are struggling to manage their weight,” Entrepreneur Terrence Lamsin of Peptiluxe talks about the rapidly growing interest in incretin-based medicines online. “Also men who are dealing with weight gain.”
It is easy to assume that it is easy: You buy the jab. You get jabbed. You let the magic work. It is not. It shouldn’t be. But, somehow, purchasing compounded versions of dual incretin-based medicines like Tirzepatide and Retratrutide is as easy as purchasing sunscreen. At least in the grey market.
“The way we talk about Tirzepatide matters. Most transactions are done when the vials are delivered,” he starts. “Clients need real-time support and right information. It doesn’t work like magic. You need doctors consultation, guidance, and clearance, as well as, tamang diet and exercise. Hindi siya yung parang pinapakita sa TikTok na iinject mo lang and you will lose weight. It requires lifestyle change. I always tell my clients to optimize this to make healthier choices and not abuse it.”
Now that these wonder jabs have reached their peak celebrity status, it is all too predictable what to expect next: Everybody is on it. Everybody wants it. Everybody is forgetting that these blockbuster jabs are prescription medications with specific criteria. And when it comes to these conversations, it is important to talk to doctors and real experts. And that is exactly what Beauty All-Access is for.
Together with Dr. Samantha Belle Llado MD of Amorea Skin Clinic and Dr. Regie Layug of Marie France Doctor, we take a jab back at a much-needed conversation on Incretin and Dual-Incretin-based medicines
What makes these weight loss methods appealing to Filipinos? Are we more motivated to lose weight for health reasons or for aesthetics? What factors do you think shape this mindset?
Dr. Reg: Filipinos come in because they want to look better and that’s okay. We’re social, we’re visual, we love gatherings and photos. But what I find meaningful is that once people start feeling better, sleeping better, moving easier, having more energy, the motivation changes. They stop chasing a look and start choosing health
Incretin and Dual-Incretin based medicines come in different names and formats too. Could you walk us through these options, how they differ, and which types of patients might benefit most from each?
Dr. Samantha: I’ll focus on what’s available here in the Philippines. First, we have the daily injection: Liraglutide (brand name Saxenda). This is approved for weight management, and I like it for patients who want a slower, more adjustable start because daily dosing lets us fine-tune. There are also weekly options like Semaglutide (Like Ozempic and Wegovy). Ozempic started as a diabetes medication and has been used off-label for weight loss in some settings, while Wegovy is positioned specifically for chronic weight management. The big advantage is convenience-weekly dosing is easier for many patients to follow.
Then we have another weekly option: Tirzepatide, and the registered brand you’ll hear is Mounjaro. This is something we consider for patients who need stronger appetite and metabolic support, but it’s always case-by-case with proper screening and close follow-up.
Now, the controversial part. You’ll see compounded versions being sold online, even on TikTok. That’s what worries me-not the medication itself, but the unsafe access: unclear sourcing, dosing mistakes, and people self-injecting without guidance. Injectables should be medical, not DIY. And lastly, you might hear about Retatrutide, that one is still investigational and currently being studied in Phase 3 trials. So if it’s being sold as a casual “peptide shot” that’s a red flag for me.
One of the most talked-about effects is how these medications suppress hunger cues. What are the best ways to support your body and mind while on this journey?
Dr. Samantha: I always remind patients: less hunger doesn’t mean ‘don’t eat.’ It just means we finally get a chance to eat with intention, not cravings. Honestly, this is the best time to build better habits because you’re not constantly thinking about food. So we guide patients to still fuel the body properly. Eat because your body needs energy, not because you’re craving on something
Hydration is also non-negotiable. Usually around 2 to 3 liters a day, more if you’re active or mainit, and we adjust depending on the patient. It’s also important to protect your health while losing weight. If needed, take a basic multivitamin, prioritize 6 to 8 hours of quality sleep, and keep moving, especially strength training so you don’t lose muscle.
Most important: don’t DIY this. Side effects and nutrition need to be guided so the weight loss stays safe and sustainable.
How important is it for someone to focus on building a better relationship with their body, rather than constantly trying to fix it?
Dr. Regie: It’s everything. When someone stops hating their body, they naturally start taking better care of it. They eat with more awareness, move with more kindness, and rest without guilt. In my experience, lasting change doesn’t come from shame—it comes from respect.
Read more about Incretin and Dual-Incretin-based medicines and its skyrocketing popularity in the Philippines in MEGA’s Feb-Jan 2026 issue, now available on Readly, Magzter, Press Reader and Zinio.
Photographed By: YEL DELA PAZ. Art Director CLARE MAGNO. Producer THESSMAR LECTURA. Sittings Editor AGOO AZCUNA-BENGZON. Makeup ATHENA JANAIRO. Hairstylist REESE ROQUE. Photography Assistants: BIANCA ESTANISLAO and KARLO BAYLON. Model KEANNA LOUIS of PMAP. Nails ALMA of TRIPLE LUCK NAIL AND BROW SALON.
