DOI: https://doi.org/10.36347/sasjm.2026.v12i04.009

Pages: 280-288

Semaglutide and tirzepatide have reshaped incretin-based therapy from a predominantly glucose-lowering approach into a broader platform for managing type 2 diabetes, obesity, and selected cardiovascular, kidney, and obesity-related comorbidities. Semaglutide is a GLP-1 receptor agonist, whereas tirzepatide is a dual GIP/GLP-1 receptor agonist, so the two drug families should be discussed together but not treated as pharmacologically identical. In the UK, Ozempic is licensed for adults with insufficiently controlled type 2 diabetes, Wegovy for weight management and cardiovascular risk reduction in selected adults with overweight or obesity, and Mounjaro for type 2 diabetes and weight management. The strongest evidence supports major reductions in glycated haemoglobin and body weight, with semaglutide additionally showing cardiovascular and kidney outcome benefits in selected populations and tirzepatide showing especially strong weight-loss efficacy and emerging benefit in obesity-related comorbidity pathways. Safe use requires careful product selection, gradual titration, attention to co-prescribed insulin or sulfonylureas, counselling on gastrointestinal effects and dehydration, awareness of pancreatitis and gallbladder warnings, reproductive counselling, and clear peri-operative communication. For UK and Qatar practice, a safer prescribing model combines structured baseline assessment, active review during dose escalation, medication reconciliation that detects private prescribing, and bilingual patient education to reduce avoidable harm. [1-6].