The Pharmacist's Role in the Use of Incretin-Based Therapies for Weight Management: An Opinion of the Endocrine and Metabolism Practice and Research Network of the American College of Clinical Pharmacy

The popularity of incretin-based therapies has increased substantially over the past several years due to their clinically significant efficacy for weight loss and positive impact on weight-related comorbid conditions, yet, few clinical practice guidelines for the management of overweight and obesity have been updated to incorporate these agents. The increased demand for incretin-based therapies for weight management has revealed barriers to their implementation related to cost, availability, and emerging safety concerns. This opinion paper aims to briefly review the available literature on the current role of incretin-based therapy for chronic weight management in persons with overweight or obesity and provide recommendations for clinical pharmacists utilizing these agents. The intent of this opinion paper is to discuss the benefits and risks of incretin-based therapy for weight management, review approaches for clinical pharmacists to overcome barriers to their implementation, and address ongoing questions related to their use. Finally, the authors suggest an approach to the management of people with overweight or obesity with incretin-based therapy using the Pharmacists' Patient Care Process along with actions clinical pharmacists can take to ensure best practices with these agents.