Foundayo - orforglipron from Eli Lilly

Foundayo (orforglipron)

What is Foundayo?

Foundayo™ (orforglipron) is a new for adults with obesity, or overweight with weight-related medical problems. When used alongside a reduced calorie diet and increased physical activity, Foundayo has been clinically proven to help aid weight loss. Taken once a day as an oral tablet, Foundayo acts in the same way as other GLP-1 medications. It mimics the natural GLP-1 hormone to reduce appetite. It is not a peptide-based, allowing for easier, more flexible formulation. In studies, participants on the highest dose experienced an average weight loss of 12% of their body weight, or roughly 27 pounds over 72 weeks

How does Foundayo work?

The active ingredient in Foundayo is called orforglipron. Much like Wegovy, Saxenda, Ozempic and Rybelsus, Foundayo works by mimicking a natural hormone already found in your body - the Glucagon Like Peptide-1. This medication acts as a Receptor Agonist, recreating the impact of the GLP-1 in your body.

It works in three key ways to reduce your appetite.

It blocks a key hunger hormone telling your brain that you are hungry, whilst also helping to reduce leptin resistance (a hormone which can help off-set weight gain by increasing satiety aka fullness, and speed up your metabolism to help regulate the levels of fatty tissue in your body). This also helps stop the weight from coming straight back on when you stop the jab.
It slows down the gastric emptying process, meaning that your body takes longer to process food and it is fuller for longer. This means your body does not need as much intake as normal as it works off the food it has.
The medication helps to speed up your metabolism and increase fat burning by reducing glucogen & reducing insulin resistance. This promotes normal blood glucose levels, the liver metabolism of glucose and helps adipose tissue burn fat in a safe and controlled method without causing a sugar-crash. This avoids the urges for quick-fix sugary foods.

How do I take Foundayo?

Coming as an oral tablet, the medication is taken once a day, regardless if your stomach is empty or full. As this is an oral medication, the body's gastric system breaks down & processes oral medications far quicker than subcutaneous injections. Therefore, the tablet is taken every day to help keep up with the body's metabolism.

Swallow tablets whole. Do not break, crush, or chew the tablet.
If you miss a dose, take it as soon as possible. Do not take 2 doses of Foundayo in the same day.

What does of Foundayo will I need?

To allow your body to get used to the medicine and have the best chance for long-term success, you should follow the titratrion regime recommended by Eli Lilly & NICE. This would involve gently increasing your dosage schedule as instructed.

Usually, you’ll start with a dose of 0.8 mg of Foundayo, which will increase every four weeks (or as advised and if suitable for you) until you reach your ideal maintenance dose. The maintenance dose could between 5.5mg and 17.2mg.

If you have previously used Foundayo within the past 3 months and wish to order a higher dose than the starting dose of 0.8 mg, we will require proof of previous usage uploaded via our Health Form or sent to us via email.

How do I store Foundayo?

Store at room temperature
Protect from direct sunlight by keeping it in the original packaging
If you no longer have the original packaging, store in a cupboard/drawer away from direct sunlight

Would I be suitable to use Foundayo?

The medication can be used for those with a BMI over 27 with co-morbidities or a BMI over 30. We do however take into account a range of factors such as:

BMI greater than 25 (the overweight category)
Medical History
Current Medication
Body measurements
Eating habits
Past diets
Current exercise levels

Who is NOT suitable to use Foundayo?

You shouldn’t use Foundayo if you’re pregnant, and you should stop taking Foundayo at least one month before trying to get pregnant.

Foundayo is not suitable in some medical circumstances, for example if you use some other diabetes medicines, use other GLP-1 medications, have severe problems with digesting food, or have a history of pancreatitis or thyroid cancer. If you’re allergic to orforglipron or any of the other ingredients in this weight loss injection treatment, you must not use Foundayo for your own safety.

It’s essential that you give us a full medical history and details of any conditions or other medicines you’re taking when you fill out our online questionnaire. This ensures we’re able to prescribe weight loss treatment that’s suitable and safe for you.

As Foundayo is a new weight loss medicine, it will be closely monitored for any adverse effects by the MHRA. Any side effects or adverse effects not listed in the Patient Information Leaflet are to be reported either via us or via the MHRA Yellow Card.

Does Foundayo have any side effects?

Foundayo, like any medication introduced to your body, may cause side effects whilst your body adjusts to it. Some side effects may be positive ones (e.g. multiple benefits from the medication) whilst some side effects may be negative (e.g. nausea).

Some people get mild side effects, such as headaches, nausea, dry mouth or tiredness. These negative side effects are generally mild and are transient - which means they will go after a few days once your body has adjusted.

We will send you aftercare information on how to deal with any potential side effects, along with the Patient Information Leaflet which goes into greater detail.

Everyone is different. You may not experience any side effects, you may experience one side effect or several side effects.

Common Side Effects:

Nausea
Headaches
Dry Mouth
Constipation
Loose Stool
Tiredness
Stomach Cramps

Please do not hesitate to contact us if you need any support on dealing with side effects. We are more than happy to advise you.

Adverse Effects:

Adverse effects are rare but they are something you should be aware of.

Adverse effects may include:

Palpitations / Fast Heart Rate
Pancreatitis

If you experience or feel that you may be experiencing these adverse effects, please stop using the medication & contact 111. When you are safe to do so, please contact us.

Anaphylaxis:

There have been no documented cases of an anaphylactic reaction to Foundayo or it's active ingredient, Orforglipron but as this is a new medication being introduced to your body, we want to make you aware of the possible signs of anaphylaxis.

If you experience swelling of the lips/tongue/throat, difficulty breathing, tightness in the chest, a severe rash or severe itching, discontinue use immediately and call 999.

Please read the Patient Information Leaflet that comes with your medicine for full details of side effects and how to use Mounjaro.

How would I manage any side effects?

Common Foundayo side effects should be mild and are likely to lessen or even disappear after your body gets used to the treatment. We understand that it’s still tough to live with these discomforts though and so we’ve put together some tips for managing these where possible:

Ideally, try to take the medication at the same time each day so your body has a regular interval between each dose
Stay hydrated, sipping water and other clear liquids if you’re experiencing nausea, vomiting or diarrhoea. It may also help to eat smaller meals more regularly and avoid anything that smells or tastes too strong
If you’re struggling with constipation, increase your fibre intake, stay well hydrated and try eating small fruits such as prunes, figs or grapes. Make sure you’re also getting regular activity, such as going on short walks
To ease a headache, spend time in a quiet space to relax, take a simple pain relief medicine like paracetamol, drink plenty of water, and try relaxation techniques such as meditation and DIY scalp massage

For more information on managing side effects and what to do if you experience more severe side effects, see our dedicated aftercare page for our customers.

How long until I start seeing results?

Foundayo should start working straight away, but it could take several weeks until it has a noticeable effect on regulating your blood sugar level and impacting your appetite and eating habits. The first few doses of Foundayo are all about getting your body used to the medication and helping it adjust so that it can prepare for weight loss as you climb to the mid-to-higher doses. Your dose will be titrated up based on your individual tolerance and relationship with the medication. You may be required to increase your dose to see better results or you may find the lower doses do the job.

Can I switch from other weight loss medications to Foundayo?

If you’re using other GLP-1 medications, you’ll need to wait 7 days before switching to Foundayo. This is called the 'washout' period, and gives the body time for the first drug to leave the system. All patients using Foundayo for the first time will start with 8.5 mg. Keep in mind, Foundayo may not be suitable for you (even if you're using another weight loss medicine). We’ll assess if it’s right for you during your consultation.

What do the results show for Foundayo?

Supported by the rigorous ATTAIN clinical trial program, Foundayo was proven to help people lose weight and keep it off. In the ATTAIN-1 trial, individuals taking the highest dose of Foundayo and who stayed on treatment lost an average of 27.3 pounds (12.4%) compared to 2.2 pounds (0.9%) with placebo.1 Participants taking Foundayo, regardless of trial completion, lost an average of 25 pounds (11.1%), compared to 5.3 pounds (2.1%) with placebo.2 In the ATTAIN program, Foundayo also led to reductions in many markers of cardiovascular risk, including waist circumference, non-HDL cholesterol, triglycerides and systolic blood pressure across all doses.

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