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News|Articles|July 9, 2026
Why the Pharmacy Experience Matters for GLP-1 Outcomes
Author(s)Joy Neely
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Key Takeaways
- CMS-driven price relief may expand access, but adherence is the key determinant of durable cardiometabolic and weight outcomes in chronic-disease management.
- Discontinuation rates are high: roughly 4/10 stop within 12 months and nearly 6/10 by 24 months, despite frequent restarting.
- Common persistence barriers include tolerability issues, inadequate follow-up, supply disruptions, and administrative friction such as prior authorization delays.
- Pharmacists can normalize self-injection, counsel on dose escalation, and manage side effects using scalable educational resources, including alternatives such as oral GLP-1 options.
- Real-time adherence monitoring and in-workflow alerts enable targeted outreach when refill gaps emerge, prompting counseling or provider referral before treatment discontinuation.
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As Medicare expands GLP-1 access, pharmacies emerge as key to adherence, through patient education, ongoing engagement and timely intervention
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The recent announcement that Medicare beneficiaries may be eligible for $50 monthly access to GLP-1 medications
is another important step toward improving treatment access. But as GLP-1 adoption continues to surge, the healthcare system faces a new challenge: supporting adherence for a growing number of patients
According to JP Morgan, approximately 10 million Americans were on GLP-1 treatment in 2025, up from around 6 million in 2024 and 5 million in 2023.1 However, increased utilization does not automatically translate to better health outcomes
Patients may discontinue GLP-1 therapy if they experience side effects, don’t receive adequate clinical follow-up, or view treatment as only a short-term solution, undercutting broader efforts to manage obesity and other chronic conditions as long-term care journeys
For GLP-1 patients, sustained engagement cannot be an afterthought. Ongoing support is critical to better outcomes, and the pharmacy is one of the most important touchpoints for helping patients stay on track
As GLP-1 Access Expands, Adherence Remains the Real Test
GLP-1 medications have changed the treatment landscape for diabetes and weight management, especially for the more than 40 million US adults living with type 2 diabetes and more than 40% of US adults with obesity.2
However, starting a GLP-1 treatment is only the first step. A recent study found that four in 10 patients stop their GLP-1 medication within the first year, and nearly six in 10 stop by the end of two years.3 Although more half of those who stopped restarted treatment within a year, emerging research suggests the benefits of GLP-1 therapy depend on consistent use.4
Adherence barriers for GLP-1 patients can be wide-ranging, from medication shortages
to delays in prior authorization. Patients may also experience side effects that make it harder to stay consistent or prompt a medication change
With nearly 12% of Americans reporting use of GLP-1 medications, pharma teams must be prepared to meet this level of demand — and the pharmacy stands out as a high-touch channel for care continuity.5
Three Ways Pharmacies Can Strengthen the GLP-1 Patient Journey
As affordable access to GLP-1 treatments expands, tech-enabled pharmacies are positioned to improve long-term adherence. Three areas matter most: education, communication and intervention
1. Educate Patients at the Start of Treatment
For many GLP-1 patients, the first adherence hurdle is uncertainty
For example, some patients feel intimidated by the prospect of self-administering an injectable medication. Others may hesitate to continue therapy if they fear side effects will disrupt daily life
Pharmacists are often the most accessible and trusted advisors for patients, and pharmacy teams can use workflow tools to deliver that guidance at scale.6 For pharma teams, the opportunity is to equip pharmacists with timely educational re
With information on administration techniques, side-effect management, or options for oral GLP-1s, pharmacists can guide patients through the early stages of treatment, whether in person or through communication
2. Keep Patients Engaged Between Visits
To sustain long-term adherence, GLP-1 patients need help managing expectations and the lifestyle changes that come with treatment
For example, building new lifestyle routines — including dietary changes — is critical to maintaining results over time. Likewise, patients need to understand what to expect if they are switching to a higher dosage
Omnichannel communication
tools can help pharmacists reinforce key treatment messages between provider visits. If a patient is struggling to adjust their nutrition habits or experiencing new side effects, pharmacists can offer guidance or encourage patients to seek additional clinical support
Whether a patient is in week three or week 30 of their GLP-1 treatment, personalized, data-driven communication helps sustain treatment plans and keep patients connected to care over time
3. Intervene Before Adherence Slips
As GLP-1 patients move through treatment, pharmacy teams can identify adherence barriers and intervene before patients discontinue therapy
Imagine a patient who comes to the pharmacy to pick up another medication but has not refilled their GLP-1 prescription in more than two months. While the pharmacist verifies the other medication, an in-workflow alert notifies them of the lapse
That gives the pharmacist a chance to ask whether the patient is experiencing barriers to continuing treatment.If the patient says they stopped because of side effects, the pharmacist can share educational materials or encourage follow-up with the provider
Pharmacists can’t manually monitor every patient, especially as GLP-1 use grows. But with adherence monitoring tools and real-time alerts, they can focus attention where it matters most and intervene at the right moments
Supporting Patients Beyond the Prescription Fill
Efforts like the CMS affordability initiative will expand access to GLP-1 therapies. But if the ultimate goal is better long-term disease management, GLP-1 patients need support throughout treatment
Tech-enabled pharmacies reflect the reality of the GLP-1 landscape: patient success depends on more than a prescription. With the tools to educate, engage and intervene, pharmacists can help ensure expanded GLP-1 access translates into better adherence and better outcomes for more patients
Joy Neely is the chief growth officer at RedSail Technologies
References
- J.P. Morgan. “How Demand for (and Supply of) Weight Loss Drugs Is Playing Out in 2026.” Feb. 27, 2026. https://www.jpmorgan.com/insights/global-research/current-events/obesity-drugs
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Adult Obesity Facts.” Last reviewed May 14, 2024. https://www.cdc.gov/obesity/adult-obesity-facts/
- Thompson, Dennis. “Many Patients Stop and Restart GLP-1 Meds, Study Finds.” HealthDay News, via U.S. News & World Report, June 15, 2026. https://www.usnews.com/news/health-news/articles/2026-06-15/many-patients-stop-and-restart-glp-1-meds-study-finds
- Penn Medicine. “Stopping and Restarting Certain GLP-1s to Lose Weight May Make the Drug Less Effective.” April 28, 2026. https://www.pennmedicine.org/news/stopping-and-restarting-glp1s-may-make-it-less-effective
- RAND Corporation. “Nearly 12 Percent of Americans Have Used GLP-1 Weight Loss Drugs; Medications Are Most Used by Women Aged 50 to 64.” Aug. 6, 2025. https://www.rand.org/news/press/2025/08/nearly-12-percent-of-americans-have-used-glp-1-weight.html
- Valliant, S.N., Burbage, S.C., Pathak, S., Urick, B.Y. “Pharmacists as Accessible Health Care Providers: Quantifying the Opportunity.” Journal of Managed Care & Specialty Pharmacy, 2022;28(1):85-90. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8890748/
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