Peptide Medicines You May Already Know
A plain-English guide for people with no background, with questions to ask your doctor or pharmacist.
What Is a Peptide, in Plain Words?
Your body is made of proteins, and proteins are built from small pieces called amino acids. A peptide is a short chain of those pieces. Your body makes thousands of peptides naturally, and they work as messengers between cells. Insulin, which controls blood sugar, is one of them.
Peptide Medicines You May Already Know
These are authorized prescription medicines in Canada. They are made by pharmaceutical companies, reviewed by Health Canada, and given by a doctor or filled by a pharmacist. We list them so the word "peptide" feels less strange. We are not suggesting anyone start, stop or change any medicine.
| Medicine family | Examples | What it is in plain words |
|---|---|---|
| Insulin | Many brands | A peptide hormone the body makes to move sugar out of the blood. Lab-made versions are prescribed for diabetes. |
| GLP-1 medicines | Semaglutide (Ozempic), liraglutide, dulaglutide, exenatide | Lab-made versions of a hormone the gut releases after eating. They are prescribed for type 2 diabetes. |
| GIP and GLP-1 medicine | Tirzepatide (Mounjaro) | A related prescription medicine that acts on two gut hormone signals. |
| Hormone-blocking medicines used in some prostate cancer care | Leuprolide, goserelin, triptorelin, degarelix | These are peptide-based medicines that act on the signals that tell the body to make certain hormones. A cancer specialist decides if one is right for a person. |
Brand names and uses can change, so always check with a pharmacist, and see the official Health Canada Drug Product Database.
Why This Matters for People With Diabetes or Cancer
Not everything sold online as a "peptide" is a medicine. Health Canada has warned Canadians about unauthorized peptide products sold online. They have not been assessed for safety or quality, and the contents may not match the label. If you take medicine for diabetes, cancer or any other condition, the safest step is to tell your healthcare team about everything you take or are thinking of taking.
- Are any of the medicines I take peptides, and what do they do in plain words?
- How can I check that a product has a Health Canada number (a DIN or NPN) on the label?
- Could a supplement or product I am thinking about affect my medicines or my condition?
- Who should I call if I feel unwell or have a question about my treatment?
- Where can I find reliable information I can trust?
Trusted Places to Learn More
Keep Reading
New here? Start with what peptides are. See are peptides legal in Canada, browse Peptides A-Z, or read about how products are tested.
Peptide Authority provides educational information only. We do not give medical advice, and nothing here is a claim that any product is safe or effective for any condition. Our products, when they launch, are for in-vitro laboratory research only and are not for human or animal use.