We Prescribe
GLP-1 Medication
We have been prescribing this GLP-1 medication for over ten years and have a lot of experience with it. Some of the medications we prescribe include Wegovy, semaglutide and tirzepatide.
History of GLP-1
GLP-1 medications were relatively new in 2021 and 2023 in terms of their approval by the FDA for the treatment of obesity. In 2021, Wegovy was approved, and in 2023, ZepBound was approved. So, while that is fairly new historically, that class of medication has been used to treat type 2 diabetes for over ten years, and millions of people have been treated with this class of medication.
We believe they are safe and effective for most people, and we often use them in combination with other medications like phentermine, phendimetrazine, diethylpropion, or topiramate. Combination drug therapy almost always yields superior results, and that’s why we do it.
Cost of GLP-1
Insurance coverage for these products has not been very good for weight loss, but it’s a whole lot better for patients with diabetes.
Without insurance, a month’s supply of Wegovy costs roughly $1,200 or $1,300 in most cases. If you don’t have coverage and use a coupon program, the cost of the ZepBound drops to $550 a month. Compounded versions are much more affordable. In many cases, your cost per month comes down to between $100 and $200.
If you have questions, we would love to talk to you about them in the office.
How it Works
When you come into our offices for an appointment, we will discuss all weight loss options with you, including medication. We will work to find the right combination of methods to suit your needs to help you reach your weight loss goals.
Side Effects of GLP-1
The medicine essentially is a gut hormone that makes you feel full even when you haven’t eaten. Side effects may include nausea, heartburn, stomach crams, diarrhea, and constipation. Typically this happens when folks advance the dose of medication too fast.
The medication is designed to start at a low dose once a week for a month before considering advancing the dose. We recommend you work with a physician when you are making these considerations. We find some folks think they need to advance the dose, but really don’t need to. And that is when issues arise.
Start low, go slow and don’t advance the dose if it’s not necessary. And speak with a physician.
How To Administer GLP-1
The medications currently approved for weight loss in the treatment of obesity, Wegovy, and ZepBound, are weekly, once-weekly injectables that come in an auto-injector pen. In most cases, the patients can’t tell that they’ve done it to themselves. They hear the little auto-injector, but they don’t feel the sensation of pain.
Some of my patients use a compounded version of that because they cannot afford the brand-name stuff and have no insurance coverage. This comes in vials that you have to draw out with insulin needles and syringes. It’s still a once-a-week injection, and we teach you how to do it.
There is not yet an oral form approved for obesity.
Follow Up Visits With GLP-1
We would like to see you monthly. This regularity allows us to monitor your progress closely and make necessary adjustments, ensuring you’re on the right track towards your weight management goals.
When you visit our offices, we provide a comprehensive check of your vital signs, weight, progress, and body composition. This personalized care allows us to determine if you are losing lean or fat mass, giving us a better understanding of what’s effective and what’s not. We understand that no one wants to lose lean mass and still have the same fat mass. To ensure you’re on the right track, we would like to see you back every month.
GLP-1 Shortages
These medications, in high demand due to their popularity, face a unique challenge in manufacturing capacity. The process of setting up a new manufacturing facility for injectable medications is not as straightforward as it may seem. It is a complex and time-consuming process, involving stringent FDA requirements.
If you’re struggling to find GLP-1 medications, we’ve gone the extra mile to establish partnerships with reputable compounders who can create the medication for you. While this may not be covered by your insurance, we’ve ensured that the cost is affordable, providing a viable alternative and demonstrating our commitment to your health.
Combination Therapy
We use the combination of more than one of these medications on our patients with remarkable success. This approach has revolutionized our practice of obesity medicine.
Folks who take only one weight loss medication will usually hit a plateau along the way. It’s hard to break that plateau, but when you look at the people who take more than one class of medication, let’s say a GLP-1 and Phentermine or Topiramate, these people lose a lot more weight.
Contraindications for GLP-1
Here are the three primary reasons why GLP-1 medication may not be suitable for some individuals:
- History of Pancreatitis: If you have a history of pancreatitis (an inflamed pancreas), GLP-1 medications are generally not recommended.
- Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Type 2 (MEN 2): If you or a family member has MEN 2, a cancer syndrome, GLP-1 medication may not be appropriate.
- Pregnancy or Attempting to Get Pregnant: GLP-1 medications are not recommended for pregnant women or those trying to conceive.
