Your complete medical history including all medications and over the counter supplements. The website will have forms to download and complete prior to your appointment. Basic labs such as lipid panel, metabolic profile and hemoglobin A1c will be necessary. If you’ve had them in the past six months you may bring in copies. KDMC offers a panel for $30. Check their website for details on where it can be drawn.

Yes, most definitely. It has been a game changer for many people.

Not ethically. There are set guidelines based on health parameters for prescribing various medications.

Liraglutide is a daily shot. Semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy) and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro, Zepbound) are weekly injections just under the skin (subcutaneously). In the past few years, FDA certified compounding pharmacies were allowed to make a version of the GLP-1's because of the national shortage of the name brand product and the enormous demand. These products have been used rather indiscriminately in "medi-spas", online telehealth sources and even in some physician offices. As of April 22, 2025, both semaglutide and tirzepatide were removed from the shortage list. So far, the pharmacy I use is still able to dispense their compounded product. As long as it is legal for them to do so, I will continue to prescribe it. It is a great cost savings for patients whose insurance does not pay for weight loss medications. New oral forms of these medications have recently become available.

After instruction on proper technique of giving the shots you may take your vial home and give yourself the shots if you are comfortable doing so. SHOTS SHOULD NOT BE DRAWN UP AND SENT HOME WITH YOU. Medication should remain in the vial until ready to dispense. If you are not comfortable giving your own shot, you may receive them at the office. We would provide the syringes either way and there is no charge for us to give the shot. However, it would be by appointment so may be less convenient for you.

Side effects depend on the medication prescribed. For semaglutide, the most common side effects are nausea, burping, diarrhea, constipation, and fatigue. Pancreatitis and gallstones are not common but possible, especially with a family history, although neither of these is a contraindication to the use of semaglutide.

Most people experience 3-5% body weight loss in 12 weeks, and continue a steady weight loss.

Well, yes and no. If you want change you have to make some changes. The medicine helps make the choices easier. I will calculate your resting metabolic rate and set some goals from there. Your meals will be built around protein mostly, with some carbohydrates and fats.

Maybe not to lose the weight at first but you will likely have to increase your activity in order to keep the weight off. Resistance training will be most important for preventing muscle loss, which is true for EVERYONE who loses weight. Research indicates all weight loss is typically 75% fat and 25% muscle loss unless you are doing something to actively prevent muscle loss. We will talk about this in detail. It becomes easier, even enjoyable, once some of the weight is off.

Very good question that we don’t have an answer to yet because the use for weight loss is so new. The thing is, if you lose the weight and are able to be off blood pressure and diabetes medicine, would it be a fair trade off to still take this one to keep the weight off? Most people who are candidates for this medication have at least 30 pounds to lose and MOST people have more than that to lose. Fifty pounds may well take six months to a year to lose safely.

I do not bill insurance. If you have insurance coverage for obesity medications, you should talk to your primary care doctor or nurse practitioner about prescribing them.

The initial office visit is $105 and usually takes about an hour. Follow up visits are $35 and are monthly for 3-4 months then every 6 weeks for 3-4 months then at least every 3 months thereafter, all depending on the medication you may be using and your own personal progress.

Ozempic/Wegovy typically costs $900ish per month without insurance. Zepbound/Mounjaro typically cost upwards of $1000/month. Some of the pharmaceutical companies have "specials" from time to time or the abiltiy to purchase directly form the company. President Trump has made some big promises for Trump Rx. We shall see.

With the fairly recent removal of the GLP-1s from the shortage list, the ability to prescribe the less expensive compounded products is a fluid situation. As long as the pharmacy is able to legally dispense their compounded version, I will continue to prescribe it. The "cost per month" advertising of GLP-1s is misleading and a fad that started when many spas and the like were using multi-dose vials and sending people home with a baggie full of syringes that they filled from the larger vial of medication. I don't do this. You would be prescribed an individual vial of medication that is yours to take home. Your dose is titrated on an individual basis. My best educated guess on average monthly cost is $200-350/ month, with tirzepatide being more expensive.