147 answers about GLP-1 care

You start with a free online assessment that takes about 2 minutes. You answer questions about your health history, current medications, height and weight, and what you are trying to change. A licensed provider reviews your answers and decides whether treatment is appropriate for you. If it is, you pick a program and your medication ships from a licensed United States pharmacy. Nothing is charged until a provider has reviewed your case and prescribed.

No. There is no appointment to book and no referral needed to begin. The assessment is asynchronous, which means you fill it out on your own time and a licensed provider reviews it, usually within 24 to 48 hours. Some states or some cases require a live video or phone visit before a provider can prescribe, and if yours does, we schedule that for you at no extra cost.

You can start your assessment any time, day or night.

Eligibility depends on your full health picture, not one number. A provider looks at your body mass index, your weight history, related conditions such as high blood pressure or prediabetes, your current medications, and your personal and family medical history. Adults 18 and older who live in a state we serve can be evaluated. A licensed provider makes the final decision and only prescribes if a licensed provider determines it is appropriate.

BMI is one data point a provider considers, not a pass or fail gate on its own. In general, clinicians think about weight treatment for adults with a BMI of 30 or higher, or 27 and higher when a weight related condition is also present. Some patients qualify at a lower BMI when other health factors are in the picture, and some patients with a qualifying BMI are still not appropriate candidates because of their history. Your provider makes the call after reviewing everything you share.

Our programs are for adults 18 and older. We do not treat minors. A provider confirms your age and reviews your full health history before anything is prescribed.

Most people finish the assessment in about 2 minutes. It is a short set of plain language questions with no forms to print, no fax, and no office visit. Take your time on the medication and health history questions, because those are the ones your provider leans on most. You can stop and come back, though your answers are not saved to your device between sessions for privacy reasons.

No. Checking whether you qualify is free and there is no card required to complete it. You are only charged after a licensed provider has reviewed your assessment and prescribed a program, and only if you choose to move forward. If a provider decides treatment is not appropriate for you, you pay nothing.

You are not charged, and you get a clear explanation rather than a silent decline. In many cases a provider suggests something else, such as a different program, a lower starting dose, or a step to take with your local doctor first. If a condition needs to be worked up or managed before weight treatment is safe, we say so directly. You are welcome to reapply later if your situation changes.

Usually yes. Most common conditions such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, prediabetes, PCOS, sleep apnea, and treated thyroid disease do not automatically rule you out, and some of them are exactly why a provider may consider treatment. What matters is that you disclose them in the assessment so the provider has the real picture. A few conditions are true contraindications, and your provider will tell you plainly if yours is one of them.

No. GLP-1 and peptide programs are not appropriate during pregnancy or breastfeeding, and providers generally advise stopping a GLP-1 well before trying to conceive. Tell your provider right away if you are pregnant, think you might be, or are planning a pregnancy. If you become pregnant while on treatment, stop and contact your provider and your obstetric clinician.

Not always, and it depends on your history. Many patients are prescribed based on the assessment alone, and some are asked for recent labs, a current blood pressure reading, or a video visit before a provider will prescribe. If your provider wants labs, they will tell you which ones and you can use your own doctor, a local lab, or records you already have. Labs are not billed as part of your monthly program price.

Have your current height and weight, a list of every medication and supplement you take including doses, any diagnoses you carry, allergies, and your personal and family history of thyroid cancer or pancreatitis. If you have tried weight medication before, know which one, at what dose, and how you responded. If you have recent labs such as A1C, a lipid panel, or thyroid results, have the numbers handy. Accurate answers give your provider what they need to make a safe call.

Identity verification is a legal requirement before a licensed provider can prescribe to you, and it protects you from someone else obtaining medication in your name. You may be asked for a photo of a government issued ID and sometimes a photo of your face to match against it. Those images are handled as part of your medical record under the same privacy rules as the rest of your file, not as marketing data. If you would rather verify another way, ask the care team what alternatives are available.

It depends on your state and on your clinical situation. Many patients complete everything asynchronously, which means you answer questions and a licensed provider reviews them without a live call. Some states require a real time audio or video visit before a provider can prescribe, and some cases call for one regardless of state. If a visit is required for you, we schedule it and it is included in your program price rather than billed on top.

Semaglutide is a GLP-1 receptor agonist, which means it mimics a hormone your gut already releases after you eat. It slows how fast your stomach empties, signals fullness to your brain, and helps steady blood sugar, so most people feel satisfied on less food. It is given as a once weekly injection under the skin. Compounded medications are not FDA-approved. Results vary and are not guaranteed. See the semaglutide program for detail, from $99 a month.

Tirzepatide acts on two gut hormone pathways instead of one. It targets GLP-1 like semaglutide does, and it also targets GIP, a second hormone involved in appetite and how your body handles sugar and fat. Both are once weekly injections and both work through appetite and satiety rather than stimulants. Which one fits you depends on your history, your tolerance, and your provider's judgment. Compounded medications are not FDA-approved. Results vary and are not guaranteed. See the tirzepatide program, from $249 a month.

There is no single right answer, and your provider is the one who should make that call with you. People generally start with semaglutide because it is the more established of the two in practice and it costs less, and some move to tirzepatide if response is limited or side effects are an issue. Tirzepatide's second pathway means some patients tolerate it differently, in both directions. Cost matters too, since semaglutide starts at $249 a month and tirzepatide at $249 a month. Compounded medications are not FDA-approved. We wrote a longer side by side comparison if you want the full picture.

A compounded medication is prepared for an individual patient's prescription by a licensed compounding pharmacy rather than mass produced by a brand manufacturer. Compounded medications are not FDA-approved. That means the FDA has not reviewed that specific preparation for safety, effectiveness, or quality the way it reviews a brand name drug. The pharmacies we work with are licensed in the United States and follow their state and federal requirements. Your provider will explain what this means for you before you start, and you can ask any question you have before you fill a prescription.

No, and we will never say otherwise. Compounded medications are not FDA-approved. The active ingredients themselves are well studied and are used in approved brand products, but the compounded preparations we work with have not been through FDA review as finished products. This is a real distinction and you deserve to hear it plainly rather than buried in a footnote. If FDA approved brand medication is what you want, tell your provider and they can talk you through that path.

It is not the same product. It uses the same active ingredient class but it is prepared by a compounding pharmacy for your prescription, it may come in a different concentration or presentation, and it has not been through FDA review as a finished product. Compounded medications are not FDA-approved. Cost, availability, and how the medication is supplied are usually the practical differences patients notice. Your provider can walk through the tradeoffs before you decide.

Micro-dose is a low dose semaglutide program built for people who want to ease in gently rather than climb a standard titration ladder. It suits patients who are sensitive to side effects, who have a smaller amount to lose, who want to protect energy and training, or who simply prefer to go slow. Your provider can move you up later if that is the right call. Compounded medications are not FDA-approved. Results vary and are not guaranteed. See the micro-dose program, from $249 a month.

Sermorelin is a peptide that signals your pituitary gland to release your own growth hormone rather than adding hormone from outside. Patients generally use it with recovery, sleep quality, and body composition goals in mind, and it sits in a different lane than the GLP-1 weight programs. It is a nightly subcutaneous injection in most protocols. Compounded medications are not FDA-approved. Results vary and are not guaranteed. See the sermorelin program, from $150 a month.

Sometimes, and only your provider can decide that for you. Some patients run a GLP-1 for weight and add a peptide for recovery and sleep, and some providers prefer to change one thing at a time so it is clear what is doing what. Tell your provider your full goal set and every medication and supplement you take. Compounded medications are not FDA-approved. Never combine programs on your own without telling your care team.

Our current lineup is once weekly injectable for the GLP-1 programs and injectable for sermorelin. The needle is very short and very fine, thinner than what most people picture, and it goes into the fat layer just under the skin rather than into muscle. Most patients say the first one is nerve wracking and the second one is a non event. Compounded medications are not FDA-approved. If injections are a hard no for you, tell your provider during the assessment and ask what alternatives they can offer.

Your prescription is filled by a licensed United States compounding pharmacy and shipped directly to your address. We do not ship from overseas and we do not sell research chemicals or anything that skips a prescription. Compounded medications are not FDA-approved. If you ever want to know which pharmacy filled your order, message your care team and they will tell you.

Follow the storage instructions that come with your specific shipment, because they vary by preparation. As a general rule these medications are kept refrigerated between about 36 and 46 degrees Fahrenheit and are protected from light and freezing. Never use medication that has been frozen, and never leave it in a hot car. If your package arrives warm or if you are unsure whether it stayed cold, do not use it and message your care team right away.

Your label and the paperwork in your kit give the beyond use date for your specific preparation, and that is the date to follow. Compounded medications are not FDA-approved. Compounded products often carry a shorter usable window than a mass produced product, so do not assume a year. Write the date you first used a vial or pen on the box so you are never guessing. If a date has passed or the liquid looks cloudy, discolored, or has particles in it, do not use it and contact your care team.

Almost everyone starts low and moves up slowly, which is called titration. Starting low is not caution for its own sake, it is how your gut adapts and it is the single biggest lever on whether side effects are manageable. Your provider sets your starting dose, reviews how you are responding at each monthly check in, and decides whether to hold, raise, or lower. Dose changes are included in your monthly price and are never an upsell.

Traditionally a step every four weeks is the pattern clinicians work from, but your provider decides based on how you are actually doing rather than a calendar. If you are losing steadily and feel fine, there may be no reason to move up. If side effects are rough, holding at your current dose for another month is a normal and often smart decision. Faster is not better, and the dose that works with the fewest side effects is the right dose.

Pick a day that is easy to remember and stick with it, roughly the same time each week. Many patients choose a day where a slow next day is not a problem, such as Friday or Saturday, because early doses and dose increases can bring more nausea for a day or two. You can shift your day by up to a couple of days if you need to, as long as there are at least 48 hours between doses. Set a recurring phone alarm, because week to week is easier to lose track of than daily.

If you remember within about five days of your scheduled day, take it as soon as you remember and then go back to your normal weekly day. If more than about five days have passed, skip the missed dose entirely and take your next one on schedule. Never take two doses to catch up. If you have missed more than one week in a row, message your care team before you restart, because your provider may want you to step back down rather than resume at your old dose.

The usual sites are the abdomen at least two inches away from the navel, the front of the thigh, and the back of the upper arm. Rotate sites each week so the same patch of skin is not taking every dose. The needle is very short and very fine and goes into the fat layer just under the skin, and most patients describe it as a pinch or as nothing at all. Your kit includes instructions, and your care team will walk you through your first one if you want the hand holding.

For practical purposes the three standard sites work equally well, so pick what is comfortable and rotate. Avoid injecting into skin that is bruised, tender, hard, scarred, or irritated. A small red bump or a bit of itching at the site for a day is common and usually not a problem. If a site becomes hot, swollen, painful, or oozes, that is not normal and you should contact your care team.

Do not change your dosing on your own. Splitting doses, stretching a vial past its labeled use, or rationing to save money changes what your provider prescribed and can affect both your results and your safety. If cost is the reason, say so directly to your care team, because there are usually real options such as holding at a lower dose that costs less to sustain, or moving to a lower priced program. Compounded medications are not FDA-approved. We would much rather adjust the plan than have you improvise.

Tell your care team rather than white knuckling it. Providers routinely drop patients back to the last dose they tolerated and hold there, sometimes for several months, and that is a normal part of treatment rather than a failure. Many people do very well long term at a dose well below the maximum. Severe or persistent vomiting, dehydration, or intense abdominal pain are different and need attention right away.

Every medication has a ceiling that clinicians work within, and your provider will not go past what is appropriate for you. More is not automatically better, and pushing higher when you are already responding tends to buy side effects rather than results. The goal your provider works toward is the lowest dose that gets you a steady result you can live with. Results vary and are not guaranteed.

That is a conversation between you and your provider, and honest answers here are longer than most people want. Obesity is managed the way blood pressure is managed, which means many patients stay on some dose long term, and many others taper to a lower maintenance dose once they reach a weight they are happy with. Some people stop entirely and keep the habits that carried the result. Results vary and are not guaranteed, and your provider will revisit the plan with you at your check ins.

Yes, and it happens often for reasons ranging from cost to travel to surgery. Tell your care team before you stop so your provider can advise on whether to taper or stop outright. When you come back, a provider reviews your history again and usually restarts you lower than where you left off, because gut tolerance fades after a break. Restarting at your old dose on your own is the most common way people make themselves miserable.

Say so. Plenty of patients do better on a slower ramp, and providers here are comfortable holding a dose or moving in smaller steps when that is what your body is telling you. The micro-dose program exists specifically for people who want the gentlest possible on ramp, from $249 a month. Compounded medications are not FDA-approved. There is no clinical prize for climbing fast, and your provider will support a slower plan if that is what fits you.

Go by the instructions on your own label and the paperwork in your kit, and if there is any doubt at all, message your care team before you draw. This matters more than most patients realize, because the same milligram dose is a different number of units at a different concentration, and vials from different fills are not always the same strength. That mismatch is one of the most common medication errors in this whole category. Never assume the number of units from a previous vial or from something you read online carries over. Compounded medications are not FDA-approved. Concentrations can differ between preparations, so confirm every time your supply changes.

Tell your surgeon and your anesthesia team that you are on a GLP-1 well before the date, and tell your Medical Arts provider too. Because these medications slow stomach emptying, there is a risk of food remaining in the stomach during sedation, and anesthesia guidance generally calls for holding a weekly GLP-1 for at least a week before a procedure. The final instruction comes from the team performing your procedure, not from us, because they know your case and their own protocol. Do not stop or restart on your own without telling your provider, so your dose can be managed properly on the way back in.

Message your care team before you skip rather than after. A single missed week is usually manageable, and your provider may simply have you resume on schedule. Longer gaps often mean stepping back to a lower dose when you restart, because gut tolerance fades quickly. If you are ill with vomiting or diarrhea, tell your provider, since dehydration on top of a GLP-1 is the situation they most want to hear about early.

Stomach related effects are by far the most common: nausea, fullness that arrives faster than you expect, constipation, diarrhea, burping, and reflux. They cluster in the first few weeks and in the days after each dose increase, and for most people they fade as the body adapts. Fatigue and headache show up often too, frequently because people are eating and drinking less than they realize. Tell your care team what you are experiencing, because a hold at your current dose usually fixes it.

Eat smaller portions and stop at the first sign of fullness rather than pushing to finish. Go easy on greasy, fried, and very rich food in the two days after your dose, since fat sits in the stomach longest and a slowed stomach does not forgive it. Sip fluids steadily through the day instead of drinking a lot at once with a meal. If nausea is still hard after adjusting, message your care team, because your provider can hold your dose or discuss other options rather than leaving you to tough it out.

Water and fiber first, and both need to be deliberate because appetite suppression makes it easy to fall short on each. Aim for steady fluids through the day and get fiber from vegetables, beans, and fruit rather than only from a supplement. Daily movement genuinely helps here. If several days pass with no relief, message your care team before reaching for anything harsh, since your provider can recommend something appropriate for you.

Severe abdominal pain that will not let up, especially pain that bores through to your back, needs immediate medical attention because it can signal pancreatitis. Persistent vomiting that keeps you from holding down fluids, signs of dehydration, severe upper right belly pain with nausea or yellowing skin, and any allergic reaction with swelling of the face, lips, or throat or trouble breathing are all emergencies. Call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room. Telehealth is not built for emergencies and you should never wait on a message reply when something is severe.

A personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma or Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2 rules out this class of medication. So does a prior serious allergic reaction to a GLP-1. Pregnancy and breastfeeding are exclusions, and a history of pancreatitis, active gallbladder disease, severe gastrointestinal disease such as gastroparesis, or an active eating disorder all require careful review and may rule you out. Disclose all of it in your assessment, because your provider cannot weigh what they do not know about.

Rapid weight loss of any kind raises the risk of gallstones, and that is true whether the weight comes off through medication, surgery, or a very low calorie diet. Some patients on GLP-1s develop gallbladder problems for that reason. The symptoms to know are severe pain in the upper right belly, often after a fatty meal, sometimes with nausea, fever, or yellowing of the skin or eyes. Get medical care promptly if that happens rather than waiting it out.

Pancreatitis is uncommon but it is the reason severe abdominal pain is treated as urgent on these medications. The classic presentation is intense pain in the upper abdomen that radiates into the back, often with nausea and vomiting, and it does not come and go the way ordinary indigestion does. If you have had pancreatitis before, tell your provider, because it changes the risk calculation. If you develop that kind of pain, stop taking the medication and seek medical care immediately.

It can, and this is exactly why the medication list in your assessment matters. Because these medications slow stomach emptying, they can change how fast other oral drugs are absorbed, which is most important for medications with a narrow margin such as thyroid replacement, seizure medication, and warfarin. If you take insulin or a sulfonylurea for diabetes, your risk of low blood sugar goes up and your doses often need adjusting by whoever manages your diabetes. List everything you take, including supplements, and tell your care team whenever anything changes.

They can, and this is one of the most under answered questions in weight care. Vomiting or significant delays in stomach emptying may reduce how well an oral contraceptive is absorbed, and the risk is highest in the weeks after you start and after every dose increase. For tirzepatide in particular, labeling advises a backup method such as condoms, or switching to a non oral method, for four weeks after starting and for four weeks after each dose increase. Fertility can also rise as weight comes down, which surprises people who had assumed they could not conceive. Compounded medications are not FDA-approved. Talk to your provider and your gynecologist about your specific situation.

Talk to your provider about your situation, and know that many patients find alcohol simply does not sit the same way it used to. Alcohol on a slowed, emptier stomach hits faster and harder, it irritates a gut that is already sensitive, and it adds calories without adding fullness. A number of patients report they lose interest in drinking altogether while on treatment. If you do drink, go slower than you used to, eat something first, and stay hydrated.

GLP-1 medications have been used in diabetes care for well over a decade and there is a substantial body of experience with them. Compounded medications are not FDA-approved. They have not been through FDA review as finished products, which is a real difference from that brand experience and one you should weigh. Long term treatment is a decision to make with your provider and revisit at your check ins rather than set once. Tell your provider about any new symptom rather than assuming it is unrelated.

Your provider decides what monitoring your case needs based on your history and how you are responding. Some patients are asked for periodic labs, some are asked to track weight and blood pressure at home, and everyone has a monthly check in where the provider reviews how things are going. If you have diabetes, thyroid disease, or kidney disease, expect closer follow up and keep whoever manages those conditions in the loop. Bring anything unusual to your care team rather than waiting for the next scheduled check in.

Compounded medications are not FDA-approved. Honest safety talk starts there. They are prepared by licensed United States pharmacies for individual prescriptions and are subject to state and federal pharmacy requirements, but the FDA has not reviewed those specific preparations for safety, effectiveness, or quality the way it reviews a brand name product. That is a real tradeoff, not a technicality. Your provider will explain it and answer your questions before you fill anything, and you are free to decide it is not for you.

Message your care team, and for anything severe call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room without waiting for a reply. Telehealth is not an emergency service and it should never sit between you and urgent care. For non urgent questions, your message goes into the queue and a member of the care team responds, usually the same or next business day. When in doubt about whether something is urgent, treat it as urgent.

We will not give you a number, and you should be skeptical of any telehealth company that does. Results vary and are not guaranteed. Response to these medications differs widely between people based on starting weight, dose, genetics, what else is going on medically, and what changes alongside the medication. Your provider will talk through realistic expectations for your situation at your first review and revisit them as you go.

Most patients notice the appetite change before they notice the scale, often within the first week or two. Food noise quieting down, portions ending sooner, and less interest in snacking are the earliest signals people describe. Scale movement tends to be slow at the starting dose and picks up as the dose is titrated. Results vary and are not guaranteed.

Plateaus are normal and almost everyone hits at least one. Common reasons include the body adapting to a lower calorie intake, a dose that has stopped being enough, protein or sleep falling off, portions creeping back as side effects fade, or muscle being gained while fat is lost, which the scale cannot tell apart. Bring it to your monthly check in with specifics rather than assuming the medication stopped working. Your provider can look at whether a dose change or a different approach makes sense.

Weight regain after stopping is common and it is one of the most important things to understand before you start. These medications work while they are in your system, and appetite generally returns when they are not. That is why providers talk about maintenance dosing, tapering, and habit change rather than treating this as a short course you finish. Results vary and are not guaranteed, and your provider will discuss a plan with you if and when you decide to stop.

Some lean mass loss happens with any significant weight loss, and it is one of the things worth actively protecting against. The two levers with the best evidence behind them are eating enough protein and doing resistance training two or three times a week. Both matter more when you are eating less overall, which is exactly the situation these medications create. Talk to your provider about what makes sense for you.

The medication does real work on appetite on its own, and many people lose weight without overhauling their life. That said, what you eat, how you sleep, how much you move, and how much protein you get all change the result and change how you feel while getting there. Patients who protect protein, keep moving, and sleep well tend to have an easier time and hold results better. Results vary and are not guaranteed.

Tell your care team with specifics, because a real number of people are limited responders and that is a known clinical reality rather than a personal failing. Your provider may adjust the dose, look for something else that is interfering such as a medication or an untreated condition, or discuss switching to a different program. Give it enough time at an adequate dose before drawing conclusions, since early doses are deliberately below the effective range for most people. Results vary and are not guaranteed.

Individual response varies enough that population averages tell you very little about what will happen to you. Some patients respond better to one, some to the other, and some tolerate one much better than the other at the same effectiveness. Your provider considers your history, your response so far, and cost when helping you choose. Compounded medications are not FDA-approved. Results vary and are not guaranteed.

Patients often report changes in blood sugar, blood pressure, energy, joint comfort, and sleep as weight comes down, and some describe less preoccupation with food. What happens for you depends on your starting point and your medical picture, and we cannot promise any of it. Do not stop or change any medication you take for another condition on your own, especially diabetes or blood pressure medication, since those doses often need adjusting by whoever prescribes them. Results vary and are not guaranteed.

Yes, and they are labeled. Every testimonial we publish is marked as a verified patient with a note that results vary, and we do not present any of them as typical or expected. Individual stories are not a prediction of what will happen for you. You can read them on the reviews page with that framing front and center.

No, and the question itself is worth retiring. Body weight is regulated by hormones and biology, not by willpower alone, which is why most people who lose weight through effort alone regain it as their body defends its old set point. Treating that biology with medication is the same logic as treating blood pressure or thyroid function with medication. Nobody calls a statin cheating. Results vary and are not guaranteed.

Because your body actively works against the loss. When you eat less, appetite hormones rise, satiety hormones fall, and resting energy expenditure drops, which is a coordinated biological response rather than a failure of discipline. That response gets stronger the more weight you lose, which is why the last stretch is the hardest and why regain is so common. GLP-1 medications work on exactly that hormonal signaling. Results vary and are not guaranteed.

Food noise is the constant background chatter about what to eat next, and many patients describe it going quiet within the first couple of weeks. It is one of the first changes people notice, often before the scale moves at all. What is happening is that the medication amplifies satiety signaling, so the mental loop that kept returning to food loses its pull. Not everyone experiences it the same way, and it can come back if you stop. Results vary and are not guaranteed.

Clinically, yes, and this is worth knowing before you set an unrealistic target. Meaningful improvements in blood pressure, blood sugar, cholesterol, joint load, and sleep apnea are commonly seen in that range, well before anyone would call the result dramatic. Chasing a number on the scale can pull attention away from the health changes that are already happening. Talk to your provider about what a meaningful goal looks like for you. Results vary and are not guaranteed.

Programs start at $99 a month. Semaglutide starts from $99 a month, tirzepatide from $99 a month, micro-dose from $99 a month, and sermorelin from $99 a month. Every price includes your provider visit, your medication when it is prescribed, dose changes, monthly check ins, and shipping. Compounded medications are not FDA-approved. Full detail is on the pricing page.

Your provider evaluation and any follow up visits, your medication when a licensed provider determines it is appropriate, every dose change, your monthly check in, unlimited messaging with the care team, and shipping. There is no separate consult fee, no per message charge, and no shipping charge added at checkout. Lab work, if your provider asks for it, is not billed by us and is not included in the monthly price. Compounded medications are not FDA-approved.

No. The price shown during your assessment is the price you pay each month. There is no membership fee on top of the program price, no charge for dose adjustments, and no shipping fee. If anything about your plan or price changes, you see it and agree to it before it takes effect.

Your card is charged only after a licensed provider reviews your assessment and prescribes a program for you. Completing the assessment never triggers a charge, and no card is required to find out whether you qualify. After that first charge, billing runs on the same cycle you selected, monthly or quarterly.

You are not charged. The assessment is free and billing only begins once treatment is actually prescribed. If a provider decides a program is not appropriate for you, you get an explanation and no invoice.

Yes, where quarterly billing is offered. Paying for three months up front carries a savings badge over the monthly rate, and the exact amount is shown on the plan before you confirm. Quarterly is billed once at the start of each three month cycle rather than monthly. If your provider changes your program mid cycle, the care team will explain how that affects your billing.

Most patients can use an HSA or FSA card for prescribed treatment, and our checkout accepts standard cards including those issued by benefits administrators. Whether a specific expense is eligible is set by your plan and by IRS rules, not by us, so check with your administrator if you want certainty. Keep your receipt and any documentation your plan requires. If your administrator asks for an itemized receipt, message the care team and we will get you one.

Yes. There is no contract, no minimum term, and no cancellation fee. You can cancel by messaging the care team, or from your patient portal once your account is set up, and we will not put you through a retention maze to do it. Cancel before your next billing date to avoid the next charge.

A shipment that has already been processed or is in transit still comes to you, and it is not refunded, since a compounded prescription is prepared for you specifically. Compounded medications are not FDA-approved. Canceling stops future billing and future shipments from that point forward. If you want to stop an order before it is prepared, message the care team as soon as possible and they will tell you whether it can still be caught. See the refund policy for the specifics.

In most cases yes, and this is a better move than canceling if you are only stepping away for a while. Message the care team and tell them how long you want to pause, and they will hold your billing and your shipments. Pausing keeps your history and your provider relationship in place so restarting does not mean starting over. Tell your provider before you pause treatment so they can advise on whether to taper.

Prescription medication that has been prepared and shipped for you cannot be returned or refunded, which is standard across pharmacy for safety reasons. If something went wrong on our side, such as an order that never arrived, a damaged shipment, or a billing error, message the care team and we will make it right. Full terms are on the refund policy page.

Your program price does not change without notice, and any change is shown to you before it takes effect. If your provider moves you to a different program, such as from semaglutide to tirzepatide, the price changes to that program's price and you agree to it first. A dose increase within the same program does not change your price. Compounded medications are not FDA-approved. If a price ever changes, you will hear it from us before you see it on a statement.

Say so directly to your care team rather than rationing your medication or disappearing. There are usually real options, including holding at a lower dose, moving to a lower priced program, or switching to a prepaid plan billing for the savings. Compounded medications are not FDA-approved. We would rather adjust your plan than have you stop treatment abruptly. Never stretch or split doses on your own to save money.

No. There is one price and one subscription, so canceling ends the whole thing. This is worth stating plainly because it is the single biggest complaint in telehealth weight care: many companies run a membership fee and a medication charge as two separate auto renewing subscriptions, and canceling one quietly leaves the other running. We do not do that. When you cancel, you are canceling everything, and you will get a confirmation saying so.

Cancel at least 48 hours before your renewal date and you will not be charged for the next cycle. Your renewal date is shown in your patient portal once your account is set up, and the care team will tell you it any time. If you cancel inside that window, the charge for that cycle has usually already gone to the pharmacy to be prepared, and that order still ships to you. If you are close to the line and unsure, message the care team and they will tell you exactly where you stand rather than letting you find out on a statement.

We let you know and give you a chance to update your card before anything is disrupted. A declined payment holds your next shipment rather than canceling your program, because an unplanned gap in treatment is a clinical problem, not just a billing one. Message the care team and they will help you update your card. If you are pausing on purpose because of cost, tell us instead of letting a payment fail, since there are usually better options.

Sometimes, and you deserve to hear that from us rather than discover it later. Brand manufacturers now run direct to patient cash programs for their FDA-approved products, and depending on the medication and dose, those prices can be competitive with or better than telehealth pricing. What they generally do not include is the provider care, dose management, monthly check ins, and messaging that are built into our price. Compounded medications are not FDA-approved. That difference is part of the comparison too. Look at both and pick what genuinely fits your situation.

Most patients get a provider decision within 24 to 48 hours of finishing the assessment. If a provider prescribes, your order goes to a licensed United States pharmacy and medication typically arrives within 3 to 5 days after that. Timing can stretch during holidays, severe weather, or if the pharmacy needs to reach you first. You get tracking as soon as your order ships.

We ship nationwide from a US licensed pharmacy. Medication typically arrives in 3 to 5 days after a provider prescribes. See the shipping page for packing, tracking, and what to do if a package is delayed or damaged.

Tell your care team before your next refill. Your provider needs to be licensed in the state where you are when care is delivered. The care team updates your address and, if needed, routes you to a provider licensed there. Do not just change the shipping address without telling us.

We ship to a United States address, so a hotel, a family member's home, or a temporary address inside the country generally works as long as someone can receive it. We do not ship internationally. Give the care team as much lead time as you can so a shipment does not land somewhere you have already left. If your travel is long, ask about timing your refill before you go.

Yes. Medication and syringes are allowed through airport security in the United States, and you should keep them in your carry on rather than checked baggage, both because of temperature and because lost luggage is a real problem. Keep the medication in its original labeled packaging so it is clearly identified, and bring a small insulated bag with a cold pack if your product requires refrigeration. Rules differ outside the United States, so check the requirements for your destination before you travel. Declare it at security if asked.

Shipments arrive in discreet, unmarked packaging with nothing on the outside describing what is inside or naming a condition. If your medication requires cold chain handling, it ships insulated with a cold pack. Your kit includes the supplies and instructions you need to get started. Nobody who sees the box on your porch learns anything about your health from it.

Most shipments do not require a signature, though the carrier and your local rules control that. Because these products are temperature sensitive, bring the package inside promptly rather than leaving it out for a day. If you know you will be away, tell the care team before your refill ships so you can time it or change the address. Tracking is sent to you as soon as the order leaves the pharmacy.

Message your care team right away and do not use medication you are unsure about. They will pull the tracking, work with the pharmacy and the carrier, and get you a replacement when a replacement is warranted. If the package arrived warm, if a cold pack was fully thawed, or if the vial looks cloudy, discolored, or has particles, do not use it. Never try to salvage a shipment you have doubts about.

Use a sharps container and never put loose needles in household trash or recycling. A proper sharps container is inexpensive, and some patients use a rigid, puncture resistant container with a lid as an interim step where local rules allow it. Disposal rules are set locally, and pharmacies, health departments, and many hospitals run take back programs. Ask your care team if you are not sure what your area allows.

Do not use it, and message your care team right away with a photo if you can. A fully thawed cold pack or a package that sat on a hot porch means the product may have been outside its storage range, and there is no reliable way to tell by looking. This is exactly the situation replacements exist for, and we would far rather ship you another one than have you inject something you are unsure about. Never try to salvage a shipment you have doubts about, and never freeze a product to make up for it.

Message your care team before you use it and tell them how long it was out and roughly how warm the room was. Do not guess, and do not assume it is fine because it looks normal, since appearance is not a reliable test. Your storage instructions and the pharmacy's guidance for your specific preparation determine the answer. Compounded medications are not FDA-approved. Storage tolerances can differ between preparations, which is another reason to ask rather than assume.

No. Your prescription is filled by the licensed compounding pharmacy we work with and shipped to you, so there is no local pickup option for these programs. Compounded medications are not FDA-approved. They are prepared for your individual prescription rather than stocked on a retail shelf. If having a local pharmacy fill your prescription matters to you, talk to your own doctor about brand name options they can send to a retail pharmacy.

A United States licensed physician or nurse practitioner affiliated with an independently owned medical practice, licensed in your state. It is a real clinician reading your case, not an algorithm and not a call center reading a script. Medical Arts provides administrative and technology services and does not itself provide professional medical services. You can read about the clinicians on the about page.

You can message your care team any time and your provider reviews your case, your check ins, and anything you send. Whether you have a live video or phone visit depends on your state's requirements and your clinical situation, and if one is required we schedule it at no extra cost. Many patients handle everything by message, which is why asynchronous care exists. If you want a live conversation, ask for one.

Non urgent messages are generally answered the same or next business day. Clinical questions that need your provider rather than the care team can take a little longer, because a licensed clinician is actually reading and answering rather than a bot. If something is urgent, say so in the message. If something is severe, call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room instead of messaging.

Monthly, as part of your program and included in your price. Your provider reviews how you are responding, what side effects you are having, your weight trend, and anything else you raise, then decides whether to hold, raise, or lower your dose. Check ins are also where plateaus, cost concerns, and plan changes get sorted out. You are not limited to that window, and you can message in between whenever you need to.

Yes. Message the care team and they will route you to another licensed clinician on the platform without any awkwardness about it. You do not need to give a reason. Continuity is useful but fit matters more.

We encourage it and you should tell your primary care clinician that you are on treatment, especially if you take medication for diabetes, blood pressure, or thyroid. You can request a copy of your records to share with them at any time. If your own doctor wants information about your program, message the care team and they will help. Your provider here is not a replacement for primary care.

We will tell you when something is outside what this program does and point you where to go. Telehealth weight and peptide care is a specific lane, and it does not replace primary care, emergency care, mental health care, or management of conditions that need hands on evaluation. If your provider thinks something needs in person attention, they will say so directly rather than treating around it. That is not us passing you off, it is the right call.

Professional medical services are provided by licensed physicians and clinicians affiliated with independently owned and operated professional practices. Medical Arts provides the administrative and technology services that connect you with those clinicians and with a licensed United States pharmacy. That structure is standard in telehealth and it is stated on every page of this site rather than tucked away. Prescriptions are issued only if a licensed provider determines it is appropriate.

Message the care team and they will get you rescheduled, usually quickly. We do not charge a no show fee for a missed visit. A missed visit can delay a prescribing decision or a refill, so tell us as early as you can if you need to move it. If the timing of visits is a recurring problem for you, say so and the team will work around your schedule.

Yes. Your health answers are used to provide your care and are not sold and not sent to advertising or analytics companies. Access is limited to your care team, the licensed providers involved in your treatment, and the pharmacy that fills your prescription. The full detail is in our HIPAA notice and our privacy policy.

No. We do not send medical questions, your answers, diagnoses, medications, or your name, email, phone number, or address to any advertising platform. Marketing measurement runs on public marketing pages only and never on the health assessment or any page where you are logged in. This is a deliberate design decision, and it is the reason the assessment is built the way it is.

No. There are no advertising or analytics pixels on the questionnaire or on any page that handles your health answers. Your answers are held in your browser's memory while you complete the assessment and are not written to your device's local storage, are not put in the web address, and are not passed to any third party. If you close the tab, those answers are gone.

Your care team, the licensed providers involved in your treatment, and the licensed pharmacy that fills your prescription. Access is limited to what each of them needs to do their part. We do not share your records with employers, insurers, or marketers. The full list of permitted uses and disclosures is in the HIPAA notice.

Yes. Message the care team or use the contact options in our privacy policy and we will get you a copy of your records. You have a right to access your health information, and you do not need to explain why you want it. Tell us the format you prefer and we will accommodate it where we can.

You can ask, and we will honor it to the extent the law allows. Medical records are subject to legal retention requirements, which means some clinical records must be kept for a set period even after you stop treatment, and that is true of every medical provider rather than a policy of ours. Marketing contact data is a different category and can be removed on request. Send the request through the contact options in our privacy policy.

No. Shipments arrive in discreet, unmarked packaging with nothing on the outside naming the medication or a condition. Billing descriptors are similarly non specific. If you have a particular privacy concern about delivery, tell the care team and they will work with you on it.

No. We do not sell your personal or health information, and we do not rent it, trade it, or hand it to data brokers. The vendors we use to run the service, such as the pharmacy and payment processing, receive only what they need to perform their function and are bound by agreements limiting what they may do with it. That is spelled out in the privacy policy.

Your medical record stays with the practice that treated you and is retained for the period the law requires, the same as with any clinic you leave. You can request a copy at any time, before or after you cancel, and we recommend doing it when you cancel so you have your dosing history in hand. That history is exactly what a new provider will ask for, and patients who leave without it often end up restarting at a lower dose than they needed to. Message the care team and they will send it to you.

We do not report anything about you to insurers, employers, or background screeners. What you disclose on an application of your own is between you and that company, and those applications typically ask you directly about medications and conditions. Because we do not bill insurance, no claim for weight treatment flows through your insurance record from us. If a company requests your records, they need your written authorization, and you control whether to give it.

Often yes. Tell us your current medication, your exact current dose, how long you have been on it, and how you are tolerating it in the assessment. A provider reviews all of that and decides whether to continue you at the same dose, adjust it, or restart lower. Prescribing is always conditional on a licensed provider determining it is appropriate.

Not necessarily. If you are currently on treatment with no meaningful gap and you tolerate your dose, providers commonly continue you where you are rather than restarting the climb. Where a gap has opened up, a provider will usually step you back, because gut tolerance fades within a few weeks off treatment. Your provider makes that call based on the specifics you give them, so be precise about dates and doses.

Your medication name, your current dose and how long you have been at it, your dosing schedule, when you took your last dose, and any side effects you have had. Recent labs and your starting and current weight help too. Screenshots of your prescription label or a note from the prior provider are perfectly acceptable. The more precise you are, the less likely your provider has to be conservative and restart you low.

Yes, if your provider agrees it is the right move. Reasons patients switch include a limited response, side effects that will not settle, or cost, since semaglutide starts from $99 a month and tirzepatide from $249 a month. Dosing does not transfer one to one between the two, so your provider decides your starting point on the new medication rather than matching your old number. Compounded medications are not FDA-approved. Results vary and are not guaranteed.

Plan on about a week between finishing your assessment and having medication in hand, since provider review usually takes 24 to 48 hours and shipping typically takes 3 to 5 days. Start your assessment before you run out rather than after, and tell your care team the date of your last dose so they can factor it in. A short gap is usually not a clinical problem. A long gap often means your provider will restart you at a lower dose.

A provider can evaluate you for it. Compounded medications are not FDA-approved. Moving from a brand product to a compounded preparation is a real change that you should understand before you make it. Tell your provider what you were on, at what dose, and why you are considering the change. They will explain what is comparable, what is not, and what dose to start at if a licensed provider determines it is appropriate.

That decision belongs to a licensed prescriber who can see your full record, and it is not a simple one to one swap. Compounded medications are not FDA-approved. They are not always prepared at the same concentration or in the same form as a brand product, so matching a milligram number across the two is not automatically safe or accurate. Bring your exact current dose, your concentration if the label states it, how long you have been at that dose, and how you tolerate it. Your prescriber uses that to pick a starting point, and it is often lower than patients expect.

No. Prescriptions here are written by the licensed providers affiliated with the practice, based on their own evaluation of you, which is how prescribing has to work. We are not a fulfillment service for outside prescriptions. If you want to stay with your current prescriber, they can send your prescription to a pharmacy of their choosing. If you want to move your care here, complete the assessment and a provider will evaluate you.

No. We do not bill insurance for any program, and no insurance is required to be treated here. You pay one flat monthly price that covers your provider care, your medication when prescribed, dose changes, check ins, and shipping. That is why the price is the same every month regardless of what your plan does or does not cover.

Coverage for weight medication is inconsistent, slow, and frequently denied, and prior authorization can add weeks with no guarantee at the end of it. A flat cash price means you know exactly what you pay before you start and there is no surprise bill later. It also means no claim for weight treatment goes into your insurance record. Programs start at $99 a month.

You are welcome to try, and some plans reimburse out of network telehealth or prescription costs. We can provide an itemized receipt for what you paid, which is what most plans ask for. Whether they reimburse is entirely up to your plan, and we cannot predict or promise it. Coverage for compounded medication in particular is often excluded, so read your plan documents before you count on it. Compounded medications are not FDA-approved.

Most patients can. Our checkout accepts standard cards, including HSA and FSA cards issued by benefits administrators. Eligibility for a specific expense is decided by IRS rules and your plan, not by us, so check with your administrator if you need certainty. Keep your receipts, and message the care team if your administrator wants itemized documentation.

We do not submit claims to your insurer, so nothing from your program flows to your insurance company through us. Your treatment record lives with the medical practice that treats you and is governed by the same privacy rules as any other medical record. If you want your primary care doctor to have your records, you can request a copy and share it. That is your call, not something we do automatically.

Coverage for compounded medications is limited and many plans exclude them outright. Compounded medications are not FDA-approved. That is often the specific reason a plan gives for excluding them. If insurance coverage is important to you, talk to your own doctor about brand name options and what your plan requires for prior authorization. We would rather tell you that up front than have you find out after the fact.

No, because we do not bill insurance, so there is no prior authorization to run. That also means there is no waiting period where you are paying while a determination is pending, which is a common frustration in programs that do bill insurance. If prior authorization is the route you want, your own doctor can start it with your plan for a brand name product. Our path trades insurance coverage for speed and a price you know in advance, and programs start at $249 a month.

No. We do not bill Medicare, Medicaid, or any commercial plan for any program. Every patient pays the same flat monthly price directly, and programs start at $249 a month. If you rely on Medicare or Medicaid coverage for medication, talk with your own doctor about what your plan covers, because there may be a covered option we cannot offer you.

Lead with protein at every meal, add vegetables and fiber, and treat fat as a seasoning rather than the center of the plate in the days right after your dose. Because you will be eating noticeably less, the quality of what you do eat matters more than it used to. Eat slowly and stop when you first feel full, since the fullness signal arrives sooner and hits harder than you are used to. This is general information and not individual medical advice, so bring your specific situation to your provider.

Enough that you are not losing muscle along with fat, which usually means making protein the first thing on the plate at every meal. Many clinicians talk in terms of grams per pound of goal body weight, and your provider can give you a target that fits your size, your kidney function, and your training. Protein also keeps you fuller and is the easiest thing to fall short on when appetite drops. Ask your provider for a number rather than guessing from the internet.

Greasy, fried, and very rich food is the most common trigger for nausea, especially in the day or two after a dose. Very large meals cause trouble on a slowed stomach even when the food itself is fine. Carbonated drinks and alcohol bother a lot of patients. None of this is a permanent ban, it is what most people find in the first weeks, and much of it eases as your body adapts.

More than you will feel like drinking, because thirst cues drop along with hunger cues and dehydration is behind a lot of the fatigue, headache, and constipation patients report. Sip steadily through the day rather than drinking a large amount at once with a meal, which can make fullness and nausea worse. If your urine is dark or you feel lightheaded standing up, you are behind. Ask your provider if you have a condition that limits your fluid intake.

Resistance training two or three times a week is the highest value thing you can do, because it is what protects muscle while you are in a calorie deficit. Walking is the underrated second piece, since it is easy to sustain and it helps with digestion and constipation. You do not need to train hard to get the benefit, you need to train consistently. Check with your provider before starting a new program if you have heart, joint, or other conditions.

Many patients do, though a lot of people find they need to fuel differently once appetite drops. Under eating around hard training is the main problem to watch for, and it shows up as flat sessions, poor recovery, and lightheadedness. Time meals so you are not training on an empty stomach the day after a dose. Talk to your provider about what your training load means for your dosing and your intake.

Tell your provider everything you take, because supplements interact with medication more often than people expect. When overall food intake drops, some patients fall short on vitamins and minerals, and a provider may suggest something specific for you. Do not add a supplement stack you read about online without running it past your care team. That advice goes double for anything marketed as a fat burner or as a GLP-1 booster.

Most patients see sleep improve as weight comes down, particularly people with sleep apnea, though there is often an early stretch where dose changes disturb sleep for a few nights. Nausea and reflux are worse lying flat, so if that is your issue, do not eat close to bedtime and consider elevating your head. Poor sleep also raises appetite the next day, which works directly against what you are trying to do. Bring persistent sleep problems to your provider.

Some patients report mood changes, and this is worth taking seriously rather than shrugging off. Eating much less, losing weight quickly, and disrupted sleep all affect mood on their own. If you notice depression, anxiety, or any thought of harming yourself, contact your provider right away, and if you are in crisis call or text 988 in the United States for the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. Tell your provider up front about any history of depression or an eating disorder so it is part of the picture from day one.

Plan around it rather than winging it. Many patients time their dose so the heaviest side effect days do not land on a wedding, a holiday, or the first day of a trip, and your provider can advise on shifting your day. Bring your medication in your carry on with a cold pack if it needs refrigeration, and keep it in the original labeled packaging. Tell the care team about long trips ahead of time so refills are timed properly.

Yes, and most patients find they simply eat about a third of what they used to and take the rest home. Order the protein forward option, go easy on the fried starter and the second drink, and eat slowly enough to notice fullness before you are past it. The social part of eating out does not have to go away because the portion did. Do not force yourself to finish a plate to be polite, since that is the fastest route to feeling awful for the rest of the evening.

Not necessarily, and for a lot of patients the medication does that work by cutting appetite on its own. Some people find tracking useful for a few weeks just to see where protein actually lands, then stop. If you have a history of disordered eating, tracking can do more harm than good, and you should tell your provider that. What matters most is enough protein, enough fluid, and enough movement, in that order.