Over the last two years we have seen a rapid growth and development of weight loss options for consumers. Gone are the days where you are stuck taking Phentermine for a month, losing a bunch of weight, only to gain it back after stopping. Phentermine can be a helpful medication, but generally it works to super suppress your appetite, and when you stop you realized you’ve been eating 800 calories a day and your body CRAVES food again. There are also lots of risks, like hypertension and anxiety.
We all remember when Ozempic blew up, and we all get the commercial stuck in our head (oh oh oh oooozempic!). It was on the rise just as fast as it bottomed out- not because it wasn’t effective but because it was hard to find and expensive as heck if insurance wouldn’t cover it.
Enter: Semaglutide. This is the newer “compounded” version of Ozempic/Wegovy. Basically, pharmacies got creative at creating this alternative GLP-1 medication that is molecularly extremely similar to the brand names. This comes with a more affordable price tag.
GLP-1 medications help with insulin resistance and also with cravings. They slow the gastric emptying and leave people feeling fuller, longer. This is in part how they help with weight loss. Some people only need the low dose for a couple of months to reach their goals. Other people stay on the medication at a higher dose for longer to lose a certain amount.
As with any medication, there are certain risk. Common side effects that I see in our clinic are nausea and constipation. Fatigue can also be a symptom. More serious but less common adverse effects includes: pancreatitis, gallbladder disease, or Gastroparesis.
What I love about our weight loss membership is that it’s all inclusive. All your visits and injections are included at one monthly price. This allows me to be there with you ever step of the way. If you decide you want to do injections yourself at home, I can help teach you how to do that. We work together to make the medication safe and effective, while managing any side effects.
—Courtney Davenport, DNP, APRN, AGNP-BC
