Great question! Everyone wants to know how long it will take to lose weight. I focus mostly on injectable weight loss medications, semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy) and tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound).
Weight loss is a very personal journey, and if you were here today, it is likely you have tried many things to lose weight without permanent success. You may feel stuck, frustrated, or even hopeless. Well, you are not alone. And there is hope!
I am going to give you an overview of what to expect when you work with me.
- First, I will send you a questionnaire to discover your story and medical history, and to determine whether you can safely take these medications.
- If you fit common criteria for insurance coverage: diabetes, BMI >30 or greater than BMI > 27 (Check your BMI) with other conditions such as PCOS, high blood pressure or cholesterol, insulin, resistance, etc. then I will send your prescription to a retail pharmacy of your choice.
- Your pharmacy will receive the prescription and your insurance benefits will inform you if the medication is covered based on your medical need or if you need a prior authorization required by the insurance to see if you meet their eligibility requirements.
- If you want me to complete a prior authorization for you, I can do this for $50.
- Once the prior authorization is submitted, we wait for your reply, usually 72 hours.
- In the meantime, I will give you valuable information about the medication, how it works, its benefits, side effects, injecting your medicine, dosing calendar, and weight loss tracker (download tracker).
Things to know
We will need to meet monthly for check-in visits until you reach your goal away or you reach the maximum dose of medication and or stable whichever comes first.
This usually takes six months. Once you are maintaining your weight or stable on your dose, we can meet every three months, then later every six months.
- Other medications you take will be affected by semaglutide and tirzepatide because your digestion slows down.
- Your medicine may take effect more slowly or have higher concentration levels. Please be mindful of side effects.
- Also, as you lose weight, your medications may need to be reduced or stopped, for example, blood pressure, cholesterol, thyroid, diabetes, medicine, etc.
- Always ask if you have concerns!
I will give you a breakdown of the typical time frames I am seeing for my patients to lose the weight they want on these medications.
- If you want to lose less than 30 pounds, then you only need 4 to 6 months’ time
- If you want to lose 30 to 50 pounds give yourself at least six months.
- If you want to lose 50 pounds give yourself six months
- And if you want to lose 75 pounds, give yourself 10 to 18 months.
Finally, if your insurance doesn’t cover your medication, they’re too expensive or there are drug shortages, you do have options. You can check the drug manufacturer for coupons. You can also ask me for information on affordable compounding pharmacies I work with. Pharmacy choose to work with for certificates of analysis, validity, and reliability. The pharmacies use do not use acetate or sodium in their compounding of these medications. They are testing their drugs for purity, sterile, potency. They are buying the wrong ingredient from FDA approved facilities making the drug.
Thank you and I look forward to working with you!