Getting Started

1. Is GLP-1 right for me?

GLP-1 medications are mainly used for weight management and type 2 diabetes. Per FDA labeling, they are an option at a BMI around 30, or 27 with a related health condition. That is only a starting point. The real answer comes from a licensed prescriber who looks at your whole health picture. Our job is to help you walk into that conversation already informed.

2. What is a GLP-1, and how does it work?

A GLP-1 is a medication that copies a natural hormone your gut releases after you eat. It gently turns down appetite and slows digestion. You feel full sooner and stay full longer, which makes it easier to eat less.

You have probably already heard the brand names. Ozempic and Wegovy are both semaglutide. Mounjaro and Zepbound are both tirzepatide. Brand and compounded versions are intended to contain the same active ingredient, though compounded versions are not FDA-approved or verified as equivalent. Next-generation options like retatrutide are still in late-stage trials and not yet FDA-approved, with some of the strongest results reported in trials so far.

3. What is compounded GLP-1?

You will see two versions out there: brand and compounded. Both are intended to contain the same active ingredient, though compounded versions are not FDA-approved or verified as equivalent. The difference is who makes it and how it is regulated. Brand versions like Ozempic or Zepbound come straight from the manufacturer and are FDA-approved. Compounded versions are made to order by a licensed pharmacy.

The trade-off: compounded versions are not FDA-approved, so quality depends on the pharmacy that makes them, its licensing and its standards. Why this matters: we show the pharmacy behind each provider when it is disclosed, and keep that picture current as things change.

4. How do I actually get it, and do I need a prescription?

Getting started is more straightforward than most people expect. All GLP-1s require a prescription, but that part is typically built into the provider's service. The provider's licensed clinician takes care of it as part of your telehealth visit.

The usual path is simple. You complete a short online visit, often just a set of health questions, and the provider's licensed clinician reviews it. If a GLP-1 is a good fit, they write the prescription and your medication ships to your door.

So yes, a GLP-1 is a prescription medication, but the prescription comes from that visit. If it turns out not to be the right fit, a good provider will tell you why and what your options are. Availability and rules can vary by state.

5. How much does it cost and will insurance cover it?

Cost is the part that varies the most. What you pay depends on the medication, its format, and whether insurance applies, so it is worth weighing your options before you decide.

Insurance depends on your plan. It often covers a GLP-1 for type 2 diabetes, but not always for weight loss alone. A quick call to your insurer is the best way to know where you stand. If they will not cover it, many people compare the cash price of brand and compounded options.

6. How much weight will I lose, and how fast?

This is the question almost everyone asks first. In trials, people lost 15 to 25 percent of their weight in about a year, depending on the medication. Those are trial averages at full maintenance doses with lifestyle support, not a personal prediction. The steepest loss came in the first several months, then continued at a steadier pace. See the real numbers, broken out by medication.

7. Are there side effects and is it safe?

In the trials, the most commonly reported side effects were digestive. Nausea was the most frequent. It tended to come on early, then settle as the body adjusted. Some people reported diarrhea or fatigue early on, and constipation later. Everyone's experience is different, and your prescriber can tell you what to expect.

GLP-1s are not for everyone, and the health check before you start is there to catch that. Serious side effects are possible. The medicine comes with a label that spells out the warning signs, and your prescriber knows your history and can walk you through them. If anything is severe or will not go away, get it checked or seek care right away rather than waiting it out.

The serious risks are on the label too, and they are the reason the health check exists. These medicines carry a boxed warning about a rare type of thyroid tumor seen in animal studies, and they are not for people with a personal or family history of medullary thyroid cancer or MEN 2 syndrome. The labels also flag pancreatitis, gallbladder problems, severe digestive events, and pregnancy. The FDA label is the authoritative list, and severe or persistent symptoms mean getting care now, not at the next visit.

GLP-1s have been studied for years and are widely prescribed, and safety questions about your own situation belong with your prescriber. One risk anyone can avoid is gray-market product with no real provider behind it. This is where we help. We track what each provider discloses and what we can verify from public records so you can see who is behind your medicine.

8. How long do I take it, and what if I stop?

For most people, a GLP-1 is a long-term medicine, not a quick fix. It works by managing your appetite, so the help fades when you stop. In trials where people stopped cold turkey, they regained about half to two-thirds of what they had lost, but still ended up around 5 to 10 percent below where they started. Real life is more nuanced: in a Cleveland Clinic study of nearly 8,000 patients, about 45 percent kept the weight off a year after coming off their first medication, but many of them got there by restarting it or switching to another treatment rather than stopping for good. A lower maintenance dose and lasting habits also make a difference.