What are Wegovy and Ozempic?

Wegovy and Ozempic are both brand names for a peptide called Semaglutide. Wegovy is FDA-approved for weight management in adults with obesity or overweight with at least one weight-related condition, such as high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, obstructive sleep apnea, high cholesterol or cardiovascular disease. Ozempic is FDA-approved for type 2 diabetes, or prediabetes accompanied by a related condition, such as high blood pressure or high cholesterol. These medications are part of a class of drugs called glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists.

How does Semaglutide work for Weight Loss?

Semaglutide is a peptide that works by mimicking the effects of GLP-1, a naturally occurring hormone that helps regulate blood sugar levels and appetite. By activating GLP-1 receptors in the brain, Semaglutide can help reduce hunger and increase feelings of fullness, leading to decreased food intake and ultimately, weight loss. More importantly, it improves your sensitivity to insulin, thereby requiring less insulin to regulate your blood sugar. This is paramount to weight loss because when your insulin levels are high, your body stores fat. When your insulin levels are lower, your body is able to lose fat more easily.

Benefits of Semaglutide

  • Effective Weight Loss: Clinical trials have shown that both Wegovy and Ozempic can lead to significant weight loss when combined with a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity.
  • Improvement in Obesity-Related Conditions: In addition to weight loss, these medications can also help improve conditions such as high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes and high cholesterol.
  • Convenience: Semaglutide is administered once a week via a subcutaneous injection. When it’s taken for diabetes, it may also be taken daily, depending on the dose. This makes them convenient options for many patients.

FAQs

Just because you meet the criteria, does not mean your insurance company will cover it.

 

We will submit a PA one time.  If it’s declined, we will not resubmit.  In our experience, resubmitting does not improve the chances of coverage and requires lots of work from our staff.

 

If you have the following, you should not take Semaglutide:

  • Having a personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma
  • Having a personal history of multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2
  • Having had an allergic reaction to Ozempic or any of its ingredients
  • History of personal history of pancreatitis (extreme caution)

 

The most common side effects of semaglutide include constipation, nausea, early fullness, and diarrhea. These can be managed and often avoided by starting at a low dose and increasing slowly to the lowest effective dose.   For more information about side effects, please check here: https://www.wegovy.com/taking-wegovy/side-effects.html OR https://www.ozempic.com/how-to-take/side-effects.html

 

Without insurance coverage, Wegovy costs about $1300/mo, and Ozempic costs about $1000/mo.  Glendale Whole Health offers compounded Semaglutide (similar to a generic form) for only $500/month!

 

Functional Medicine Approach

At Glendale Whole Health we believe in a comprehensive, individualized, functional medicine approach to weight management. While medications like Wegovy and Ozempic can be effective tools for some individuals, we also emphasize the importance of addressing underlying factors that may contribute to weight gain, such as:

  • Nutrition: We work with our patients to develop personalized nutrition plans that support their weight loss goals and overall health.
  • Physical Activity: We help our patients find enjoyable ways to stay active and incorporate exercise into their daily routines.
  • Lifestyle Factors: Stress, sleep quality, and other lifestyle factors can impact weight. We offer strategies to manage these factors effectively.
  • Hormone Optimization: Hormonal imbalances can contribute to weight gain. We offer hormone testing and optimization as part of our approach.
  • Gut Health: Imbalances in gut bacteria can affect weight. We assess and address gut health as part of our treatment plans.

The Glendale Whole Health Semaglutide Weight Loss Program is a comprehensive weight loss program that addresses weight loss from a functional medicine perspective.  It includes the following

  • Initial Consultation with Dr. Speller
  • Full assessment with body composition, basal metabolic rate testing, and body measurements
  • Baseline lab testing (insurance or cash pricing)
  • Thorough review of lab results
  • A prescription for Wegovy or Ozempic*
  • Escalation to the dose of Semaglutide that works best for you Monthly follow-ups during the dose escalation, with quarterly follow-ups on maintenance dose

*If your insurance does not cover the brands Wegovy or Ozempic, you have the option of purchasing compounded Semaglutide from us for $500/month.

 

In our experience, starting at the lowest dose, 0.25mg, is the best way to avoid complications, so we are adamant about starting here.

 

If you haven’t taken Semaglutide in a few months, you will likely need to resume at a lower dose.  Please discuss this with Dr. Speller during your visit.

 

If you don’t make lifestyle and dietary changes, you will still lose some weight while on Semaglutide, however, you will regain the weight when you stop the medication. That is why Glendale Whole Health uses a functional medicine approach to weight loss.  Your consultation and/or lab tests may reveal issues that need to be corrected, such as inflammation, vitamin D deficiency, or sleep apnea. You may have low thyroid function or low testosterone.  All of these are examples of factors that should be addressed as they contribute to weight gain.

Being on Semaglutide gives you an opportunity to learn new satiety signals and learn portion control.  As you lose weight, you will be more inspired to become more active and exercise.  These new-found lessons will be important when you wean off of Semaglutide.

Once you’ve reached your goal weight and have decided to discontinue Semaglutide, you will be weaned off, just as your dose was slowly increased when you started it.   Dr. Speller will recommend supplements that are natural GLP-1 agonists to replace Semaglutide to help you maintain your healthy weight indefinitely.

 

If you are using Semaglutide for Type 2 Diabetes and aren’t experiencing any side effects, you can continue the medication indefinitely.  If you are using semaglutide for weight loss, it’s best to reassess the need for the medication once you have reached your goal weight.  It’s best not to stay on it indefinitely for weight loss.

 

If you no longer meet the weight requirement for Semaglutide, you can continue the medication only if you have documented Type 2 Diabetes or insulin resistance.

 

Mounjaro and   Zepbound are the brand names of tirzepatide, another peptide that is similar to semaglutide.  Zepbound is FDA-approved for weight management in adults with obesity or overweight with at least one weight-related condition, such as high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, or high cholesterol. Mounjaro is FDA-approved for type 2 diabetes, or prediabetes accompanied by a related condition, such as high blood pressure or high cholesterol. Similar to Semaglutide, these medications are also part of the class of drugs called glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists, but they also are glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) agonists.  This additional characteristic may lead to an extra weight loss boost in some patients.

 

Yes, you are able to choose Mounjaro/Zepbound/tirzepatide if that’s your preference.

 

The decision to use Semaglutide, tirzepatide, or any other weight loss medication should be made in consultation with a healthcare provider. At Glendale Whole Health, we offer comprehensive evaluations to determine the most appropriate treatment plan for each individual.

If you're interested in learning more about these medications, or our approach to weight management, please contact us to schedule a consultation.

Click here to book your appointment now or call (818) 551-0464!