Semaglutide's brand name is Wegovy, and we offer it at Precision Health

Semaglutide - the game changer in sustained weight loss

Have you been struggling with weight loss? Want something in addition to or as an alternative to phentermine? Afraid of taking stimulant medications for weight loss? Are typical weight loss drugs contraindicated for you? Do you have prediabetes? Are you considering bariatric surgery?  Well, there is a "new kid in town" - semaglutide.

Semaglutide is a member of a class of drugs that have been used for diabetes management for over a decade - GLP1-RAs (glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists). The weight loss effects of these agents has been known for some time, however, semaglutide appears to be the "best-in-class" GLP-1 RA for weight loss and was recently approved for weight loss by the FDA under the brand name Wegovy®.

How well does semaglutide work?

Low-dose semaglutide (1.0mg) once-weekly resulted in an average 11 pound weight loss in 12 weeks.

A recent 20-week, phase II trial investigated the effects of subcutaneous administration of semaglutide 2.4 mg on gastric emptying, appetite, and energy intake in patients. Patients receiving semaglutide 2.4 mg in this trial lost 9.9% of their bodyweight, compared with 0.4% in those receiving placebo.

High-dose (2.4mg) Semaglutide has been studied in non-diabetic patients suffering from obesity. The New England Journal of Medicine's publication of the STEP trial revealed more than 50 percent of trial participants lost 15 percent of their body weight, and between 33 to 40 percent are losing 20 percent of their body weight. This number is superior to the current best weight loss agent (phentermine plus topiramate; approximately 10% body weight loss in a year).

How does semaglutide work?

Semaglutide mimics the effect of "feeling full" resulting in a decreased caloric intake. Semaglutide will delay gastric emptying by reducing glucagon secretion in a glucose-dependent manner. The delay in gastric emptying can reduce appetite, improve control of eating, and reduce food cravings.

How is semaglutide administered?

Currently, we are only offering semaglutide as a once-weekly subcutaneous injection. It may be available as an oral agent in the future, but we haven’t seen good studies on the oral form for weight loss. While some of you may be afraid of injections, these are actually quite straightforward injections with a VERY SMALL needle into the abdominal area (like insulin injections). There are big advantages to the once-weekly dosing - you don’t have to remember your medications and the semaglutide is working 24/7 suppressing your appetite without the stimulant effects of typical weight loss medication. The dosing schedule is the following: 0.25 mg/week for weeks 1-4; 0.5 mg/week for weeks 5-8; 1.0 mg/week for weeks 9-12; 1.7 mg/week for weeks 13-16; and 2.4 mg/week for subsequent weeks.

Does semaglutide have side effects?

Most common side effects are: nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, constipation, stomach (abdomen) pain, headache, tiredness (fatigue), upset stomach, dizziness, feeling bloated, belching, gas, stomach flu, and heartburn. Note that most of these are manageable by proper dosing and some overlap with the intended effect of "feeling full".

Are you a candidate for semaglutide?

There are only two qualifications for semaglutide:

A BMI over 30 and no weight-related complications

A BMI over 27 with weight-related complications

You can check your BMI online but a BMI of 27 corresponds to about 180 lbs in a 5'8" person and a BMI of 30 corresponds to 200 lbs in a 5'8" person. If your BMI does not quite meet those numbers, you may still qualify if your body composition determined in the office shows excess fat.

Is there anyone who can't take semaglutide?

There are rare situations where semaglutide is contraindicated. Patients with a personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma or in patients with Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2)

Does insurance cover semaglutide?

Semaglutide is not covered by most Medicare and insurance plans, but manufacturer and pharmacy coupons can help offset the cost. It currently is very expensive ($1300-1800 a month).

I can't afford that. Is there any other way?

Dr. Brown has access to semaglutide from a compounding pharmacy for on-going use. The cost of the program is $400 for the first six weeks paid upfront ($400 - there is a six-week minimum) and $250 per 2.5 mg vial thereafter. Stated differently, the first 6 weeks cost only $400 (with cash discount). The next 5 weeks only cost $475 (with cash discount). Subsequent months cost anywhere from $250 to $1,000 based on how high of a dosage you desire for the goals you are wanting to reach. THESE PRICES INCLUDE THE MEDICATION AND OFFICE VISITS and are the best prices around (and much better than the cost of surgery or staying the same). The increase in price in later months is due to the increased dosing. While we do accept HSA plans, we do not take insurance or Medicare for payment for this service/product.

Tirzepatide's brand name is Mounjaro, and we offer it at Precision Health

While you have probably heard a lot of excitement around the impressive results with GLP-1 medications such as Ozempic, Saxenda and Wegovy, there is a new medication available which offers us a new, exciting option when it comes to weight loss and diabetes control. Mounjaro (generic name: tirzepatide), is a dual-action medication which acts on both GLP-1 and GIP receptors (mimicking hormones we naturally produce in the gut) to produce a reduced appetite, earlier fullness and improved blood sugar regulation.

WHAT DOES THE DATA SHOW ABOUT TIRZEPATIDE/MOUNJARO FOR WEIGHT LOSS?

For people struggling with obesity without diabetes, the SURMOUNT-1 trial showed that the highest dose of TIRZEPATIDE/Mounjaro produced an impressive 20.9% weight loss in 72 weeks, or an average of 52 pounds lost! In addition, more than one third of participants on the highest dose lost over 25% of their body weight, a weight loss range that gets close to the amount of weight loss seen after bariatric surgery and not previously seen with other anti-obesity medications. For comparison, the placebo-controlled group lost an average of only 3.1% with diet and lifestyle changes alone over the same time frame. While it is difficult to compare results across different studies, prior studies showed the next most impressive medication, Wegovy (generic: semaglutide), producing an average of 14.9% weight loss over a slightly shorter time frame.

Additional benefits in overall health were seen in this study as well. Over 95% of participants with prediabetes at the start of the study achieved normal blood sugar levels by the end of the study, compared with around 62% achieved by the placebo group with diet and exercise alone. There were also significant improvements in cholesterol levels, blood pressure and overall reported physical function for those on TIRZEPATIDE/Mounjaro compared to placebo.

For people with Type 2 Diabetes, the SURPASS-1 trial showed that the highest dose of TIRZEPATIDE/Mounjaro produced an average weight loss of 11%, or about 25 pounds, with an average a1c reduction of 2.3% over a 40 week period! While not a perfect comparison, prior studies on the highest dose of Wegovy (generic: semaglutide) showed that Wegovy produced an average of 9.6% weight loss and 1.6% reduction in A1c over 68 weeks in people with diabetes.

CAN I TAKE TIRZEPATIDE/MOUNJARO IF I’VE ALREADY HAD BARIATRIC SURGERY?

While there are no studies yet in the use of TIRZEPATIDE/Mounjaro for weight regain or sub-optimal weight loss after bariatric surgery, there are studies that show that other GLP-1 agonists are safe and effective to use for patients after bariatric surgery. We are successfully using TIRZEPATIDE/Mounjaro and others in this class to help with sub-optimal weight loss after bariatric surgery with impressive results.

WHAT ARE THE SIDE EFFECTS OF TIRZEPATIDE/MOUNJARO?

As with any medication, side effects can occur on this medication. The most common side effects include nausea, diarrhea and constipation. Usually, these are mild-to-moderate and they usually improve over time. We recommend a slow escalation in dose on these medications to reduce any side effects and give your body time to adjust to the medication. We also recommend simple dietary strategies to improve side effects such as eating more slowly than you might usually, avoiding high fat, greasy foods and making sure to sip water throughout the day to stay hydrated.

While TIRZEPATIDE/Mounjaro will not cause hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar, on its own, it can cause low blood sugars when combined with medications such as insulins or sulfonylurea medications. Your healthcare provider will likely need to reduce your dose or discontinue insulins or sulfonylurea medications when you start TIRZEPATIDE/Mounjaro to avoid these risks. The great news is, insulins and sulfonylurea medications can actually cause weight gain, while TIRZEPATIDE/Mounjaro causes weight loss, so being able to reduce or eliminate the need for insulins and sulfonylurea medications is beneficial to overall health and weight control for those with Type 2 Diabetes!

In rare cases, pancreatitis has been reported with this class of medications and therefore your healthcare provider should counsel you on signs and symptoms of pancreatitis, however, this is not a typical side effect. People with a family history of medullary thyroid cancer or MEN-2 syndrome should not take this medication and those who have previously had pancreatitis should also avoid this class of medications.

HOW IS TIRZEPATIDE/MOUNJARO TAKEN?

TIRZEPATIDE/Mounjaro is a once weekly subcutaneous injection taken in the thigh, abdomen or upper arm that most patients can administer themselves. It comes in a single-dose pen with the medication dose already measured out and the needle already attached to be as user-friendly as possible. The needle is very small and medication is injected just under the skin. Most people report very little pain or discomfort with this injection, most describe it as similar to a small pinch. The initial dose is 2.5 mg weekly. The second month, the dose is increased to 5 mg weekly. The third and subsequent months at Precision, the dose is either 5 mg or 10 mg weekly depending on your personal goals, results, and budget.

HOW MUCH DOES TIRZEPATIDE/MOUNJARO COST?

Although the difficult to get brand name Mounjaro is very expensive with pricing for the low dosing at around $1100.00, we now offer the equally effective Tirzepatide at the starting price of only $400 (with cash discount). The second month of medication is only $500 (with cash discount)! And at the highest dose that we offer and the one where 50% of research study participants lost at least 20% of their body weight during the study, this monthly price is only $900! As always, we deliver superior products at a very good price so that you can achieve the results that you desire and deserve.

THE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY PROGRAM REQUIRES AN INITIAL VISIT TO ONE OF OUR CONVENIENT PRECISION HEALTH OFFICES

Clients will receive a 5-week program consisting of the following: (1) VIP assessment with physician; (2) Best-in-class 3-D Body Composition scan; (3) Weight management medications; (4) Lipotropic B (fat burner) and B-12 Health Optimizing Boost injections; (5) All-natural Super Energy supplements; (6) Lipo B plus (fat burner) supplements; (7) Precision Health premium protein meal replacements; (8) and a virtual follow-up session with our renowned health coach; and (9) a complimentary food diary review.

       Steps to Get Started:

          1. Download "Precision Health" App

          2. Complete Online Profile

          3. Look under the category "Semaglutide" or "Tirzepatide" based on what you want

          4. Select the "Initial Visit" option

          5. Schedule and Pay (Need help at this point? Text 404-496-6028 once profile is complete)

          6. Complete Form (link at top of Appointment Confirmation Email) prior to your initial visit, if possible