Medical Weight Loss: Common weight loss medications offered in medical weight loss clinics

Medical Grade weight loss products

Losing weight and keeping it gone can decrease many health risks that come with obesity, including heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, and early death. However, we all know, and scientific evidence has confirmed, that losing excess body fat is very difficult, and that the risk of regaining the lost weight is very high. Scientists have estimated the proportion of individuals who lose weight and successfully maintain the weight loss to be as low as 1% to 3%. So, if you have excess body weight and you are struggling to lose it despite a healthy diet and exercise, it’s time to look beyond lifestyle. At Holts Healthcare, Pain & Wellness, we have medical grade weight loss products that you can buy. Some of the products are Phentermine, Ozempic, Saxenda, Lipotropic injections, and Wegovy. You have to pay cash at our office as no insurance will cover these drugs

Phentermine

Phentermine is a prescription medication similar to amphetamine, that is in the form of pills that some people use to lose weight. It is not intended for people who just want to lose a few pounds, but for people who are obese, those who have weight-related medical problems, and those who have failed to lose satisfactory weight through diet and exercise alone. The drug can help weight loss by reducing hunger, suppressing appetite, or making you feel full for longer period. Just as other prescription weight-loss drugs, phentermine is formulated to be used as part of a complete weight-loss plan. So, you have to use it with a doctor-approved diet, exercise, and behavior change so that you can effectively lose weight. Phentermine is one of the most commonly prescribed medications for weight loss. However, it is not a good option for people who have high blood pressure, heart disease, glaucoma and an overactive thyroid gland. It is also not a good option for pregnant women, women who plan to get pregnant, and breastfeeding women. Cost: $75 monthly

Ozempic

Ozempic is an injectable medication that is used to control blood sugar levels in people who have type 2 diabetes. It is available as a pre-filled pen injector that you can use once a week. It has been found to cause weight loss so it is currently under review by the FDA as a once a week shot to help people lose weight when used in combination with diet and exercise. People taking GLP-1 agonists like Ozempic for diabetes tend to lose weight. GLP-1, the key hormone contained in Ozempic, slows down the speed of emptying the stomach, blocks a hormone that causes the liver to release sugar, and curbs your appetite. These three functions make you feel less hungry, so you eat less food and lose more weight. You will need to increase your dosage weekly till you reach a level at which you see the most weight loss. However, weight loss takes time and you will get the best results if you combine the medication with a healthy diet and exercise. Ozempic is FDA-approved for diabetes, so it is considered safe when used as indicated. Avoid it if you or your family has a history of certain thyroid cancers. Price: $60 monthly

Saxenda

Saxenda, an injectable prescription medication, is approved to be used with doctorapproved exercise, diet, and behavior change for weight loss. It is suitable for adults who are obese and those who have weight-relate medical problems. It is also indicated for children between 12 and 17 years old who weigh over 132 pounds (60kg) to help them to lose weight and keep it off. Saxenda comes in a pre-filled pen. You will inject it under the skin as directed by your medical service provider. Liraglutide, contained in the medication, is similar to incretin, a natural hormone in your body. It works by controlling your appetite, making you feel less hungry, making you feel full for longer, and slowing down the emptying of your stomach.

Do not use Saxenda if you are pregnant, have tumors in your glands, have a personal or family history of medullary thyroid cancer, have diabetic ketoacidosis, or have insulindependent diabetes. Price: $350 monthly

Lipotropic injections

If you are struggling to lose weight, you may need essential vitamins and minerals that stimulate the right hormones that help you to burn fat. A lipotropic injection contains nutrients that are made up of choline, inositol, methionine, branched chain amino acids, B-complex vitamins, and vitamin B12. Each nutrient plays a key role in the way fat is burned or utilized, and the way toxins are removed from the body. The overall effect is enhanced fat loss, especially if the injections are combined with a healthy diet and exercise program. We administer the injections in the arm, the thigh, the abdomen, or the buttocks at our office once a week. Allergies to vitamins and nutrients are rare. If you have any allergy symptoms, that may indicate a serious underlying problem, and you need to seek medical assistance immediately. Price: $100 monthly

Wegovy

In June 2021, the FDA approved Wegovy, a drug previously approved for diabetes, as a new treatment for chronic weight management for adults with obesity and overweight problems. Wegovy is a drug that comes in the form of an injection. The active ingredient is a synthetic glucagon-like peptide-1, a digestive tract hormone that affects the parts of the brain which control hunger and appetite. In studies, it was injected once a week to treat obese patients. It was found to work by slowing down the emptying of the stomach and promoting a feeling of fullness by acting on the brain. In clinical trials designed to evaluate its safety for obese people without diabetes, the participants lost an average of 12.4% of their baseline body weight compared to placebo. In another clinical trial, participants suffering from type 2 diabetes were given Wegovy injections and they lost an average of 6.2% of their body weight compared to placebo. There may be side effects, but evidence suggests that Wegovy has a good safety profile compared to older weight loss medications. Now that Wegovy has been approved for weight loss management, we are happy to give the injections at our offices. Price: $175 weekly or $600 monthly