Medication Therapies

Prescription medications are an option to our medical weight loss plan if we feel these are medically necessary, all while remembering that lifestyle changes are the key component to long term success.
Appetite suppressants, such as Phentermine and Diethylpropion, can be utilized to help ward off hunger. These medications work in your brain to signal a fight or flight response in your body which, in turn, puts a halt to the hunger signal. As a result, you lose your appetite because your brain doesn’t receive the hunger message. This is perhaps due to the effects on leptin levels in the brain. It is theorized that appetite suppressants can raise levels of leptin which signal satiety. Additional oral medications, such as Qysmia and Contrave, are prescribed depending on patient history and weight loss needs.
GLP-1 subcutaneous injections such as (liraglutide) Saxenda and (semaglutide) Wegovy that are FDA approved for weight loss. Mounjaro (tirzepatide) is currently FDA approved for diabetes management but has great weight loss potential and is currently getting accelerated review for FDA approval for weight loss. There are four important functions of these medications:

  1. Help your body to release insulin
  2. Keep your liver from releasing too much sugar
  3. Slows your food from leaving the stomach, causing you to feel fuller longer
  4. Tells your brain when your body is full
B12 and “fat burning” intramuscular injections give an additional boost of energy, aid in the health of your skin, hair and nails. These “fat burning” injections include B vitamins but are also formulated with lipotropic nutrients that enhance liver function, increasing the flow of fats and bile from the liver and gallbladder. These compounds play a big role in decreasing fat deposits and speeding up the metabolism of fat and its removal.

Pending lab results, we may also recommend OTC supplements like Vitamin D and Vitamin B12 which are important for energy, bone health, decreasing inflammation, and hair, skin, and nail health. Melatonin is also recommended for those struggling with certain sleep disorders, combined with good sleep hygiene.