Creator: Dr. Tran Le, MD, DABOM
Published: 2026-07-21T16:08:37+00:00

Before you hand over a credit card to any weight-loss clinic, you deserve clear answers. A good program will tell you exactly how your care works, what it costs, and who you can reach when something feels off. This is the checklist we wish every patient had, and it works to judge any clinic, including ours.

Think of it as your consult-prep sheet. Bring these questions to any appointment. The quality of the answers tells you almost everything.

The questions to ask before starting a GLP-1

A GLP-1 is a real medication, not a supplement. So the person prescribing it should be able to answer plain questions in plain language. If a program dodges any of these, that is your answer.

Here is what a safe, physician-led program should cover with you up front.

1. Who is actually prescribing, and what are their credentials?

You want a licensed clinician making the decisions, not a form. Ask who reviews your history and who you can reach later. At TOM Weight Loss, the practice is led by Dr. Tran Le, MD, DABOM, triple board-certified in Obesity Medicine, Addiction Medicine, and Occupational and Environmental Medicine.

This matters because obesity is a medical condition, not a willpower problem. Leading groups reinforce that obesity is a chronic disease and that medications can play a critical role in improving both health and quality of life. Care from an obesity-medicine physician is linked to better results. Evidence suggests that individuals who receive treatment from obesity medicine physicians lost more weight and were more likely to receive evidence-based care than matched controls.

2. How does the medication actually work?

A good program should explain the mechanism, not just hand you a pen. GLP-1 medications work with your body's own signals. GLP-1 receptor agonists promote weight loss by suppressing appetite, enhancing satiety, and delaying gastric emptying.

That effect starts in the brain and the gut. Centrally, these medicines modulate brain regions that control appetite, and peripherally they improve glycemic control by enhancing insulin secretion, reducing glucagon release, delaying gastric emptying, and regulating gut hormones. Understanding this helps you set fair expectations. You can read more on our medications page.

3. What is the dosing and titration plan?

Ask how you start and how you move up. The honest answer is always low and slow. All GLP-1 treatments begin at the lowest available dose.

The reason is comfort and safety. Higher doses are linked to more GI side effects, especially nausea, while gradual titration lets the body adapt, and randomized studies of once-weekly semaglutide and tirzepatide found that increasing the dose every 4 weeks, rather than starting high, improved tolerability while preserving efficacy. A rushed schedule is a red flag. In one case report, a patient who resumed semaglutide at a high dose without the recommended stepwise titration developed persistent nausea and vomiting, then acute kidney injury from dehydration.

In our practice, patients often do best when we hold a dose an extra few weeks rather than push. The label schedule is a guide, and your body gets a vote.

4. What side effects should I expect, and who do I call?

A trustworthy program tells you what is normal and what is not. The most common side effects, especially nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, are dose-dependent, concentrated during the first weeks and at each dose increase, then tend to ease as your body adjusts. That happens for a mechanical reason. GLP-1 medications slow gastric emptying and activate nausea-control centers in the brainstem, which is why queasiness hits early.

So ask the direct question: when symptoms flare, who is going to answer my questions? These medicines need real supervision. GLP-1 safety depends heavily on proper medical supervision, and these medications are not meant to be self-managed.

5. What does it cost, and is the medication included?

Get the full price in writing before you start. Hidden fees and surprise pharmacy bills are common complaints. A clear program tells you the monthly cost, what the medication itself costs, and whether the two are bundled.

Ours are all-inclusive. Compounded semaglutide is $199 a month and compounded tirzepatide is $249 a month, each with the medication included. We also offer an à la carte plan where you pay for medication separately from your membership at $100 a month if you and Dr. Le decide a brand-name option like Wegovy, Ozempic, Zepbound, or Mounjaro fits you better. See the full breakdown on our pricing page.

6. How do refills and follow-up work?

Weight care is not a one-time transaction. Ask how often you will be seen and how refills are handled. Major guidance backs frequent early contact. In the first 3 months, guidelines recommend at least monthly follow-ups, which may be delivered via telehealth, then follow-ups may drop to every 3 months in the first year and every 6 months long term. At TOM, we offer monthly follow-up visits so that you can always be fully informed about your treatment and progress.

This rhythm exists because obesity is chronic. The message from obesity experts is clear: these medications are not a temporary solution but long-term treatments that can help people live healthier lives when used under the guidance of a healthcare provider. A program that ghosts you after the first shipment is not treating a chronic disease. Our how it works page walks through the visit and refill flow.

7. Is the medication compounded, and do I understand what that means?

Be direct here. If a clinic offers a compounded version, they should say so plainly and explain the tradeoff. Compounded drugs may pose a higher risk to patients than FDA-approved drugs because compounded drugs do not undergo FDA premarket review for safety, effectiveness, or quality.

The FDA has flagged specific concerns. There may be a risk of dosing errors due to conversion from milligrams to other units and from measuring your own dose from multiple-dose vials. A responsible clinic makes sure you understand your exact dose and how to measure it. The agency encourages patients to talk with their provider or compounder about how to measure and administer the intended dose. You can compare options on our semaglutide and tirzepatide pages, and see oral options too.

8. Is the pharmacy legitimate?

Good care runs through a real, licensed pharmacy. The FDA lists the signs of a safe one. A safe online pharmacy always requires a doctor's prescription, provides a physical U.S. address and phone number, has a licensed pharmacist on staff, and is licensed with a state board of pharmacy. If a site skips the prescription or the price seems too good to be true, walk away.

Frequently asked questions

What is the single most important question to ask?

Ask who is responsible for your care over time. A named, licensed clinician and a real follow-up schedule tell you the program treats obesity as the chronic condition it is, rather than a quick sale.

Should I ask about stopping the medication?

Yes. Ask what happens if you pause or stop. Research shows the effect depends on continued treatment, so your provider should have a plan for maintenance and for any coverage gap. If you are approaching Medicare, ask about our Medicare GLP-1 bridge.

Is a lower price a good sign?

Not on its own. A very low price with no clinician contact, no clear dosing plan, and no named pharmacy usually means you are paying with risk instead of dollars. Value is the medicine plus the supervision.

A note before you decide

This article is education, not medical advice for your specific situation. The right medication and dose depend on your health history, which is exactly what a consultation is for.

If you are in Texas or Utah and want straight answers to every question above, we would be glad to talk. You can start a consultation with our team, led by Dr. Le, and see whether a physician-guided GLP-1 plan is a good fit for you.

Questions to Ask Before Starting a GLP-1 Program