Here’s the truth. Weight loss has never been easy. The conventional healthcare system hasn’t made it any easier either. Scheduling a doctor’s appointment weeks out, taking time off of work, and sitting in a waiting room for up to an hour just to get an appointment is exhausting. It’s no wonder so many people give up on their weight loss goals, because they feel like it takes up all of their time just to get help.
Telehealth has disrupted all of that. If you’ve been wondering about GLP-1 weight loss medications and how to get Semaglutide without traditional doctor visits, you’re in the right place.
How Semaglutide Works
Semaglutide isn’t a magic pill, but it is a significant breakthrough in our understanding of how the body works. Semaglutide belongs to a class of medications called GLP-1s, which act as a replacement for a hormone your gut makes naturally.
Here’s the quick rundown: your gut naturally produces a hormone called GLP-1 after meals. It does two things: it tells your brain that you’re full and it regulates your blood sugar.
When you take Semaglutide, you’re likely to find that you just don’t feel hungry. It’s as simple as that. Food isn’t calling your name, you don’t have a constant gnawing hunger, and you feel full after a small amount. In clinical studies, people taking Semaglutide lost about 15% of their total body weight on average. Some people lost much more. We’re talking about a full 30 lbs for a 200-pound person.
The biggest reason for this, though, is that Semaglutide doesn’t just help you lose weight. People taking it also see improvements in their blood pressure, cholesterol, and all markers of metabolic health.
How Does Telehealth Simplify the Process?
Picture this. Back in the day, the only way to get a prescription for medication was to call your doctor’s office, sit on the phone, schedule an appointment for two weeks from now, drive across town to your doctor’s office, sit in a waiting room with outdated magazines for half an hour, before finally seeing your doctor for 10 minutes. Telehealth has put all that out of style.
Telehealth platforms like Omnia Telehealth allow you to talk to healthcare providers from home, during your lunch break at work, or wherever you have a few minutes and a wifi connection. It couldn’t be more simple.
You fill out a health questionnaire online, and then you get a video appointment with a healthcare provider. If they determine that Semaglutide is a good option for you, then your prescription is sent to a pharmacy of your choice.
No commute, no waiting rooms, no taking half a day off of work. Just convenient medical care that fits into your life.
Who Qualifies for Semaglutide Weight Loss Medication?
Not everyone is a good candidate for Semaglutide. This is actually a good thing because this is one medication that should not be just prescribed on a whim. In general, your provider will look at your BMI. If it is 30 or higher, or 27 and above with co-morbid conditions like hypertension or type 2 diabetes, you may qualify.
At your telehealth visit, they will go over your medical history to ensure Semaglutide is safe for you. Are you on any other medications? Have you had any medical problems in the past? They will want to know about your family medical history as well. In some cases,
Semaglutide is contraindicated. For example, if you or your family have had certain types of thyroid cancer or a history of pancreatitis, your provider will recommend other options.
The goal is to determine if Semaglutide is safe and likely to be effective for you.
Your Online Weight Loss Consultation: What to Expect
Your first telehealth appointment may seem odd if you’re used to traditional doctor’s appointments, but most people say they’re more comfortable actually. You’ll start off by answering questions about your weight loss history, medications you’re taking, and what you want to accomplish with weight loss. Be honest. No one is there to judge you. Your provider is there to help.
The video visit itself will be a conversation. Your provider will want to understand your relationship with food. What is your current diet? Have you tried other weight loss medications or programs? What’s made weight loss difficult for you in the past? Be prepared to answer questions about your typical day, activity level, and goals. This isn’t a checklist for your provider to complete. Good providers want to get to know you and your specific situation.
If your provider thinks Semaglutide is a good fit for you, they’ll walk you through how to take it, what side effects you can expect, and what sort of weight loss is realistic. They’ll also want to discuss lifestyle factors, since Semaglutide works best in conjunction with healthy eating and movement.
Semaglutide Side Effects
It’s important to know the potential side effects of Semaglutide before starting it. The most common issues are digestive: nausea, occasional vomiting, diarrhea, or constipation. You’re most likely to experience side effects when you first start a medication or when your dose is increased.The good news? The side effects typically get better as your body adjusts. It can also help to eat smaller meals and avoid greasy or heavy foods to avoid stomach upset. Side effects also vary between people, so some may experience no side effects at all.
Your provider should follow up with you in the first few weeks after starting Semaglutide. If side effects are too much, they can reduce your dose or offer other strategies to get you past the initial hump.
Following through and Seeing Results with Semaglutide
Starting Semaglutide is the first step. Following through with the treatment and seeing results is where the work comes in. This is where the care from a telehealth platform can make a huge difference. Your check-ins keep you on track and give your provider a chance to make treatment adjustments as necessary.
More and more telehealth platforms are linking up with apps and wearables that track weight, food intake, and activity. This isn’t meant to encourage unhealthy obsession over every morsel you consume or inch on the scale, but rather to have some data to go off of. Weight loss stalls for a reason, and if you’re not losing or if you’re experiencing side effects, it can be difficult to know what’s causing it without data to look at.
What’s most convenient is that you can message your provider any time you have a question between visits. No more wondering if something is normal or if you should be concerned, and no more playing phone tag with a provider’s office that only has availability during business hours.
Why This All Works
Telehealth is not skimping on the care you should expect. Telehealth providers are all licensed healthcare providers. The medical guidelines and protocols for prescribing remain the same whether it’s virtual or in person.
Telehealth has just cut out a lot of the logistical overhead of traditional care. By removing barriers like travel and scheduling, telehealth provides treatment to people who might otherwise not get the help they need. It doesn’t matter if the reason you can’t make a 3PM doctor’s appointment is because of a kid’s soccer practice, because your work hours are non-negotiable, or because you live in a rural area. Telehealth allows patients to receive treatment from their devices with the same standard of care as an office visit.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does Semaglutide cost when ordering online?
Cost depends on your insurance coverage and the telehealth platform you choose. Insurance plans will cover GLP-1 medications for weight loss for some, but many still only cover it as a treatment for diabetes. If you have no insurance coverage, you’re looking at paying between $900 and $1,500 per month. Self-pay is an option with many telehealth platforms, but they can also assist with patient assistance programs to lower the cost.
Can I get Semaglutide online in my state?
Telehealth laws differ from state to state, but most states now allow for the prescribing of medications like Semaglutide after a virtual consultation. However, your provider must be licensed in your state in order to prescribe it to you. A good telehealth platform like Omnia Telehealth will verify this information for you automatically as part of their signup process.
How soon will I see results?
Expect to see your appetite start to go down within the first week or two after starting Semaglutide. Visible weight loss will be seen around the 4th to 6th week mark. Just remember Semaglutide is a long term medication for weight loss, it’s not a sprint. Weight loss medication results in clinical studies were seen after about 68 weeks, so give it some time to work.
Do I need to be on a specific diet when taking Semaglutide?
Semaglutide doesn’t require any particular diet. In fact, you’re likely to see the best results when you make good food choices. The medication will naturally cause you to eat less, but the types of food you eat also matter. Choose protein and vegetables first and try to consume the bulk of your diet from whole foods. Your telehealth provider will likely point you towards nutrition resources as well to help you get the most out of your treatment.
Is telehealth safe for getting weight loss medication?
Telehealth is safe when you find a reputable provider with a real telehealth platform. Be sure your provider requires a video consultation, a review of your medical history, and offers some follow up monitoring. Avoid platforms that provide medication without a true consultation.
What happens if Semaglutide doesn’t work for me?
Semaglutide isn’t a guaranteed weight loss solution for everyone, but most people do see results when taking it. If you’ve been on the medication for a few months and you’re not seeing results, your provider can always switch up your dosage or try an alternative GLP-1 medication like Tirzepatide. Telehealth makes it easy to make these adjustments quickly and easily with a virtual check-in rather than waiting weeks for a provider’s next available office appointment.