GLP-1 Medication: Tips and Resources

All medications should be refrigerated when they are received. Guidance on specific medications is below:

Semaglutide: Useful unrefrigerated for 3 days, up to 90 degrees F.
Tirzepatide: Useful unrefrigerated for 3 days, up to 90 degrees F.

You may experience some GI upset or other side effects. Please call Options so we may determine the dose you took and walk you through a plan.

Please call us so we may document what happened, walk through preventive measures, and potentially dispense another vial or syringe of medication.

GI upset, headache, fatigue, and dizziness. Most of these symptoms can be minimized with adequate hydration, electrolyte replacement and vitamins. Options has lipotropic injections as well as vitamins, supplements, and stool softeners to help any side effects. Rest may also be helpful. For a headache, acetaminophen or ibuprofen is useful.

Less than 2 days have passed: inject NOW.
More than 2 days have passed: WAIT. Take ON your next scheduled weekly injection day.

Most side effects occur after the initial dose and can last as long as the second dose. Most side effects lessen over time.

We may titrate your dose back down to a tolerable level that still allows weight loss and try to increase more slowly. Alternatively, your medical provider may increase the period in between injections. Options offers supplements, vitamins and hydration packs to help with side effects during dose escalation.

The half-life of GLP-1 in the body is 7 days. The medication can take up to 80 days to metabolize completely out of the body.

Stop taking the medication immediately and call your physician.

The medication is started at a low level and titrated up slowly. This allows the body time to adapt and tolerate the medication while minimizing side effects. We can prescribe appetite suppressants if you are experiencing hunger at lower doses or towards the end of the 7 days when the GLP-1 has a diminishing effect and it is nearing the time of the next injection. Hydration helps tremendously.

No. The medication is started at a low dose and titrated up slowly to allow the body to tolerate the medication while minimizing side effects. If you are already on GLP-1, we will resume your current prescribed dosing schedule.

If you are in geographic proximity to a location, you may receive your first dose in the clinic. If you are not, drop-shipping the medication to your home takes 7-10 business days. Please schedule your next monthly medical appointment approximately 3 weeks after starting to ensure there are no gaps in your medication schedule.

Call Poison Control at 1.800.222.1222 immediately. Have the medication vial or syringe available to provide details. Call your child’s pediatrician to see if they should go to the urgent care or emergency department. Bring the bottle of medication to the facility. NOTE: The GLP-1 drug class is FDA-approved in ages 12+.

Call your pet’s veterinarian immediately. Have the bottle or syringe on hand to provide details.

We may ship a vial to you that is more secure than individual injections. If you are taking individual injections, ask staff to cap the end of the plunger so it is not accidently dislodged ejecting the medication. Pack ice packs with your medication and carry directly onto the airplane. A travel letter to get through airport security is available by request.

Continue onto the GLP-1 maintenance program with 1-2 injections per month. We may also begin appetite suppressants approved for long term weight maintenance use such as Phentimate. Studies show, patients steadily gain weight back over the years without maintenance.

Call Options immediately so we may reschedule your appointment and get your medication shipped out ASAP.

Yes; do not inject at least one week prior to your surgery or procedure. Check with your physician to confirm your stop date as a longer period may be recommended.

Telogen Effluvium is temporary with weight loss. Some patients will lose hair because of decreased caloric intake, specifically 900 calories or less. Lipotropic injection, vitamins D&E and minerals iron & zinc can help minimize hair loss. Taking a biotin supplemental may also be useful for brittle hair and nails.

Staying hydrated is very important as many patients become dehydrated when their appetite decreases. We can prescribe anti-emetics for nausea to improve appetite. Options has shakes available if eating full meals is difficult when initiating the medications. Electrolytes are helpful. Over-the-counter analgesics such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen may help to alleviate headache.