Semaglutide in Houston, with the workup it actually requires.

Consultations start at $49 (see pricing). FDA-approved Wegovy and Ozempic cost varies significantly by insurance coverage. With commercial insurance and manufacturer savings programs, monthly out-of-pocket is often $25–$100. Without coverage, list price runs $1,000–$1,350/month, though manufacturer cash-pay programs have brought that to $499/month at Novo Nordisk’s NovoCare Pharmacy as of 2025. Our ongoing program fees cover physician oversight, lab review, and structured monitoring — separate from medication costs.

We choose based on your history and goals. Semaglutide offers broad insurance coverage, an extensive safety record, and an FDA-approved cardiovascular risk-reduction indication (Wegovy). Tirzepatide produced greater average weight loss in head-to-head data and is approved for obstructive sleep apnea in obesity (Zepbound). We make this decision together during consultation based on your specific situation.

Ozempic and Wegovy are two different brand-name products. Ozempic is FDA-approved for type 2 diabetes (max dose 2.0 mg/week); Wegovy is FDA-approved for chronic weight management (doses up to 2.4 mg, and now 7.2 mg with Wegovy HD approved March 2026). For weight management, Wegovy is the on-label choice. Off-label use of Ozempic for weight loss has been common but is increasingly being limited by insurers.

The STEP 1 extension trial showed that patients who stopped semaglutide without continued lifestyle support regained approximately two-thirds of their lost weight within one year. This is one of the most important honest conversations to have at the start of treatment — not at the end. Many patients can transition to a lower maintenance dose, taper gradually, or continue indefinitely. We discuss exit strategy from day one as part of our metabolic reset program.

Compounded semaglutide is not FDA-approved. It is prepared by licensed compounding pharmacies for individual patients; the FDA does not review compounded drugs for safety, effectiveness, or quality, and compounded semaglutide is not a generic version of, or interchangeable with, Wegovy or Ozempic. The clinical trial results described on this page were obtained with the FDA-approved products. Compounded semaglutide became widely available during FDA-declared shortages; the FDA’s position changed in 2024–2025 once brand-name supply normalized. We work primarily with FDA-approved Wegovy and Ozempic because their quality control, dosing accuracy, and safety profile are well established. A compounded preparation is prescribed only when your provider determines it is clinically necessary for you and it is permitted under current FDA rules. If cost is the primary barrier, we’ll talk through manufacturer savings programs and other treatment options.

Gastrointestinal — nausea, constipation, diarrhea, and a feeling of fullness — affect most patients during dose escalation. These typically diminish within 2–4 weeks at each dose level. Slow titration (the standard 16-week escalation schedule) is the most important variable in tolerability; pushing the dose faster causes more side effects without faster results. Less common: fatigue, headache, injection site reactions. Rare: pancreatitis, gallstones, hypoglycemia (in patients also on insulin or sulfonylureas).

Brand-name semaglutide is often covered by insurance for both diabetes (Ozempic) and weight management with BMI ≥30 or ≥27 with comorbidities (Wegovy). Compounded semaglutide is not covered by insurance. Our clinical service fees (consultations starting at $49; ongoing program fees) cover physician oversight, lab review, and structured monitoring — separate from medication costs. We don’t bill insurers directly but can provide documentation suitable for HSA/FSA submission and out-of-network reimbursement.