Table of Contents
Common questions, answered clearly
If you are uncertain, anxious, or just doing your research,
these are the questions we hear most. There are no wrong ones
to ask.
Who is this for?
The first question is usually whether GLP-1 treatment even belongs
in the conversation. Candidacy is more nuanced than a single
number on a chart.
Who may be an appropriate candidate for GLP-1 treatment?
FDA-approved indications for these medications include adults
with type 2 diabetes, depending on the specific medication;
adults with a BMI of 30 or greater; adults with a BMI of 27 or
greater with at least one weight-related health condition such
as high blood pressure or high cholesterol; and certain
patients with established cardiovascular disease and qualifying
conditions.
The real-world picture is more nuanced. A thorough evaluation
looks at your full clinical picture, not just whether you hit
a number on a chart.
I have tried diet and exercise for years. Does that change things?
Yes. That history is clinically meaningful. Weight regulation
involves hunger signaling, satiety hormones, insulin resistance,
sleep, stress, cortisol, genetics, prior medications, and
metabolic adaptation, many of which operate outside conscious
control.
If you have genuinely tried and it has not worked, you are not
failing. You may have an underlying biological barrier that a
GLP-1 medication could meaningfully address. That is worth
evaluating properly.
Are these medications for everyone?
No. They are not appropriate for every patient, and part of the
value of a real evaluation is sorting that out. GLP-1
medications have known contraindications, potential drug
interactions, and situations where the risk-benefit calculation
does not favor treatment.
We do not prescribe to everyone who asks. That is not a flaw.
It is responsible practice.
Do you treat patients with type 2 diabetes?
Yes. GLP-1 medications have a long track record in type 2
diabetes management, and several are FDA-approved specifically
for this indication. Many also carry cardiovascular risk
reduction approvals. If metabolic health, blood sugar, and
weight are all part of your picture, that is a conversation
worth having in full.
About the consultation
What the visit is for, who you see, and what you need to have
ready before we talk.
What happens at the first visit?
The first visit is a thorough medical conversation. We review
your health history and relevant background, what you have tried
before and how it went, your current medications and any
interactions to consider, your goals and what you are hoping to
accomplish, and whether GLP-1 treatment seems appropriate for
your situation. If it does, we discuss which medication options
fit and what a realistic plan looks like.
You are not expected to have all the answers going in.
That is what the visit is for.
Is medication guaranteed if I book a visit?
No. Booking creates space for an evaluation. It does not
guarantee any specific outcome. This is how medical care is
supposed to work. If treatment is not appropriate or safe based
on your history, we will tell you clearly and explain why.
Who will I be seeing?
You will see Dr. Benjamin Caplan, MD, a board-certified family
physician. Not a nurse practitioner assigned to an available
slot and not a rotating provider network. The same physician,
every visit, who builds a real picture of your health over time.
How long does the first visit take?
The scheduled starting visit is 15 minutes. The goal is not to
repeat a long generic intake during that time. The information
you provide before the visit helps us use the conversation for
the questions, history, goals, and decisions that actually need
physician attention.
When a situation needs more discussion or follow-up, care can
continue deliberately rather than trying to force every issue
into one encounter.
Do I need to prepare anything before the visit?
It helps to have a sense of your current medications and
supplements, including names and doses if possible; relevant
medical history including any diabetes, cardiovascular, or
metabolic diagnoses; your weight history and what you have
already tried; and your main goals and concerns.
You do not need to have everything perfectly organized.
We can work through it together.
About the medications
The short answers live here. For a detailed comparison of products,
formats, and dose ladders, use the medication guides.
What medications do you prescribe?
We prescribe FDA-approved options in this class, including
semaglutide, tirzepatide, oral semaglutide, and other approved
medications where appropriate. We do not currently prescribe
compounded GLP-1 medications.
What are the most common side effects?
The most common are gastrointestinal: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea,
and constipation. These are often most noticeable when starting
treatment or increasing the dose and may improve over time.
Careful titration is an important part of how dose adjustments
are approached.
How long do I need to be on the medication?
For many patients treating obesity or chronic weight management,
long-term use is part of the picture. Weight frequently returns
after GLP-1 treatment is stopped, which is one reason maintenance
is discussed from the beginning rather than treating this as an
automatically short-term intervention.
The right long-term plan varies by patient and goal.
This is an ongoing conversation, not a predetermined outcome.
What about muscle loss? I’ve heard this is a concern.
It is a legitimate concern. GLP-1 medications reduce overall
food intake, which can lead to loss of both fat and lean muscle
if protein intake and resistance exercise are not part of the
picture. We discuss this proactively. Adequate protein intake,
resistance training, and appropriate dose titration all help
preserve lean mass during treatment.
What about compounded semaglutide?
Compounded semaglutide was widely available during the period
when brand-name semaglutide was on the FDA shortage list. As of
early 2026, the FDA has ended the shortage designation, which
significantly changes the legal and regulatory landscape for
compounded versions. We prescribe FDA-approved brand-name
options only.
Cost and access
Visit fees, medication costs, state availability, and practical
payment questions.
Are visits covered by insurance?
Consultation fees are charged on a direct-pay basis. We do not
bill insurance for visit fees directly. Depending on your health
plan, you may be able to seek reimbursement as an out-of-network
telehealth service. We can provide documentation to support that
process.
What does medication cost?
Medication costs depend on your insurance coverage, any
manufacturer savings programs you qualify for, and which
pharmacy you use. Commercially insured patients with coverage
may access brand-name medications at reduced cost through
manufacturer programs. Cash-pay costs for brand-name options can
be substantial.
We will help you think through realistic access options during
the consultation.
Are you available in my state?
Availability depends on the state where you are located and the
scope of services available there. During booking, you will be
asked to confirm your location. If you are unsure whether we can
provide the care you need in your state, reach out before
booking and we can confirm availability.
Can I use HSA or FSA funds for visits?
Medical consultation expenses may be eligible for HSA or FSA
reimbursement. Specific eligibility and documentation
requirements vary by plan, so we recommend confirming with your
plan administrator. We can provide documentation of the medical
nature of the visit if needed.
After you start
Treatment is not supposed to become autopilot after a prescription
is written. Response, tolerance, and goals can change.
What happens if treatment is not working?
We follow up. A lack of response at a given dose or with a
particular medication is information, not failure. There are
multiple medications in this class with different mechanisms
and dosing profiles. If one is not delivering results, we
re-evaluate rather than simply continuing the same approach.
What if I want to stop the medication eventually?
That is a completely reasonable goal and something to discuss
deliberately. We can plan around timing, expectations, monitoring,
and what comes next rather than treating discontinuation as an
afterthought.
What if I have been on GLP-1 medication from another provider
and want to transfer care?
This is common and straightforward. A transfer visit lets us
review your history with the medication, assess where you are
now, and establish the kind of ongoing care that may have been
missing from your prior arrangement.
Book the Ramp-Up Check-In or Maintenance Visit depending on
where you are in treatment.
Still have questions?
You do not need to have it all sorted out before reaching out.
The first visit is exactly the right place for unanswered questions.