Weight Management Program

Unlike other weight loss medications, like phentermine, the medication is not a stimulant and contributes to long lasting and dramatic weight loss. Semaglutide offers glycemic control with improvement to HbA1c levels, moderate weight loss and a significant reduction in risk of major adverse cardiac events as evaluated in a 2-year cardiovascular outcomes trial vs. placebo. More recently, high-dose Semaglutide has been studied in non-diabetic patients suffering from obesity. The New England Journal of Medicine’s publication of the STEP trial revealed more than 50 percent of trial participants lost 15 percent of their body weight, and between 33 to 40 percent lost 20 percent of their body weight in 1 year.

• Weight Loss
• Decreased Insulin Resistance
• Anti-Inflammatory Effects
• Decreased Risk of Cardiovascular Disease

GLP-1 agonists are safe and FDA approved.  They have been in use since 2005.  Most patients do not suffer any side effects from the medication, and are rare.  In some patients, they may develop nausea when starting the medication.  This resolves following a few weeks of treatment.  Less than 5% of patients discontinued the medication due to side effects.

Semaglutide is an injectable medication that you take once per week.  The dosage is individualized to the patient, and is typically titrated up with time.

These are lipotropic agents which help with the breakdown of fat during metabolism in the body. Often referred to as “fat burning” injections, these components, especially inositol and choline, have been found to improve mental function and feelings of depression.  These are done in the office once per week.

Methionine: an essential amino acid, helps the liver break down fats, lowers cholesterol, relieves fatigue, and helps allergies by lowering histamine release.
• Inositol: Helps the breakdown of fats, lowers cholesterol, and helps control mood and appetite.
• Choline: Healthy nerve cells, cuts muscle recovery time, helps convert fat to energy
• Cyanocobalamin: Energy, healthy nerve cells
• L-Carnitine: Assist in converting body fat to fuel carbohydrate metabolism
• Thiamine: Improves immune system, helps convert fat & carbohydrates into energy
• Riboflavin: Increases metabolism, suppresses appetite
• Pyridoxine: Promotes red blood cell production + converts food to energy
• Methylcobalamin: Energy, healthy nerve cells, helps convert fat to energy

This injection is given to you once per week in the office into the muscle of your arm, leg, or buttock.

Naltrexone was first approved by the FDA in 1984 to treat opioid addiction. Later on, it was discovered that low-dose naltrexone (LDN)—low dose being one-tenth of naltrexone’s usual dose—has anti-inflammatory and immune-modulating effects. LDN appears to be safe with few side effects and no abuse potential. It is also cost-effective because only a small amount is needed. Research on LDN also demonstrated improvements in other diseases.

• May help decrease insulin levels which can improve growth hormone levels in patients.
• Growth hormone helps the body burn fat and maintain lean muscle mass.
• May help normalize appetite and reduce hunger.
• Some studies have shown to reduce general inflammation throughout the body.
• Naltrexone may help to “normalize” this mismatch between calories burned and appetite, especially in patients with hormonal imbalances.

The most common side effect of LDN is vivid dreams or sleep disturbances. These symptoms usually only last a few days, and completely dissipate after about 2 weeks. If you cannot tolerate the side effects you can take it in the am for 2 weeks then try taking it in the evening. Nausea, headaches, stomach cramps and diarrhea (rare), flu like symptoms, irritability have also been reported in a minority of patients. It has been noted an intolerance to alcohol use while taking LDN and has been used to treat alcoholism. Decreased food and sugar cravings in food addicted persons.

Naltrexone is a tablet or capsule. Dosing is either 1.5mg, 2mg, or 3mg nightly. It is taken once per day, at bedtime.