Cheaper compounded versions of popular weight loss drugs in high demand
More and more people are turning to GLP-1s. Ozempic, Wegovy and Mounjaro can still be expensive, but pharmacy-produced GLP-1 compounds are becoming much more affordable.
Because they're getting the same results, they are in hot demand.
Adam Gregory and his wife Lucia are in their 40s. Working out and eating healthy most of the time wasn't working.
"As soon as I stopped with meal prep, the 8-10 pounds I would lose would immediately come back," Adam said. His wife felt the same frustration.
When Lucia had a baby four years ago, the weight that used to fall off with a simple jog wasn't budging.
"I just could not lose those last stubborn pounds. And I'm sure the factor was being older and dealing with weight that I've never dealt with in my entire life,바카라 게임 웹사이트 Lucia said.
So, when a friend who's in the fitness industry mentioned getting a little help with a Semaglutide to shed the unwanted pounds, Adam and Lucia were up for giving it a try.
Adam wanted to lose 15 to 20 pounds. After four months, he lost 37 pounds.
"Within the first 2-3 weeks, I did notice an immediate result, like the results were fairly quick,바카라 게임 웹사이트 Adam said.
Lucia wanted to lose about 10 pounds. She lost almost 18.
"A couple of weeks later, I just dropped the weight instantly,바카라 게임 웹사이트 Lucia said.
For Adam, the quick weight loss initially came with a price.
"I was nauseous for about five weeks,바카라 게임 웹사이트 he said.
But the drop in the scale and shrinking of his waistline was worth the initial sickness.
It's become so popular that plastic surgeon Jon Mendelsohn has started a new company, Advanced Vitality, and hired two nurse practitioners just to handle the demand.
Kati Vincent is one of the nurses seeing the requests for GLP-1s skyrocket.
"I would say it's at least doubled if not tripled,바카라 게임 웹사이트 Vincent said.
Vincent said for them, it's all about the research and the results.
"I think our understanding of the medication itself has evolved, and we understand how it works in the body and how effective it can be and how it's safe at lower doses,바카라 게임 웹사이트 Vincent said.
The same ingredient used to help diabetics manage their insulin or people who are obese, lose large amounts of weight, is now being micro-dosed for people looking to lose just a few stubborn pounds. It's just prescribed in smaller compounds.
"I think with anything, this is to be approached as a tool. This has to be utilized along with diet and exercise. This is not something to be used to replace those things."
Despite the demand, there's still a stigma. Adam said most people won't tell you how they're really losing the weight.
"They feel like, 'Oh, I'm cheating. I'm doing the easy way out.' I want to scream it from the rooftops. Everybody I talk to, I'm like, this is the way,바카라 게임 웹사이트 Adam said.
Adam and Lucia are now off the shots and have kept the weight off, but if they need a little help in the future, they say they would absolutely do it again.
It's important to note, many doctors will not recommend GLP-1s for moderate weight loss. There are a variety of side effects some people have.
Adam talked about being nauseous. Other people experience other gastrointestinal issues like vomiting, diarrhea, and constipation. There are other risks like headaches and dizziness, and many women even report hair loss.
People should consult with their doctor first. As far as cost is concerned, it is cheaper.
Without insurance, weight loss drugs like Ozempic can cost around $1,000 per month. At Advanced Vitality in Rookwood, patients get a three-month supply of GLP-1 shots for less than $600.