GLP-1 Weight Loss Treatment in Portland
GLP-1 medications have changed what's possible for weight loss — and created a market full of subscription apps, compounded knockoffs, and prescriptions handed out with no plan behind them. This practice does it differently: FDA-approved medications only, prescribed as part of actual metabolic care. That means real lab work, attention to muscle, nutrition, and the health conditions that travel with weight, and a doctor who follows your progress rather than an app that auto-renews. If you want the medication and the medicine, this is the version of GLP-1 treatment built to still be working for you years from now.
Overview
WHAT THIS COVERS
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GLP-1 and metabolic weight management, including:
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Evaluation for GLP-1 treatment — your health history, metabolic labs, and an honest conversation about whether these medications fit your situation
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Prescribing of FDA-approved GLP-1 medications: Wegovy and Zepbound for weight loss, and Ozempic or Mounjaro where diabetes is part of the picture
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Support with the practical side — insurance coverage, prior authorizations, and manufacturer savings programs
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Attention to doing it right: protein and muscle preservation, managing side effects, and dose pacing that doesn't outrun your body
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The bigger metabolic picture — blood sugar, lipids, blood pressure, and the conditions weight loss can improve
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A plan for the long term, including what maintenance looks like
WHAT TO EXPECT
Care starts with a thorough first visit: your history, prior weight loss attempts, current health conditions, and baseline labs. If a GLP-1 is a good fit, we go over the realistic picture — costs and coverage, expected pace, side effects and how to handle them — and start at a dose your body can work with. Follow-ups track your progress, your labs, and your muscle, not just the scale. Visits are available in person in Portland or by telehealth across Oregon and Washington.
COMMON QUESTIONS
Do you prescribe compounded semaglutide or tirzepatide?
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No — I prescribe FDA-approved medications only (Wegovy, Zepbound, Ozempic, Mounjaro). I know compounded versions are cheaper, and I understand why people use them. But compounded GLP-1s don't go through FDA review, their actual content and dosing consistency have repeatedly been found unreliable, and the regulatory ground under them keeps shifting. If cost is the barrier, that's a real problem worth solving together — manufacturer savings programs, insurance strategies, and dose management can all help — but I won't solve it with a product I can't vouch for.
How much does this cost?
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The visits are direct-pay at flat rates — see the pricing page. The medication cost depends on your insurance: with coverage, copays vary widely; without it, manufacturer direct-purchase programs have brought some list prices down substantially. Part of the first visit is mapping your actual options rather than guessing.
Will my insurance cover the medication?
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Sometimes — coverage for weight loss GLP-1s varies a lot by plan, and many require prior authorization. I handle prior authorization paperwork when your plan offers a path, and when it doesn't, we look at the manufacturer programs and alternatives honestly.
What happens when I stop taking it?
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This is the right question to ask before starting. Without a maintenance plan, weight regain after stopping is common — these medications treat a chronic condition, not a temporary one. From day one we build the habits, protein intake, and strength preservation that make your results more durable, and we talk honestly about long-term dosing versus tapering when you get there.
Do you take insurance? / Do you see patients in Washington?
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Copy both from the menopause page as-is — GLP-1 prescriptions fill at any pharmacy, no caveat needed.