Weight Management GUIDE
Semaglutide
Semaglutide is the active ingredient in brand-name medicines including Ozempic® and Wegovy®. Semaglutide acts on GLP-1 receptors involved in appetite and blood-sugar regulation. Your clinician will confirm the exact prescribed product. If a compounded preparation is considered, it is not FDA-approved and is not the same product as an approved branded medicine.
General patient education. Your clinician’s individual instructions take priority. An online guide cannot determine eligibility or replace an examination.
Before your appointment
- Discuss pregnancy plans, gastrointestinal conditions, gallbladder or pancreatic problems, and personal or family history of medullary thyroid cancer or MEN2. Nausea, vomiting, and other adverse effects can occur. Ask why a compounded product would be appropriate instead of an approved option.
- Bring your medicine list, health history and previous weight-management experience. Discuss pregnancy plans and relevant lab results.
- Ask about expected benefits, side effects, costs, alternatives and ongoing monitoring. Do not start or change a dose based on website information.
What to expect
An evaluation considers weight-related health needs, medicines, contraindications, and appropriate alternatives. If prescribed, treatment requires individualized instructions and follow-up; no dose is selected on this website.
After your visit
- Follow only your prescribed treatment and follow-up schedule. Ask what to do for a missed dose or side effects; do not double doses on your own.
- Contact your clinician for persistent vomiting, inability to keep fluids down or significant abdominal pain. Continue the nutrition and activity plan agreed with your care team.
Follow-up & what to expect
Response and tolerability are reviewed over time. Ask when follow-up and refills are due, which measurements or tests are needed, and when to contact the team. No particular amount of weight loss is guaranteed.
Your questions, answered
Is this the same as an FDA-approved brand?
The ingredient name alone does not identify a product. Ask for the exact brand or compounded formulation, pharmacy and patient instructions. Compounded products are not FDA-approved, and their safety, effectiveness and quality are not reviewed by FDA before marketing.
Can I choose my own dose?
No. Use only the prescription and instructions for your exact product. Concentrations and devices can differ. Have the clinician or pharmacist demonstrate the dose; do not copy syringe units from another person or online chart.
What if I miss a dose or stop for several weeks?
Contact your prescriber or pharmacist for instructions for that product and the length of the interruption. Do not double a dose or restart a previous dose without advice.
What side effects should I discuss?
Digestive effects such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or constipation can occur. Review personal and family thyroid-cancer history, MEN2, pancreatic or gallbladder problems, severe stomach-emptying problems and other medicines. Seek urgent help for severe persistent abdominal pain or inability to keep fluids down.
What about diabetes medicines or a planned operation?
Tell the prescriber about insulin and other glucose-lowering treatment. Tell your surgical and anesthesia teams about this medicine before procedures, because stomach emptying can be affected. They should coordinate any change; do not decide on your own.
Can I use it during pregnancy?
Weight-loss treatment is not appropriate during pregnancy. Discuss pregnancy plans before starting and contact your prescriber promptly if pregnancy occurs. The timing for stopping before conception is product-specific.
How do I store it or travel with it?
Follow the label for the exact preparation, including refrigeration, light protection and the date to discard it. Ask the pharmacy about travel and temperature excursions; appearance alone cannot confirm that a product is usable.
Does the medication replace eating well and activity?
No. Agree on a realistic plan for nourishment, physical activity and follow-up. Report poor intake, weakness or persistent adverse effects rather than simply increasing the dose.
Planning your visit
What will it cost?
Confirm visit fees and what is included before scheduling. Tests, medication, supplies or additional visits may be separate. Ask about insurance eligibility for medical care; coverage is not guaranteed. A consultation is not advertised as free.
How can I contact the clinic?
Call 510-777-1000 Monday–Friday 9 AM–5 PM or Saturday 9 AM–2 PM Pacific. If we are helping another patient, leave your name and callback number. General inquiries can use the contact form when live; do not include sensitive medical details. Hablamos español.
When to get help
Seek urgent care for severe or persistent abdominal pain, dehydration or severe allergic symptoms.
For severe or rapidly worsening symptoms, get medical care promptly. Call 911 for an emergency. The website form is not an urgent-care service.
Still have a question?
Our team can help you plan the next step. Hablamos español.
Information & references
Prepared October 28, 2026. Confirm availability and your individual instructions with the clinic.