Weight loss medications can be an effective tool for those who meet specific criteria. At FitFocus MD, we guide you through this process with care and expertise. Let’s address some common questions:
Who Can Benefit from Weight Loss Medications?
Weight loss medications are typically recommended for individuals with a BMI of 30 or higher, or 27 and above with obesity-related health conditions like diabetes or hypertension. A thorough medical evaluation determines eligibility.
How Do Weight Loss Medications Work?
These medications work in various ways, such as reducing appetite, curbing cravings, or enhancing metabolic activity. Each type is tailored to address different aspects of weight management.
Are Weight Loss Medications Safe?
When prescribed and monitored by trained professionals, weight loss medications are safe. At FitFocus MD, a physician-supervised weight loss clinic, we prioritize your health and carefully select medications suited to your medical history and needs.
How Long Should You Use Them?
Weight loss medications are usually part of a comprehensive plan that includes dietary changes and physical activity. Their use is regularly evaluated to ensure effectiveness and safety, and they are discontinued when no longer necessary.
What medications does Found Weight Loss use?
Found’s medication options can change over time and depend on a patient’s eligibility, location, medical history, and prescribing clinician. As of September 2026, Found’s public medication information lists several prescription options, including GLP-1-based medications as well as oral medications such as metformin, Contrave, topiramate, zonisamide, and Rybelsus.
Not every medication listed by a weight-management service is FDA-approved specifically for obesity, and some may be prescribed off-label when a clinician determines that doing so is medically appropriate. Patients should therefore focus on why a particular medication is being recommended for them rather than simply choosing from a list of available drugs.
Does tirzepatide contain sulfa?
Tirzepatide is not a sulfonamide antibiotic, and the FDA-listed ingredients in Zepbound do not include a sulfonamide drug. The active ingredient is tirzepatide, while listed inactive ingredients include substances such as sodium chloride, sodium phosphate, and water for injection.
A history of sulfa allergy therefore does not automatically mean that tirzepatide is contraindicated. However, anyone with a history of severe medication allergies should discuss the specific drug that caused the reaction with their healthcare provider before starting treatment.
Is retatrutide available over the counter?
No. Retatrutide is not available over the counter and, as of September 2026, it has not been approved by the FDA for public use. It remains an investigational medication being studied in clinical trials.
Products sold online or elsewhere claiming to contain retatrutide should not be assumed to be legitimate or medically safe. FDA states that retatrutide is not a component of an FDA-approved drug and cannot currently be used in compounding under federal law.
What are the side effects of weight loss medications?
Side effects depend on the specific medication. GLP-1 and GIP/GLP-1 medications commonly cause gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, and abdominal discomfort. Other prescription weight-management medications can have different effects; for example, phentermine-topiramate may cause tingling sensations, dry mouth, dizziness, constipation, insomnia, or changes in mood or cognition.
Some weight-loss medications also carry important warnings or contraindications, so treatment should be selected based on the patient’s medical history and monitored by a healthcare professional. Patients should review the risks of the specific medication they are taking rather than assuming all weight-loss drugs have the same safety profile.
