What is GLP-1?

GLP-1 agonists are used to lower blood sugar levels to treat diabetes type 2 but may also lead to weight loss. These medications copy the way a hormone called glucagon-like peptide 1 works in the body. When blood sugar levels start to rise after someone eats, GLP-1s stimulate the body to secrete more insulin which helps lower blood sugar levels.

Lower blood sugar levels are helpful for controlling type 2 diabetes, but it's not exactly clear how the GLP-1 drugs lead to weight loss. Clinicians do know that GLP-1s appear to help suppress appetite. These drugs also slow the movement of food from the stomach into the small intestine. As a result, you may feel full faster and longer, so you eat less.

Facts about GLP-1s

• Although weight loss can vary depending on which GLP-1 medication you use and your dose, studies show GLP-1 agonists can help with weight loss.
• Research has found that some GLP-1s may also lower the risk of heart disease, including heart failure; stroke; and kidney disease.
• While GLP-1s can be effective, they may not work or be medically appropriate for everyone. Found medical team works with each member individually to evaluate what, if any, medication will be best and can prescribe a variety of types of medications, not only GLP-1s.
• All GLP-1s except one has to be taken by injection. Found medical team can prescribe the only GLP-1 that is taken orally.
• There are many brand names of GLP-1s and some can be very expensive which is a turn off for many people trying to lose weight. Wegovy is an FDA approved GLP-1 used to help people lose weight and maintain weight loss. However, Wegovy can be very expensive for some patients which may be a barrier.
• As with any medication, there is a risk of side effects. Some of the more common side effects include:

• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea

Rybelsus is an approved oral clinician-prescribed GLP-1 medication

Rybelsus is a GLP-1 that may be prescribed by Found’s medical team if appropriate. The Found team will work with members to get prior authorization from insurance companies to cover the cost of Rybelsus before the provider prescribes it so no member is left covering the cost out of pocket. If insurance does not cover, Found medical team have a range of other medications they can prescribe.

*Rybelsus is approved for use with patients with diabetes to lower blood sugar. The medical team can discuss medication options that are right for you.

As part of Found’s personalized weight care program, the medical team works with each member, if they qualify, to prescribe medication to help reach their weight loss goal. When diet and exercise alone don’t lead to effective weight loss, medication may be able to work with your body to help you lose weight. One of the medications Found medical team my prescribe is metformin, an FDA approved medication to control blood sugar in patients with prediabetes and Type 2 diabetes.

What is Metformin?

Metformin is an FDA approved medication to control blood sugar in patients with prediabetes and Type 2 diabetes. With this type of diabetes, insulin normally produced by the pancreas is not able to take up the sugar in your blood properly. Metformin helps your body use insulin better, thereby reducing blood sugar levels. It also decreases the amount of sugar your liver makes and your stomach and intestines absorb.

Diet and exercise are still a critical component to controlling blood sugar levels with type 2 diabetes. To work properly, the amount of metformin you take must be in balance with the amount and type of food you eat and the amount of exercise you do. You should talk to your clinician about testing your blood sugar regularly and regulating it with medication and lifestyle interventions.

*Metformin is approved for patients with prediabetes and Type 2 diabetes to control blood sugar. Consult with your clinician about if Metformin is appropriate for you.

Common side effects

• Abdominal or stomach discomfort
• cough or hoarseness
• decreased appetite
• diarrhea
• fast or shallow breathing
• fever or chills
• general feeling of discomfort
• lower back or side pain
• muscle pain or cramping
• painful or difficult urination
• sleepiness

The medical team can discuss additional potential side effects. If needed, Found members can work with their medical team to manage side effects by changing the dosage or trying a different medication, as appropriate.

Metformin and weight loss

While metformin has not been approved as a weight loss medication, some studies have shown that people taking the medication may lose some weight, and this applies to diabetic and non-diabetic patients. The mechanism by which metformin induces weight loss is still being uncovered but may be due to decreased food intake as a result of changes in insulin sensitivity.

Medicines used for weight loss can work in different ways and like is the case with metformin, can be used for different types of patients . Found’s medical team matches the mechanism of the medicine to each member’s needs. Not one medicine is appropriate for everyone, which is why Found works with a medical team and pharmacy to provide members access to the widest set of prescription medications on the market.

Phentermine prescriptions are available in the following states: California, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Kentucky, Massachusetts, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin

As part of Found’s personalized weight care program, the medical team works with each member, if they qualify, to prescribe medication to help reach their weight loss goal. When diet and exercise alone don’t lead to effective weight loss, medication may be able to work with your body to help you lose weight. One of the medications Found offers is phentermine, an FDA approved medication for weight loss.

What is Phentermine?

Phentermine is an FDA-approved medication that’s commonly prescribed for weight loss. It’s used to suppress appetite and is thought to act by decreasing your hunger or making you feel full longer. Medical experts believe phentermine works by increasing neurotransmitter levels in your brain which are your body’s chemical messengers. When your levels of these three chemicals increase, your feeling of hunger decreases.

Like other prescription weight-loss drugs, phentermine is intended to be used as part of an overall weight loss program, which is why it is just one piece of Found’s weight care plan, in conjunction with the other Found pillars such as nutrition, movement, sleep, and emotional health, and prescription medication like phentermine.

Medication and weight loss

Here’s what medical experts have said about prescription medications and weight loss:

• Prescription medication “doubles to triples the odds of losing 5-10% body weight (or more)” from Obesity Medicine Association
• A systematic review published in the Journal of American Medicine stated “Medications approved for long-term obesity treatment, when used as an adjunct to lifestyle intervention, lead to greater mean weight loss and an increased likelihood of achieving clinically meaningful 1-year weight loss relative to placebo”*
• Mayo Clinic says “Prescription weight-loss drugs approved for long-term use (more than 12 weeks) produce significant weight loss compared with placebo. The combination of weight-loss medication and lifestyle changes results in greater weight loss than lifestyle changes do alone.”*

*Phentermine is approved for short-term use. The medical team can talk to you about what dosing regimen may be right for you.

Who is phentermine for?

The criteria for those who are eligible for phentermine is:

• Your body mass index (BMI) is 30 or greater.
• Your BMI is 27 or greater and you have other risk factors related to obesity, such as diabetes, controlled high blood pressure or high cholesterol.

Although phentermine is an effective weight loss aid, it isn’t appropriate for everyone. The Found medical team evaluates each member to determine what medication, if any, will be appropriate, helping ensure that what is prescribed is safe and effective for the individual. People with heart disease, coronary artery disease, hyperthyroidism, glaucoma or uncontrolled high blood pressure, or who are pregnant or nursing shouldn’t take phentermine. Those who have a history of substance abuse and those who are taking other weight loss medications or supplements shouldn’t take phentermine.

Common side effects

• Increased heart rate
• Tingling or prickling feeling in hands or feet
• Dry mouth
• Sleeplessness
• Nervousness
• Constipation

The medical team can discuss additional potential side effects. If needed, Found members can work with their medical team to manage side effects by changing the dosage or trying a different medication, as appropriate. Medicines used for weight loss can work in different ways. Found’s medical team matches the mechanism of the medicine to each member’s needs. Not one medicine is appropriate for everyone, which is why Found works with a medical team and pharmacy to provide members access to the widest set of prescription medications on the market.