At Weight In Gold Wellness, we believe medications can be a powerful tool—but never the only tool—in helping people reach and maintain better health. Obesity is a complex, chronic condition, and medication may be recommended when lifestyle changes alone aren’t enough to achieve sustainable progress.

The medications below are FDA-approved (or, in some cases, commonly used off-label) for weight health. Each works differently to reduce hunger, improve fullness, or decrease cravings. Not every medication is right for every person—your provider will help you decide what is safe, effective, and appropriate for you based on your medical history, goals, and preferences.

Our approach to medication is:

• Personalized: chosen based on your health profile and goals
   
• Comprehensive: always paired with nutrition, movement, and behavioral support
   
• Long-term: used as part of chronic care, not a short-term fix
   

A once-weekly injectable FDA-approved for chronic weight management. It mimics a natural gut hormone that signals fullness and helps regulate appetite.

• Common side effects: nausea, often improving with time.
   
• Important safety note: not for individuals with a personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma.
   

FDA-approved for type 2 diabetes but sometimes prescribed off-label for weight health. It is the same active medication as Wegovy, but typically at lower doses.

• Common side effects: nausea, usually short-lived.
   
• Important safety note: same thyroid-related precautions as Wegovy.
   

A once-daily injectable FDA-approved for obesity. It works by mimicking the body’s natural fullness hormone.

• Common side effects: nausea, which often decreases over time.
   
• Other details: the same molecule is used in diabetes care at lower doses (Victoza®).
   
• Important safety note: not appropriate for individuals with a personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma.
   

Tirzepatide is a next-generation medication.

• Mounjaro® is FDA-approved for type 2 diabetes.
   
• Zepbound™ is FDA-approved for chronic weight management and also for obesity with moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea.
  It works by targeting two gut hormones (GLP-1 and GIP) to reduce appetite and improve fullness.
   
• Common side effects: nausea, often improving as the body adjusts.
   
• Important safety note: not appropriate for those with a personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma.
   

The first oral GLP-1 medication, FDA-approved for type 2 diabetes and sometimes used off-label for weight health.

• How to take: on an empty stomach with water, at least 30 minutes before eating or taking other medications.
   
• Common side effects: nausea, abdominal discomfort.
   

Works on brain pathways to reduce appetite and cravings.

• Common side effects: nausea, headache, insomnia.
   
• Important safety note: not for use with narcotic pain medications, seizure history, or conditions that increase seizure risk (anorexia, bulimia, heavy alcohol use).
   

Provides all-day appetite control with two medications working at different times of day.

• Common side effects: tingling in hands/feet, dizziness, taste changes, constipation, sleep difficulty.
   
• Important safety note: may cause birth defects; special counseling is required for women of childbearing potential.
   
• Other details: if brand coverage is limited, the components may be prescribed separately off-label.
   

Among the oldest and most affordable options (phentermine approved in 1959). They suppress appetite and reduce energy storage.

• Common side effects: dry mouth, constipation, mild increases in heart rate or blood pressure, insomnia.
   
• Important safety note: avoided in people with heart disease or uncontrolled high blood pressure; should be stopped at least 7 days before surgery.
   
• Other details: though not FDA-approved for chronic use, they are widely accepted by obesity medicine specialists for long-term use in appropriate patients.
   

Originally developed for epilepsy and migraines, now sometimes used off-label for weight health.

• Benefits: can decrease appetite, improve fullness, and reduce cravings for trigger foods.
   
• Other details: often used in combination with other medications.
   

A long-standing diabetes medication that may also help with weight control at higher doses (1500–2000 mg daily).

• Common side effects: nausea, abdominal cramping, loose stools—usually improving as the body adjusts.
   
• Other details: generally well tolerated and low cost.
   

Every person’s weight health journey is unique. These medications are not quick fixes, but tools that—when combined with nutrition, movement, coaching, and ongoing medical support—can help you achieve sustainable results. At Weight In Gold Wellness, our providers partner with you to choose the safest and most effective options tailored to your needs, so you can find health beyond the scale.