Getting on GLP-1 after doctor says no

[Anonymous]

I really like my GP but she is old school. I am 10-15 lbs overweight and every time I see her she pushes me to try to lose weight. I already work out regularly, eat mostly healthy and count calories, do intermittent fasting - and the weight just won’t come off as a 45 yo perimenopausal woman.

At my last appt I broached the subject of trying a GLP-1 and she said she would never prescribe it for someone who doesn’t qualify for the drug because they are more overweight.

I know I could go through other channels to get it, but that feels really awkward because I would need to disclose I am taking it at my next physical and then I would have totally gone around her to get it.

Has anyone else been told no by their primary doctor but gone around them to get the meds? How did it go over when you eventually had to tell your doctor?

[Anonymous]

Yes. And I just didn't tell her.

[Anonymous]

Yes, I asked once and was denied, asked again a year later and was denied again, went online and got it from Ro, and after a few weeks I sent her a message saying oh by the way I'm taking this med now, I added it to my mychart. And she said great thanks for letting me know. The end. She's still my doc and I still like her. She's just very old school on the idea of GLP-1s. But she was fantastic for many other medical issues I've had in the past 20 years.

[Anonymous]

Yes, and the doctor was really happy I’d lost weight and my #s were good a year later. But still wouldn’t write a prescription.

[Anonymous]

Yes, have not mentioned. I asked her initially and she said “ absolutely not.” I have been carrying an extra 15 1bs for about same # of years. Lose some, gain some but always about that.

I eat healthy, work out with cardio, weights, active lifestyle. But, I am only 5 ft so that is a lot.

I saw a women’s health office nearby that did typical primary care but also advertised alternative things. Weight loss was one. They understood my frustration ( and obviously got my $$) but suggested smallest dose for only 8 weeks. Lost it. Kept it off- now over 8 mos.

So glad I did. I knew that I ate well and had a good routine. However, I needed something different in the mix and this did it.

At my primary care doc check up ( happened to be after the first few weeks, she said “ you lost 6 lbs-good”😀) When I go back in Jan she’ll see the other 8 lbs off- so fairly normal loss over time in her opinion I would guess. For me getting it off all at once has been amazing after trying so long.

[Anonymous]

Yeah go around her and don't feel guilty

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes, I asked once and was denied, asked again a year later and was denied again, went online and got it from Ro, and after a few weeks I sent her a message saying oh by the way I'm taking this med now, I added it to my mychart. And she said great thanks for letting me know. The end. She's still my doc and I still like her. She's just very old school on the idea of GLP-1s. But she was fantastic for many other medical issues I've had in the past 20 years.

This is a good approach. I can't believe people don't want their primary physician to know about a medication they're taking.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes, have not mentioned. I asked her initially and she said “ absolutely not.” I have been carrying an extra 15 1bs for about same # of years. Lose some, gain some but always about that.

I eat healthy, work out with cardio, weights, active lifestyle. But, I am only 5 ft so that is a lot.

I saw a women’s health office nearby that did typical primary care but also advertised alternative things. Weight loss was one. They understood my frustration ( and obviously got my $$) but suggested smallest dose for only 8 weeks. Lost it. Kept it off- now over 8 mos.

So glad I did. I knew that I ate well and had a good routine. However, I needed something different in the mix and this did it.

At my primary care doc check up ( happened to be after the first few weeks, she said “ you lost 6 lbs-good”😀) When I go back in Jan she’ll see the other 8 lbs off- so fairly normal loss over time in her opinion I would guess. For me getting it off all at once has been amazing after trying so long.

That’s inspiring. Which med did you take? And was the hunger coming back not an issue for it?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, I asked once and was denied, asked again a year later and was denied again, went online and got it from Ro, and after a few weeks I sent her a message saying oh by the way I'm taking this med now, I added it to my mychart. And she said great thanks for letting me know. The end. She's still my doc and I still like her. She's just very old school on the idea of GLP-1s. But she was fantastic for many other medical issues I've had in the past 20 years.

This is a good approach. I can't believe people don't want their primary physician to know about a medication they're taking.

Especially something like this. If you ever need emergency surgery and can't communicate for some reason, they need to know you're taking it.

[Anonymous]

Any private dr on the internet can prescribe it if you pay for it

[Anonymous]

Go to an online place. You’ll easily get a prescription. You can get brand name GLP from hers.com.

[Anonymous]

Get it elsewhere and find a new doctor. Why are you sticking with this doctor?

[Anonymous]

Get her to refer you to a weight loss clinic, who will prescribe. GPs mostly don't prescribe GLP-1s (they're allowed to but they don't want to and aren't well informed).

But, I would look at the indicators for getting a prescription with an "overweight" BMI and see if you qualify. If she's hassling you about your weight, you probably do. If you truly don't qualify under those parameters, she needs to shut up about your weight and you should tell her so. Either your weight is a medical problem or it isn't.

[Anonymous]

You do not need her permission. Your primary care doctor is not a god or your boss. I would disclose it because it is good for your doctor to have all of the info, but I would also switch docs if she gave me a hard time.

[Anonymous]

Your doc needs to monitor liver function when on these meds. Also if you have side effects it’s a conversation that you would want to have openly.