Dr. Gurrala prescribes and monitors brand-name semaglutide or tirzepatide when it is right for you, with monthly visits and body scans along the way.
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GLP-1 medications act on the hormone signals that control hunger and fullness. Most people on them eat less without having to fight for it.
What the medication does not do is decide what you eat, keep your muscle, or manage side effects. It also says nothing about why you gained weight in the first place, which may have as much to do with your hormones, thyroid or sleep as with your appetite. Those are the parts your physician is there for.
Dr. Gurrala goes through your history, your medications and your goals, and orders labs. He will tell you plainly if a GLP-1 is not the right choice.
An InBody scan records your starting fat and muscle. Many patients add a VO2 max test at the same time.
Doses begin low and rise gradually, which is how most people keep side effects manageable. You see Dr. Gurrala every month, and your dose moves according to how you are responding.
Once you reach your goal, the conversation turns to what will hold it, whether that means continuing medication at a dose that works or planning a careful step down.
Approval is a starting point. Dr. Gurrala also looks at your history and your labs.
Neither is right for everyone. Tirzepatide acts on two hormone pathways and, in a head-to-head trial, produced greater average weight loss than semaglutide. Semaglutide has the longer track record. Dr. Gurrala chooses based on your history, your goals and how you respond.
Both contain semaglutide. Ozempic is approved for type 2 diabetes, and Wegovy is approved for weight management. Similarly, Mounjaro and Zepbound both contain tirzepatide. At Delos in Sterling, Dr. Gurrala prescribes the version that fits your diagnosis.
Brand-name GLP-1s are FDA-approved products with known ingredients and doses. Compounded versions do not go through FDA review. Dr. Gurrala would rather prescribe a product whose quality has been independently checked.
Hair shedding can happen with rapid weight loss, from any cause. Dr. Gurrala checks your thyroid and nutrition as part of treatment, and can treat hair loss if it becomes a concern.
Ask Dr. Gurrala at your consultation. Oral GLP-1 options exist, and which one makes sense depends on your health and your goals.
That depends on the medication, your dose and any coverage you have. Dr. Gurrala prices each program individually and will go through the full cost with you before you start.
Thyroid tumors. Semaglutide and tirzepatide carry a boxed warning. They caused thyroid C-cell tumors in rodents; whether they do so in people is not known. Do not take them if you or a family member has had medullary thyroid carcinoma, or if you have Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2). Tell your doctor about a lump in your neck, hoarseness, trouble swallowing or shortness of breath.
Other serious risks include pancreatitis, gallbladder problems, kidney problems often related to dehydration, low blood sugar (especially with other diabetes medications), changes in vision for people with diabetes, and serious allergic reactions. Seek medical care right away for severe stomach pain that does not go away.
Common side effects include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation and stomach pain. These medications should not be used during pregnancy.
This is not a complete list. Treatment is prescribed only when clinically appropriate, after a medical evaluation. Individual results vary.
The first consultation is free, and you will get a straight answer either way.
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