FAQ

How can I expect on this journey & how much weight will I lose?

Weight loss can vary significantly from person to person, but on average, patients may lose up to 15% of their body weight. For example, a patient weighing 200 lbs could lose around 30 lbs, according to studies. However, some patients have experienced even greater weight loss than 15%. When patients ask how much weight they will lose weekly, it's important to understand that weight loss is rarely linear. Most individuals experience a few pounds lost followed by a plateau before continuing to lose weight. Everyone’s journey is unique.

If you've gone more than 2 weeks without any weight loss, it's recommended that you reach out to the clinic for guidance before making any modifications to your dose or plan. We will ask questions about your medication’s effectiveness, such as whether your appetite is suppressed and how your cravings are, and whether you may be consuming more calories than you're burning. 

It is never recommended to increase without guidance from Amanda NP. 

 

How long can I expect to be on the medication?

While some patients may experience faster weight loss and others may see slower results, the average duration for patients on this program is typically between 6 months to a year. Please keep in mind that this is just an average and can vary for each individual. It's important to understand that this is not a quick fix for weight loss. Instead, a carefully crafted weight loss plan is designed by your practitioner, Amanda, who adjusts your dosage at a manageable pace tailored to your needs. This approach ensures that your goals are met while minimizing any potential side effects.

We view this as a long-term solution, focusing on building healthy habits throughout your program. Our aim is not only to help you lose weight, but also to ensure that you are able to maintain the weight loss over time.

 

What are some common side effects?

There are several potential side effects that you may experience while taking this medication. Some patients welcome these side effects, as they often indicate that they are consuming fewer calories and that the medication is working. Other patients prefer to avoid side effects as much as possible, even if it means the process may take a bit longer. This is where Amanda will use a scale from 0-10 to assess your cravings and appetite suppression, helping both you and the provider determine if you've reached the desired effect (see below for more details).

The most common side effect is nausea, which is typically intermittent. For some people, nausea occurs a few times a day, while for others, it may only happen once or twice a week. It is rare for nausea to be constant throughout the day.

Occasionally, vomiting may occur. This tends to be volume-based. For some patients, eating just a few bites can cause them to feel so full that they become nauseous and may vomit to feel better. In other cases, vomiting can happen after a full meal. This is because the medication slows gastric emptying, which leads to a prolonged feeling of fullness.

Less commonly, some patients experience acid reflux or constipation. These issues are typically not persistent while taking the medication, whereas nausea tends to be a more frequent and recurring side effect.

 

What is Amanda talking about when she mentions the scale 0-10?

Your practitioner, Amanda, has created a 0-10 scale to help determine the effect of the medication on your appetite and craving suppression. Instead of simply asking "yes" or "no," this scale allows us to assess the severity of how the medication is affecting you.

Here’s what the scale means:

• Zero means “I cannot tell I have taken the medication at all.”
• Ten means “I have the most effect of the medication.” At a 10, patients typically feel so full that they have little to no interest in food and may have to force themselves to eat or remind themselves to eat.

So, why wouldn’t we all want to be at a 10? As you move higher on the scale, you may experience more side effects. At a 10, it’s common to have moderate to severe side effects, such as nausea and vomiting. Additionally, while not feeling hungry may seem appealing, it can sometimes be frustrating. For example, during a dinner out with friends or a date night, you might find it difficult to enjoy food and may only be able to eat a bite or two.

Amanda will use this scale to track how the medication is affecting you. If your cravings are low on the scale, she may reach out to discuss potential adjustments. The flexibility of our program allows for both small and large changes to help you achieve your desired results.

 

What is the difference between obtaining the medication through insurance vs a compounded pharmacy?
There are several key differences between obtaining medication from a compounding pharmacy and using traditional pharmacy options. First, a compounding pharmacy must adhere to strict guidelines when mixing or combining substances, and this process is highly regulated. At Coastal IV, we carefully vet our partner pharmacies, with whom we've built long-term relationships, and we trust the quality of the products they provide—we even use these products ourselves.

The most significant difference when getting medication through a compounded pharmacy, particularly through Coastal IV, is that we tailor your dose specifically to your needs. With insurance-based prescriptions, you're typically required to follow their predetermined dosing, which may involve doubling your dose. This can lead to a range of side effects and, in some cases, become intolerable.

At Coastal IV, we have the flexibility to adjust your dose in small or large increments based on what works best for you. To determine the right approach, we ask a series of questions to understand your needs and preferences. However, it’s important to remember that you are the expert on your own body. Our goal is to provide you with all the information available, so we can make the most informed decisions together.

 

What is the difference between units and milligrams?

Units refer to the volume of the medication, while milligrams (mg) refer to the actual amount of the active ingredient in the medication.

For example, amoxicillin comes in different concentrations, such as 200mg/5ml and 400mg/5ml. The 5ml is the volume, just like 10 units is a volume. You could take 5ml from either bottle, but one would provide 200mg, while the other would provide 400mg. The reason we focus on units is because that's what you're extracting from the vial and administering to yourself. If we said to administer 0.5mg of semaglutide, it could be confusing to determine the correct volume.

 

How do I order my medication?

Upon signing up for our weight loss program, your practitioner, Amanda, will order your first vial. This initial order will be shipped to our clinic so that Amanda can show you how to properly self-administer your medication. You can expect your current vial to last, on average, 8 weeks. After that, future vials will be shipped directly to your home address.

Shipping typically takes about a week, so please ensure someone is available to bring the medication inside by the end of the day it is delivered.

To ensure timely delivery, we recommend notifying us 2 weeks before your current vial runs out to allow enough time for processing and shipping. If you would like updates on the status of your order, you can contact the pharmacy customer service at 407-673-2222.

 

How should I store my medication?

The medication does NOT need to be refrigerated. It can be stored anywhere in a safe, room-temperature environment. If you have any questions, it’s inscribed on your bottle on how to care for it. You can also reach out to the clinic for clarification! From time to time, we may have to change distributors if one pharmacy runs out. Fortunately, this is rare.

 

Where can I get supplies from when I run out?

When you start your weight loss program, we provide you with the necessary supplies for your injections, including syringes and alcohol pads. For subsequent orders of your medication, you will receive syringes, but alcohol pads will not be included. If you need more alcohol pads or additional syringes, you can easily pick them up at your local drug store. Be sure to bring an unused syringe or the syringe package with you to ensure you pick up the correct type of syringes.

Alternatively, if you prefer, you can arrange a time to stop by the clinic to pick up syringes.

 

When should I increase my dose?

Most patients recognize it’s time to increase their dose when the effects of their medication seem to lessen. This might manifest as increased hunger throughout the day or more cravings, especially as you approach the time for your next injection. If you haven’t lost any weight for 2-3 weeks, it’s a good idea to reach out to the clinic to determine if a dose increase is necessary.

If you notice these signs during your program, you can request a dosage increase. We recommend contacting the clinic as soon as you identify the need for a dose adjustment, so we have time to approve your request before your next scheduled dose.

DISCLAIMER: Please do not increase your dosage without prior approval from your practitioner. This is essential to ensure your safety and minimize any potential adverse side effects.

 

Can I skip a dose or move my dose to a different day or time?

Yes, you can both skip a dose and/or move your dose to a different day if needed! Most patients experience the most noticeable effects on day 2 or 3 after taking their medication, but some may feel the effects as soon as the first day. If you'd like to have the biggest effect during a specific part of the week, such as the weekend, you’re welcome to adjust your dose day.

Just be sure to leave at least 4 days between doses to maintain the effectiveness of the medication. Additionally, if you need to skip a dose because you’re going on vacation or have another reason, that’s fine! However, we do not recommend taking frequent or extended breaks, as your body can acclimate to the medication, which may reduce its effectiveness over time. Instead we recommend reaching out to the clinic so your provider can help you decide what will be best for you. 

 

How often will I speak with my provider?

You will communicate with our provider, Amanda, at least once a month. Most patients prefer text communication, but please let us know if you would prefer another form of communication. Every month, we will send you a short questionnaire to complete. Amanda, NP, will thoroughly review your responses to assess your progress and determine if any adjustments need to be made to your protocol.

 

Between these monthly check-ins, we encourage you to reach out to the clinic with any questions—especially if you're considering a dosage increase. You can contact us via text or phone call, and if you'd prefer to speak with Amanda directly, you can also schedule a phone call to discuss your care plan.

Remember, this is your health journey, and we are here to support you every step of the way. Don’t hesitate to reach out so we can assist you!

 

What is a maintenance or weaning off protocol?

As you approach your goal weight and are considering stopping the medication, it’s highly recommended that you transition into a maintenance plan. This plan is designed to gradually wean you off the medication, helping your hunger and appetite cues return steadily and healthily. If patients stop "cold turkey," it's common for cravings and appetite to return aggressively, often leading to regaining a significant amount of the weight they worked hard to lose.

A maintenance plan helps ensure that you not only lose the weight but also keep it off, while gradually bringing your appetite, cravings, and hunger back to a manageable level. If you have any questions about what a maintenance plan involves, please don’t hesitate to reach out. We're here to help you maintain your success long-term.

 

How do I contact the clinic?

We have two main numbers:
Our clinic phone number (only for phone calls): 910-701-0900 

Text message service phone number (through our health record platform): 910-857-5113

One of the greatest features regarding our texting platform is that it is directly connected to your chart. 

Lastly, periodically you will receive a text notification updating our community about service and/or discount updates we have. This is through a no-reply text service, which you are always welcome to opt out of by simply texting “stop”.

 

How do I cancel my membership?

Whether you’ve achieved your desired results or no longer wish to continue your program, we are happy to discontinue services at your request. Please note that we do NOT require a 30-day notice to cancel services. However, you will need to remain on your membership until your current vial runs out. You cannot request cancellation if you’ve recently received a vial, as it is strictly regulated that you must be managed by a skilled practitioner until you are no longer administering the medication. If you wish to cancel before your vial runs out, you’ll need to return the vial to the clinic for safety reasons.

Memberships are billed on a monthly basis, with services typically rendered within that period. If care is provided between your previous payment and your upcoming payment, we require you to satisfy the full month's membership to cover those services. Once the balance is settled, your cancellation request will be processed. Additionally, if there is any outstanding balance on your account at the time of your cancellation request, that balance must be paid, and your account must be in good standing before we can process the cancellation.

Please feel free to call us at 910-701-0900 at any time, and we’ll be happy to assist you.

 

* PLEASE BE ADVISED THAT ALL CANCELLATION REQUESTS MUST BE NOTIFIED VIA PHONE CALL IN ORDER TO BE CONSIDERED.*