Are you overweight and find that your excess weight is negatively impacting your health? Have you tried to eat better, exercise more, and make other lifestyle changes to lose weight but find that it’s not helping? If you are struggling with obesity, you might want to talk to your doctor about prescription drugs that can help with weight loss and related health conditions. However, it’s important that you and your doctor work together so you can take these drugs safely.

Here is more information on weight loss drugs and what you doctor should monitor to help you stay safe while taking them.

What are Drugs for Weight Loss?

Weight loss drugs include Ozempic and Wegovy, which have the main ingredient of semaglutide, and Mounjaro and Zepbound, both of which have the active ingredient of tirzepatide. Both of these active ingredients work by affecting blood sugar, slowing down the time it takes for food to pass through the digestive system, and mimicking hormones that affect hunger and feelings of fullness. All three drugs are once-weekly injections and must be prescribed by your doctor or other healthcare professional. They are normally prescribed for those with a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 30 or over for for those with a BMI of 27-30 who also have a weight-related health condition.

What are Side Effects of These Drugs?

There are many common side effects of weight loss drugs that include gastrointestinal issues like stomachache, heartburn, nausea, diarrhea, burping, and bloating. Other side effects that ordinary users of the prescription may have include headache, dizziness, fatigue, insomnia, anxiety, and injection-site reactions. None of these side effects are serious and should go away on their own. To manage them, you should stay hydrated, get plenty of exercise, eat smaller meals, and avoid greasy or fatty foods.

More serious side effects include thyroid tumors, kidney damage, inflammation of the pancreas, suicidal thoughts, gallstones, and severe allergic reactions. Any indications of issues like these from taking weight loss drugs should be reported to your doctor ASAP.

What Should Your Doctor Monitor?

When you start taking weight loss drugs, your doctor should see you on a regular basis to check that your body is reacting well to them and you are not experiencing any dangerous side effects. This includes doing a comprehensive assessment, keeping an eye on weight-related health conditions that could be influenced by weight loss drugs, coordinating care with your other healthcare professionals, and making sure you are educated on possible side effects and which are serious.

In general, you should see your doctor every three months when on weight loss drugs for blood work and other follow-ups. If you are experiencing any signs of serious side effects, your doctor will likely want to see you more often.

Taking Weight Loss Drugs Responsibly

Weight loss drugs can help you lose that extra weight and improve your health, wellness and quality of life. To make sure you are being responsible and safe, it’s important to work closely with your doctor to make sure you take the drugs safely and that your health is continuously monitored while on the medication to reduce the chances of serious side effects that could negatively impact your health.