Frequently Asked Questions
Clear and concise answers to the most common inquiries about our services, medications, and general health information.
Telehealth allows you to receive healthcare services remotely via phone or video call. Our clinic provides consultations, prescriptions, and follow-ups without the need for in-person visits, straight from the comfort of your own home. All that is required is an internet connection, a smartphone or computer, and a quiet, private space for your conversation with our experienced providers. Initial appointments can either be done via tele health, or we also offer in-person appointments at our office location, 3 Sylvan Rd. S in Westport CT on Monday’s only. After your initial appointment, you will meet with your provider every month via tele health.
Currently, we offer two GLP-1 agonists (glucagon-like receptor agonists): Semaglutide and Tirzepatide.
- Semaglutide works by mimicking the actions of a natural hormone produced in your body called GLP-1, or glucagon-like peptide-1. This hormone not only assists diabetic patients in controlling blood sugars, but also can help with weight loss management in diabetic and non-diabetic patients. Semaglutide does this by aiding your body in the release of insulin, a hormone that helps lower blood sugar by moving it from your bloodstream into your cells where it can be used for energy production and other physiologic processes. Semaglutide also reduces sugar production from your liver, lowering your circulating blood sugar to help regulate your sugars throughout the day. In terms of weight loss, Semaglutide has powerful effects on slowing digestion, reducing gastric emptying, or the rate at which food leaves your stomach and moves to your digestive tract. This allows you to feel full longer. Semaglutide also helps appetite control by working on brain areas that control appetite, helping you feel less hungry and more satisfied with smaller amounts of food. Both of these mechanisms lead to less calories throughout the day.
- Tirzepatide works similarly to Semaglutide. Tirzepatide works on both GLP-1 (like Semaglutide) and also GIP (glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide), which like Semaglutide assists in insulin secretion, improve insulin sensitivity, and reduce weight. Tirzepatide usually leads to larger reductions in weight than Semaglutide.
Both medications are taken via once weekly, subcutaneous injection.
Our experienced providers will provide you with instructions to safely administer your once weekly injection. The injection is subcutaneous, meaning just under the skin. This delivery system is much less painful than an intramuscular injection, the type of injection commonly use to administer vaccinations and other medications. The needle size required for GLP-1 agonist administration is much smaller, much shorter, less painful, and easier to administer than intramuscular.
- As with any medication, there are side effects to be aware of when using both Semaglutide and Tirzepatide. The most common side effects are gastrointestinal, including nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and constipation. Injection site reactions may occur. Other side effects are rare, and may include cholelithiasis (gallbladder stones), low blood pressure, or skin rashes. If you had recent bariatric surgery, the risk of dehydration with concurrent use of these drugs may increase. The risk of aspiration during surgery and endoscopic procedures may increase due to delayed or slow gastric emptying.
- Most importantly, if you or a family member have a personal history of medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) or multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN-2), you may NOT use these medications.
No. These medications are not safe to use if you are pregnancy, nursing, or in the process of family planning.
Your medical provider will ask for a baseline set of laboratory testing, or ask for a copy of your most recent lab work if done within the last 6 months. This will include a comprehensive metabolic panel, a TSH, and a hemoglobin A1C. Depending on your medical history, your provider may ask for more lab work.
You should receive your medication within 1 week from the time of your initial appointment if you have lab work done. The medication will be shipped to your home.
At this time, Renew Medical does not accept insurance. We do however accept HSA/FSA.
Contact our clinic immediately or seek emergency medical attention if you experience severe side effects such as chest pain, difficulty breathing, severe abdominal pain, or signs of an allergic reaction.
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Just like a brand new house requires a strong foundation to remain stable and durable, maintaining your weight loss requires a solid foundation of healthy habits integrated into your daily life. The most important factor to weight loss is maintaining healthy habits to sustain the weight loss for the rest of your life. Our friends at NutriGreene offer expert dietitians across multiple locations in Connecticut (including Westport, Stamford, Hartford, Ridgefield, and North Haven) to do just that! They accept multiple forms of insurance and work with our patients to maintain their weight loss goals.
We use secure, encrypted platforms for all Telehealth consultations and strictly adhere to HIPAA regulations to protect your personal health information.
We are now offering hormone replacement therapy for both men and women. A comprehensive lab panel will be ordered prior to your initial consult and will be reviewed during your appointment.