GLP-1 Care With a Board-Certified Physician Near You
Burbank patients can work directly with Dr. Lara Samourjian for medically supervised weight loss through convenient telehealth visits. Get evaluated for GLP-1 treatment, and have your progress monitored by an experienced internal medicine physician. Contact us today for a free consulation about GLP-1s for weight loss.
Medical weight loss can provide another option when changes to diet and activity have not been enough to produce or maintain the progress you are looking for. Dr. Lara Samourjian works with patients in Burbank who want to understand whether prescription weight loss medication may be appropriate and how it can be used safely as part of a broader medical plan.
Dr. Samourjian is the founder and head physician of RefineMD and a board-certified internal medicine physician with more than a decade of clinical medicine experience. That background allows her to look beyond weight alone when evaluating treatment. Your current medications, health history, previous weight loss efforts, symptoms, metabolic concerns, nutrition, and treatment goals can all affect which approach makes sense.
For eligible patients, medical treatment may include a GLP-1 or GLP-1-based medication. These medications are designed to work with biological pathways involved in appetite, fullness, food intake, and metabolic regulation. The objective is not simply to provide medication. It is to determine whether treatment is appropriate, select an option that fits the patient, and continue monitoring how the patient responds.
Burbank patients can meet directly with Dr. Samourjian through telehealth for medical weight loss consultations and appropriate follow-up care. RefineMD also has a nearby medical office in Glendale for patients who need or prefer an in-person appointment.
There is no longer just one type of GLP-1 treatment to discuss. Weight management medications now include traditional GLP-1 receptor agonists, medications that act on more than one incretin pathway, weekly injections, and oral treatment options.
GLP-1 is a hormone involved in several processes that affect eating and metabolism. Medications that activate the GLP-1 receptor can reduce appetite and food intake and increase feelings of fullness. Tirzepatide works somewhat differently because it acts on both GIP and GLP-1 receptors.
The differences between these medications matter. Some are specifically approved for chronic weight management, while other well-known drugs containing the same or related active ingredients are approved primarily for type 2 diabetes. Dr. Samourjian can help you understand which medications are relevant to your goals rather than assuming that every medication commonly called a "GLP-1" is interchangeable.
Wegovy contains semaglutide, a GLP-1 receptor agonist used for chronic weight management in eligible patients. Semaglutide works on GLP-1 receptors involved in appetite and food intake, helping some patients feel full with less food and reduce overall caloric intake.
Wegovy is now available in both injectable and oral forms. The injectable form is taken weekly, while the Wegovy tablet is taken daily. Having different forms of the same active ingredient can create additional considerations when a physician is discussing treatment with a patient, including medication history, preferences, tolerability, dosing routine, and other medical factors.
Wegovy should not be confused with every medication that contains semaglutide. Brand names can have different FDA-approved indications, formulations, and dosing. Your physician can explain which form and indication are relevant to your medical situation.
Zepbound contains tirzepatide and is used for chronic weight management in eligible adults. Unlike medications that act only on the GLP-1 receptor, tirzepatide activates both GIP and GLP-1 receptors. These are two incretin hormone pathways involved in appetite and metabolic regulation.
Zepbound is administered as a weekly injection. Treatment begins and progresses according to a dosing schedule, with the patient's response and tolerability considered as treatment continues.
Tirzepatide is also the active ingredient in Mounjaro, but the two brand names have different FDA-approved uses. Zepbound is the brand used for chronic weight management in eligible patients, while Mounjaro is used for type 2 diabetes. This is one reason it is useful to discuss medications by both their active ingredient and their approved indication with your physician.
Foundayo contains orforglipron, an oral GLP-1 receptor agonist approved for chronic weight management in eligible adults. Unlike injectable GLP-1 medications, Foundayo is taken by mouth once daily.
It also differs from some other oral GLP-1 formulations because it can be taken with or without food and does not have the same water restrictions associated with certain peptide-based oral GLP-1 medications. For a patient who prefers not to use an injectable medication, an oral option may be worth discussing with a physician.
Whether an injectable or oral medication is the better choice is an individual medical decision. Route of administration is only one consideration. Health history, medication interactions, previous treatment, side effects, goals, and other clinical factors are also relevant.
| Weight Management Medication | Active Ingredient | Medication Type | Form |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wegovy | Semaglutide | GLP-1 receptor agonist | Injection or tablet |
| Zepbound | Tirzepatide | Dual GIP and GLP-1 receptor agonist | Injection |
| Foundayo | Orforglipron | GLP-1 receptor agonist | Tablet |
This does not mean that each medication is appropriate for every patient or that receiving a consultation guarantees a prescription. Dr. Samourjian evaluates treatment individually and can discuss which available options, if any, fit your medical needs.
A GLP-1 program should involve more than choosing a medication from a menu. At RefineMD, treatment begins with a medical consultation with Dr. Samourjian. The purpose is to understand why you are seeking treatment, what you have tried previously, and whether there are medical factors that affect the safety or appropriateness of prescription weight management medication.
Dr. Samourjian may review several areas before recommending treatment:
Some patients may also need laboratory testing, an examination, or additional medical information before a prescribing decision can be made. A particular medication may be appropriate for one patient and unsuitable for another, even when their weight loss goals appear similar.
The growing number of treatment options means medication selection can involve more than deciding between semaglutide and tirzepatide. There may now be questions about weekly versus daily dosing, injectable versus oral medication, previous experience with a particular drug class, side effects, other health conditions, and the practical ability to continue treatment.
Insurance coverage and pharmacy access can also differ by medication and individual plan. A prescription does not guarantee that a medication will be covered by a particular insurance policy. These practical considerations can be discussed alongside the medical factors involved in choosing treatment.
Follow-up is an important part of prescription weight management. Dr. Samourjian can monitor how your weight changes over time while also paying attention to appetite, medication tolerance, nutrition, hydration, symptoms, and your general health.
This matters because losing weight faster is not automatically the same as receiving better medical care. Significant appetite reduction can change how much a person eats and drinks, and medication side effects may affect whether a treatment remains comfortable or appropriate. Monitoring gives your physician an opportunity to look at the full response rather than relying on the scale alone.
| During Treatment | What Dr. Samourjian May Review |
|---|---|
| Weight Progress | The overall trend in your weight and whether progress is occurring at an appropriate rate. |
| Appetite | Changes in hunger, fullness, portions, and food intake. |
| Medication Tolerance | How you are responding to the medication and whether side effects are occurring. |
| Nutrition and Hydration | Whether reduced appetite is interfering with adequate food, nutrients, protein, or fluid intake. |
| Other Health Changes | New symptoms, new medications, or other medical changes that may affect your treatment. |
| Long-Term Plan | Whether the current medication and broader weight management strategy continue to fit your needs. |
Gastrointestinal symptoms are among the side effects associated with GLP-1-based treatment and can include nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, constipation, and abdominal discomfort. Individual medications also have their own warnings, precautions, and potential risks, which should be reviewed before treatment.
If you develop side effects, experience a significant change in appetite, or have another health concern, the appropriate response is not necessarily to increase, decrease, or stop medication on your own. Dr. Samourjian can evaluate what you are experiencing and determine whether your treatment should remain the same or whether another step should be considered.
The same principle applies when weight loss slows. A plateau does not automatically mean that a medication has failed or that a higher dose is required. Your physician can review medication use, appetite, nutrition, activity, treatment duration, and other health factors before recommending a change.
Living in Burbank gives patients the option of working with a Los Angeles-area physician who provides medical weight loss care without needing to rely exclusively on a national online prescription service. Dr. Samourjian offers telehealth appointments through RefineMD, allowing appropriate consultations and follow-up care to take place from home.
Your virtual appointment is directly with Dr. Samourjian. You can discuss your health history, weight concerns, GLP-1 options, current medications, side effects, progress, and questions with the physician managing your treatment.
Telehealth can also make continued monitoring more practical. Rather than making a trip to an office for every routine check-in, appropriate follow-up visits can be completed virtually. When an examination, testing, or in-person assessment is needed, RefineMD's medical office is nearby in Glendale.
Medication can make appetite and portion control more manageable for some patients, but prescription treatment is still only one component of weight management. Nutrition, hydration, physical activity, sleep, lifestyle, and long-term habits continue to matter.
This becomes particularly relevant when medication significantly reduces appetite. The goal is not simply to eat as little as possible. Smaller amounts of food still need to provide appropriate nutrition, and patients should continue paying attention to hydration and overall health.
As treatment progresses, the conversation may also shift from losing weight to maintaining progress. Dr. Samourjian can review how your needs have changed and discuss an appropriate next phase rather than having you make long-term medication decisions without medical guidance.
If you are in Burbank and want to find out whether Wegovy, Zepbound, Foundayo, or another medical weight loss option may be appropriate, schedule a consultation with Dr. Lara Samourjian at RefineMD. Your visit can begin with a review of your health, goals, and treatment options, followed by physician-guided care if prescription treatment is appropriate.
Dr. Lara Samourjian is the founder and head physician of RefineMD. She is a board-certified internal medicine physician with more than a decade of clinical medicine experience and provides physician-led medical weight loss and wellness care.
Her approach to weight management considers the patient's broader health, medications, medical history, treatment goals, and response to therapy rather than focusing only on weight.
Current prescription weight management options include medications such as Wegovy, which contains semaglutide; Zepbound, which contains tirzepatide; and Foundayo, which contains orforglipron. There are also other prescription approaches that may be considered depending on the patient.
Discussing a medication does not guarantee that it will be prescribed. Dr. Samourjian first determines whether prescription treatment is medically appropriate and which available option may fit your individual circumstances.
Wegovy contains semaglutide and acts on GLP-1 receptors. It is available in injectable and oral forms for weight management. Zepbound contains tirzepatide and acts on both GIP and GLP-1 receptors. It is administered by injection. Foundayo contains orforglipron, acts on the GLP-1 receptor, and is taken as a once-daily tablet.
The differences go beyond whether the medication is a pill or injection. Your health history, current medications, previous treatment, potential side effects, preferences, and other medical factors can affect which option is appropriate.
Dr. Samourjian offers telehealth consultations for patients in California, including Burbank. Prescription medication may be provided when she determines that it is clinically appropriate after reviewing your health history, medications, weight concerns, and treatment goals.
Some patients may need laboratory testing, an examination, or an in-person evaluation. RefineMD's medical office is located nearby in Glendale when in-person care is needed.
Dr. Samourjian considers factors such as your weight history, previous weight loss efforts, current prescriptions, medical conditions, metabolic concerns, gastrointestinal history, previous medication reactions, and treatment goals.
The purpose of the consultation is to determine whether medication is appropriate for you and, if so, which treatment makes sense. A request for a particular brand does not automatically result in a prescription.
Follow-up care can include monitoring your weight trend, appetite, medication tolerance, side effects, nutrition, hydration, and overall health. Dr. Samourjian can also determine whether your current medication and treatment plan continue to be appropriate as your response changes.
If you develop side effects or your weight loss slows, do not assume that you need to change your dose. Dr. Samourjian can review what is happening and determine whether an adjustment or another step should be considered.
You can schedule a medical consultation if you are already taking a GLP-1 or GLP-1-based medication and want physician-guided follow-up care. Be prepared to provide the name of your medication, your current dose, how long you have been using it, previous doses, side effects, and changes you have noticed.
Dr. Samourjian can review your current treatment in the context of your overall health and discuss whether continued treatment, additional monitoring, or another approach should be considered.
Call or message us directly to learn more about our medical weight loss services.
Whether you’re ready to start a treatment or want to learn more through a consultation, our expert team is here to help.
