GLP-1 Prescriptions & Weight Loss Plans
Dr. Lara Samourjian provides physician-led medical weight loss care in Glendale, including personalized treatment plans, GLP-1 prescriptions when appropriate, and ongoing progress monitoring. Schedule a free consultation with RefineMD to discuss your weight loss goals and treatment options.
Dr. Lara Samourjian provides physician-led medical weight loss care at RefineMD in Glendale. Treatment is based on your health history, current medications, previous weight loss efforts, weight-related concerns, and individual goals rather than a standard program used for every patient.
For patients who may benefit from prescription treatment, Dr. Samourjian can evaluate whether a GLP-1 or GLP-1-based medication is clinically appropriate. Care can include prescription management, weight and progress monitoring, nutritional and lifestyle guidance, and ongoing follow-up as treatment progresses.
Because RefineMD is located in Glendale, patients can receive their medical weight loss care directly at the clinic and meet with Dr. Samourjian in person when appropriate.
GLP-1 and GLP-1-based medications may be considered for patients who need additional medical support with weight management. These prescription medications affect pathways involved in appetite, fullness, digestion, and metabolic regulation.
For some patients, treatment can reduce persistent hunger and help them feel satisfied with smaller portions. Medication is used as part of a broader medical plan rather than as a substitute for appropriate nutrition, activity, and continued medical care.
Dr. Samourjian evaluates whether prescription treatment makes sense for your individual health needs before recommending or prescribing medication.
Medical weight loss begins with an evaluation by Dr. Samourjian. The purpose of the consultation is to understand your health, identify factors that may be affecting your weight, and determine whether prescription medication should be part of your treatment plan.
Your evaluation may include a review of:
Additional information or laboratory testing may be recommended when needed. A consultation does not automatically result in a prescription because treatment must be medically appropriate for the individual patient.
Semaglutide and tirzepatide are two medications commonly discussed in medical weight management. Although they are often grouped together, they are different medications and act on different hormone pathways.
Semaglutide acts on GLP-1 receptors. Tirzepatide acts on both GIP and GLP-1 receptors. Dr. Samourjian can evaluate your health history, goals, previous treatments, medication tolerance, and other factors before determining which prescription options may be appropriate.
| Medication | How It Works | Medical Care |
|---|---|---|
| Semaglutide | Acts on GLP-1 receptors involved in appetite, fullness, digestion, and metabolic regulation. | Requires medical evaluation, appropriate prescribing, and continued monitoring. |
| Tirzepatide | Acts on both GIP and GLP-1 receptors involved in appetite and metabolic regulation. | Requires medical evaluation, appropriate prescribing, and continued monitoring. |
The right treatment depends on the patient. A medication that works well for one person may not be the most appropriate option for someone else.
Medical weight loss care continues after a prescription is provided. Dr. Samourjian monitors how your body is responding to treatment and whether the medication continues to be appropriate as your weight, appetite, and overall health change.
Follow-up care may include reviewing your weight trend, appetite, medication tolerance, nutrition, hydration, energy levels, and any side effects you have experienced.
| What Is Monitored | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| Weight Trend | Shows how your weight is changing over time rather than focusing on individual daily measurements. |
| Appetite | Helps evaluate how treatment is affecting hunger, fullness, and eating patterns. |
| Medication Tolerance | Helps determine whether you are tolerating treatment and whether changes should be considered. |
| Nutrition | Helps make sure reduced appetite does not interfere with adequate nutrient intake. |
| Hydration | Supports overall health and can be especially important when appetite or digestion changes. |
| Overall Health | Allows medication decisions to be made in the context of your broader medical needs. |
The goal is not simply to make the number on the scale decrease as quickly as possible. Monitoring helps determine whether treatment is producing an appropriate response while continuing to support your overall health.
GLP-1 treatment can change over time. The medication or dose that is appropriate when treatment begins may not remain the same throughout your weight loss program.
Dr. Samourjian can evaluate your progress during follow-up appointments and determine whether your current treatment should continue or whether a change should be considered. Decisions about dosing are based on your response, medication tolerance, symptoms, and overall medical circumstances.
Physician-led medication management also gives you a medical provider to contact if you have questions about your prescription, experience new symptoms, start another medication, or have concerns about your progress.
Prescription medication can support weight management, but it is not the only part of treatment. RefineMD's medically supervised approach can also include nutritional guidance, lifestyle modifications, and continued support.
Because GLP-1-based medications can significantly reduce appetite, it remains important to pay attention to nutrition and hydration. Eating less does not necessarily mean that nutritional needs are being met.
A broader weight management plan may include:
The purpose is to support your health throughout treatment while also building habits that can contribute to longer-term weight management.
Unlike a service that operates only through virtual appointments, RefineMD has a medical office in Glendale where patients can meet directly with Dr. Lara Samourjian.
The clinic is located at 1030 S Glendale Ave., Suite 503, Glendale, CA 91205. In-person visits provide an opportunity to discuss your health history, weight management goals, prescription options, progress, and concerns directly with your physician.
For patients who live or work in Glendale and surrounding communities, having a local medical office can also make continued follow-up and treatment management more convenient.
RefineMD also offers telehealth consultations. Glendale patients can use virtual visits when appropriate for consultations, medication management, progress reviews, and follow-up care.
During a telehealth appointment, you meet directly with Dr. Samourjian to discuss your symptoms, medications, progress, questions, and treatment plan. Prescription medication may be provided when clinically appropriate.
If an in-person examination, laboratory testing, or another type of evaluation is needed, Dr. Samourjian can determine the appropriate next step.
Your needs can change throughout medical weight loss treatment. Early treatment may focus on determining how you respond to medication, while later visits may involve continued monitoring, medication management, addressing slower progress, and planning for longer-term weight maintenance.
Regular follow-up allows Dr. Samourjian to evaluate these changes rather than leaving you to manage prescription weight loss medication on your own.
The goal is continued medical care throughout treatment, not simply obtaining a prescription and ending the relationship once medication has been prescribed.
If you are considering semaglutide, tirzepatide, or another prescription approach to weight management, schedule a consultation with Dr. Lara Samourjian at RefineMD in Glendale.
Dr. Samourjian can review your health, discuss your weight loss goals, evaluate whether prescription treatment may be appropriate, and develop a plan for continued monitoring and medical support.
RefineMD is located at 1030 S Glendale Ave., Suite 503, Glendale, CA 91205. Schedule an in-person or telehealth consultation to discuss your medical weight loss options.
RefineMD is located at 1030 S Glendale Ave., Suite 503, Glendale, CA 91205. Patients can schedule in-person medical consultations with Dr. Lara Samourjian at the Glendale office.
Dr. Samourjian can prescribe medication when she determines that it is clinically appropriate after reviewing your health history, current medications, weight-related concerns, and treatment goals.
A consultation does not guarantee a GLP-1 prescription because medication must be appropriate for your individual medical circumstances.
Not every appointment necessarily requires an in-person visit. RefineMD provides both in-office and telehealth consultations. Dr. Samourjian can determine whether an in-person examination, laboratory testing, or other evaluation is needed based on your individual circumstances.
Prescription medications may be provided through telehealth when Dr. Samourjian determines that they are medically appropriate. A virtual visit is still a medical consultation, so your health history, medications, symptoms, and treatment goals are reviewed before prescribing decisions are made.
Prescription weight loss medication may be considered for adults who meet appropriate medical criteria and for whom treatment is suitable after a physician evaluation.
Dr. Samourjian considers more than body weight alone. Your health history, existing medical conditions, current medications, previous weight loss efforts, and other factors can all affect whether a particular medication is appropriate.
No. Semaglutide acts on GLP-1 receptors, while tirzepatide acts on both GIP and GLP-1 receptors. They are different medications and should not be treated as interchangeable.
Dr. Samourjian can determine which prescription options, if any, may be appropriate based on your individual health and treatment goals.
You can schedule an appointment if you are already taking a GLP-1 or GLP-1-based medication and need physician-guided follow-up care.
Bring or provide information about your medication, current dose, how long you have been taking it, previous doses, side effects, and changes in your weight or appetite. Dr. Samourjian can review your existing treatment and discuss appropriate next steps.
The frequency of follow-up depends on your medication, response to treatment, side effects, and individual medical needs.
Follow-up appointments may include reviewing your weight trend, appetite, medication tolerance, nutrition, hydration, overall health, and whether your current treatment remains appropriate.
Your medication plan may change depending on how you respond and tolerate treatment. Dose changes should be made under physician supervision rather than based only on how quickly your weight changes.
Dr. Samourjian can determine whether your current treatment should remain the same or whether an adjustment should be considered.
Some patients experience gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, constipation, diarrhea, vomiting, stomach discomfort, or changes in digestion.
Side effects should be discussed with your physician rather than managed by changing your dose on your own. Severe, persistent, unusual, or concerning symptoms should be evaluated promptly.
Weight loss does not always happen at the same rate. Slower progress does not automatically mean that your medication has stopped working or that your dose needs to increase.
Dr. Samourjian can review your appetite, medication use, nutrition, activity, other medications, and overall health before determining whether your treatment plan should change.
Yes. GLP-1-based medications can reduce appetite, but your body still needs adequate nutrition, protein, fluids, and other nutrients.
RefineMD's medical weight loss approach can include nutritional and lifestyle guidance alongside prescription treatment.
Long-term treatment decisions depend on your health, response to medication, progress, treatment goals, and individual medical needs.
Dr. Samourjian can review your progress over time and discuss whether continued medication, a treatment adjustment, or another maintenance approach should be considered.
Start by scheduling a consultation with Dr. Lara Samourjian at the Glendale office or through telehealth. She can review your health history, current medications, previous weight loss efforts, and goals before recommending an appropriate treatment plan.
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.
