GLP-1 Prescriptions & Weight Loss Plans
Dr. Lara Samourjian provides physician-led medical weight loss care for patients in Santa Clarita, including personalized treatment plans, lifestyle guidance, and prescription medications such as GLP-1 medications when appropriate. Schedule a free consultation with RefineMD to discuss your goals and find out which weight loss options may be right for you.
GLP-1 and GLP-1-based medications may be an option for adults who need medical support with weight management. Dr. Lara Samourjian works with patients in Santa Clarita to determine whether prescription weight loss medication is appropriate based on their health history, current medications, weight-related concerns, and treatment goals.
Care is physician-led from the beginning. Patients receive an individual medical evaluation before medication is prescribed, followed by continued monitoring throughout treatment. When a GLP-1 or GLP-1-based medication is clinically appropriate, Dr. Samourjian can develop a treatment plan that includes prescription management, follow-up visits, progress monitoring, and adjustments based on how you respond.
GLP-1 medications work with pathways involved in appetite, fullness, digestion, and blood sugar regulation. For some patients, this can make it easier to feel satisfied with smaller portions and reduce persistent hunger that has made weight management difficult.
Medication is one part of a broader medical weight management plan. Dr. Samourjian evaluates how prescription treatment fits into your overall health rather than treating the medication as a stand-alone solution.
Receiving a GLP-1 prescription begins with a medical consultation. Dr. Samourjian reviews your health history, current medications, previous weight loss efforts, symptoms, and goals to determine whether prescription treatment may be appropriate.
A request for a specific medication does not automatically result in a prescription. The treatment needs to be appropriate for your individual medical circumstances. Certain health conditions, medications, symptoms, or other factors may affect whether a particular GLP-1 or GLP-1-based medication should be considered.
If prescription treatment is appropriate, Dr. Samourjian can discuss available options, explain how the medication is used, review potential side effects, and establish a plan for continued follow-up.
The initial consultation is used to understand your overall health and determine whether prescription weight loss medication is appropriate. This allows treatment decisions to be made based on your individual medical needs rather than following a standardized medication plan.
Your consultation may include a review of:
Additional information, laboratory testing, or an in-person evaluation may be recommended when needed before treatment begins.
Two medications commonly discussed in medical weight management are semaglutide and tirzepatide. Semaglutide works as a GLP-1 receptor agonist. Tirzepatide works on both GIP and GLP-1 receptors. Although these medications are frequently discussed together, they work differently and are not interchangeable.
The medication that may be appropriate for one patient is not necessarily the best option for another. Dr. Samourjian considers your medical history, treatment goals, previous medications, potential side effects, and other individual factors before recommending prescription treatment.
| Medication Type | How It Works | Medical Oversight |
|---|---|---|
| Semaglutide | Acts on GLP-1 receptors involved in appetite, fullness, and metabolic regulation. | Requires medical evaluation, appropriate prescribing, and ongoing monitoring. |
| Tirzepatide | Acts on both GIP and GLP-1 receptors involved in appetite and metabolic regulation. | Requires medical evaluation, appropriate prescribing, and ongoing monitoring. |
A consultation with Dr. Samourjian allows your treatment options to be considered in the context of your overall health and medical needs.
Medical supervision continues after a prescription is provided. Your response to medication can change over time, which makes follow-up an important part of GLP-1 treatment.
Dr. Samourjian monitors your progress to evaluate how well the medication is working, how you are tolerating treatment, and whether your current plan continues to be appropriate.
Monitoring may include:
Regular monitoring allows decisions about your medication and overall treatment plan to be based on your individual response rather than weight alone.
Body weight is an important measurement during medical weight management, but it does not provide the entire picture. Dr. Samourjian can also evaluate changes in appetite, medication tolerance, nutrition, hydration, energy, and overall health.
Looking at progress over time can be more useful than reacting to individual day-to-day weight changes. The goal is to understand whether treatment is producing an appropriate response while continuing to support your overall health.
| What We Monitor | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| Weight Trend | Shows how your body is responding over time rather than focusing on individual daily changes. |
| Appetite | Helps evaluate how treatment is affecting hunger, fullness, and portion sizes. |
| Medication Tolerance | Helps determine whether treatment is being tolerated and whether changes should be considered. |
| Nutrition | Helps make sure reduced appetite does not interfere with adequate nutrient intake. |
| Hydration | Helps support overall health, particularly when appetite or gastrointestinal function changes. |
| Overall Health | Allows treatment decisions to be considered alongside your broader medical needs. |
GLP-1 treatment is not a one-size-fits-all process. Patients can respond differently to the same medication, and treatment needs can change as weight, appetite, health, and medication tolerance change.
Dr. Samourjian can evaluate your response during follow-up appointments and determine whether your current treatment should continue as prescribed or whether an adjustment should be considered. Medication decisions are based on your individual progress and medical circumstances.
This approach also gives patients an ongoing point of contact for questions about medication use, changes in symptoms, side effects, refills, or other concerns that arise during treatment.
Prescription medication can be an important part of medical weight management, but medication alone does not address every factor involved in long-term progress. RefineMD's medically supervised approach can also include nutritional guidance, lifestyle modifications, ongoing support, and treatment adjustments when appropriate.
Because GLP-1-based medications can reduce appetite, attention to nutrition and hydration remains important. The goal is not simply to eat as little as possible. Patients still need an approach that supports adequate nutrition and overall health while weight is changing.
Regular movement, appropriate nutrition, adequate hydration, and sustainable habits can all complement prescription treatment. These areas can be considered as part of a broader physician-guided weight management plan.
GLP-1 and GLP-1-based medications are prescription treatments that should be used with appropriate medical evaluation and follow-up. Physician oversight helps ensure that the medication, dose, and overall treatment plan continue to make sense for the individual patient.
Working with Dr. Samourjian gives you an opportunity to discuss questions before treatment begins and throughout your care. If your response changes, new symptoms develop, another medication is started, or your health circumstances change, your treatment plan can be reevaluated.
The focus is not simply on obtaining a prescription. It is on receiving ongoing medical care while using prescription medication for weight management.
RefineMD provides telehealth consultations with Dr. Lara Samourjian for patients throughout California, including patients in Santa Clarita. This allows you to discuss medical weight management, GLP-1 treatment options, prescription management, and follow-up care without traveling to the office for every appointment.
During a virtual consultation, Dr. Samourjian can review your health history, medications, treatment goals, progress, and concerns. Prescription medications may be provided when clinically appropriate.
Some situations may require laboratory testing or an in-person evaluation. RefineMD also provides in-person medical care at its Glendale office when needed.
Medical weight management can change over time. Your needs during the first weeks of treatment may be different from your needs several months later. Continued follow-up allows your treatment plan to evolve as your weight, appetite, medication response, and overall health change.
Dr. Samourjian can help evaluate your progress, address concerns, and determine appropriate next steps throughout treatment. This can include continued medication management, adjustments when clinically appropriate, and planning for longer-term weight management.
If you are considering semaglutide, tirzepatide, or another prescription approach to medical weight management, start with a consultation with Dr. Lara Samourjian. She can review your health, discuss your goals, and determine whether GLP-1-based treatment may be appropriate for you.
RefineMD serves Santa Clarita patients through physician-led telehealth care, with in-person appointments also available at the Glendale office. Schedule your consultation to discuss GLP-1 prescription options, medical monitoring, and a treatment plan based on your individual needs.
Prescription medications may be provided through a telehealth visit when Dr. Samourjian determines that they are clinically appropriate. A virtual appointment is still a medical consultation, so your health history, current medications, symptoms, weight-related concerns, and goals are reviewed before a treatment decision is made.
Some circumstances may require laboratory testing or an in-person evaluation. Dr. Samourjian will explain what is needed based on your individual situation.
Prescription weight loss medication may be considered for adults who meet appropriate medical criteria and for whom medication is suitable after a medical evaluation. Body weight may be part of that decision, but it is not the only factor.
Dr. Samourjian also considers your health history, weight-related medical concerns, previous weight management efforts, current medications, and other factors that may affect whether a particular treatment is appropriate.
You can schedule a consultation if you are already using a GLP-1 or GLP-1-based medication and need physician-guided follow-up care. It is helpful to provide information about the medication you are taking, 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, an adjustment, or another approach should be considered.
The frequency of follow-up depends on your medication, response to treatment, side effects, and individual medical needs. During follow-up visits, Dr. Samourjian can review changes in your weight, appetite, medication tolerance, nutrition, and overall health.
Monitoring also helps determine whether your current medication and treatment plan remain appropriate as treatment progresses.
Your medication plan may change over time depending on how you respond and how well you tolerate treatment. Dose adjustments should be made under medical supervision rather than based only on how quickly your weight is changing.
Dr. Samourjian can evaluate your progress and determine whether your current dose should remain the same or whether an adjustment should be considered.
Some patients experience gastrointestinal side effects such as nausea, constipation, diarrhea, vomiting, stomach discomfort, or changes in digestion.
If you develop side effects, discuss them with your physician rather than changing your dose or stopping medication on your own. Severe, persistent, unusual, or concerning symptoms should be evaluated promptly.
Weight loss does not always occur at a consistent rate. A period of slower progress does not automatically mean that the medication is no longer working or that your dose needs to increase.
Dr. Samourjian can review factors such as appetite, medication use, nutrition, activity, other medications, and changes in your health before determining whether your treatment plan should be adjusted.
Yes. GLP-1-based medications can reduce appetite, but adequate nutrition remains important throughout treatment. Smaller portions still need to provide the protein, nutrients, fluids, and energy your body needs.
Your medical weight management plan can include nutritional and lifestyle guidance to support your health while taking prescription medication.
Regular physical activity can support overall health, physical function, strength, and long-term weight management. The type and amount of activity that is appropriate depends on your health, fitness level, and individual circumstances.
You can discuss exercise and other lifestyle considerations with Dr. Samourjian as part of your overall medical weight management plan.
Prescription management may include follow-up appointments to review your progress, medication tolerance, side effects, and whether your current treatment remains appropriate.
Your physician can determine whether treatment should continue as prescribed or whether changes should be considered before additional medication is prescribed.
No. Semaglutide is a GLP-1 receptor agonist, while tirzepatide acts on both GIP and GLP-1 receptors. They are different medications and should not be considered interchangeable.
Dr. Samourjian can review your medical history and treatment goals to determine which prescription options, if any, may be appropriate for you.
Long-term treatment decisions depend on your individual health, response to medication, weight management goals, and medical needs. Reaching a lower weight does not necessarily mean that medication should be stopped or changed immediately.
Dr. Samourjian can review your progress and discuss an appropriate long-term treatment or maintenance plan based on your individual circumstances.
Maintaining weight loss can require a different approach than actively losing weight. Your long-term plan may depend on how you responded to treatment, your current health, your appetite, lifestyle habits, and whether continued medication is medically appropriate.
Dr. Samourjian can review your progress and discuss next steps rather than having you change or stop prescription treatment without medical guidance.
Contact your physician whenever you have questions about your medication, dose, side effects, or changes in your health. You should also seek medical guidance for symptoms that are severe, persistent, unusual, or concerning.
Routine follow-up remains important even when you are feeling well because it helps your physician determine whether treatment continues to be appropriate and effective.
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.
