GLP-1 Medications for Weight Loss
GLP-1 receptor agonists are the most clinically effective class of weight loss medications available today. Tactus Health offers semaglutide, tirzepatide, and liraglutide, prescribed and monitored by our licensed providers in Sugar Hill, GA and by telehealth.
What Is a GLP-1 Medication?
GLP-1 stands for glucagon-like peptide-1, a hormone your gut naturally releases after eating. It signals your brain to reduce appetite, tells your stomach to slow down gastric emptying, and improves how your body processes blood sugar. GLP-1 receptor agonist medications work by mimicking and amplifying this signal, producing consistent appetite suppression and meaningful weight loss.
By treating the neurochemistry of hunger, GLP-1 medications allow for non-surgical weight loss that addresses the root cause of metabolic dysfunction. Many patients describe a profound reduction in food noise, the constant preoccupation with food and eating that makes weight management so difficult without medical support.
Tirzepatide adds a second mechanism by also activating GIP receptors, which improves metabolic flexibility and produces approximately 20% greater relative weight loss than semaglutide alone in head-to-head trials.
Tirzepatide activates both GLP-1 and GIP receptors simultaneously, improving metabolic flexibility and producing approximately 20% greater relative weight loss than semaglutide in the SURMOUNT-5 head-to-head trial.
GLP-1 Medications at Tactus Health
All three are clinician-prescribed, pharmacy-sourced, and monitored by our medical team throughout your program. Telehealth available.
Most PopularThe most widely prescribed GLP-1 for weight loss. Once-weekly injection titrated from 0.25mg to 2.4mg. Also available as the Wegovy® once-daily pill (FDA-approved December 2025). Most established clinical track record in the class, including SELECT trial cardiovascular data.
Most PowerfulThe highest-performing FDA-approved weight loss medication available. Activates both GLP-1 and GIP receptors simultaneously, improving metabolic flexibility. Once-weekly injection from 2.5mg to 15mg. SURMOUNT-5 head-to-head data confirms superiority over semaglutide.
Daily InjectionA once-daily injectable GLP-1 with the longest clinical track record in the class. Produces more modest weight loss but may be appropriate for patients with specific clinical considerations, including those who prefer a daily schedule or have had specific responses to other GLP-1 formulations.
Brand-name medications like Wegovy® and Zepbound® may be covered by insurance with prior authorization. For patients whose insurance denies coverage, compounded semaglutide and tirzepatide contain the same active molecule, prepared by licensed 503A pharmacies. Compounded medications are not FDA-approved products. Our medical team helps navigate both pathways and will advise at your consultation.
Semaglutide or Tirzepatide?
Semaglutide is the most established and widely accessible option. Tirzepatide is the most potent for total weight reduction. The right choice depends on your health history, any existing conditions, and how your body responds. Our licensed providers make this recommendation based on your full clinical picture.
- You want the most established clinical track record
- Cardiovascular risk reduction is a priority (SELECT trial)
- An oral pill option (Wegovy® pill) is preferred over injection
- Insurance coverage is available for Wegovy®
- Weekly dosing with a well-known auto-injector pen is preferred
- Maximum weight loss results are the primary goal
- You have insulin resistance or pre-diabetes alongside obesity
- Previous GLP-1 medications produced insufficient results
- Improved metabolic flexibility is a clinical priority
- You have type 2 diabetes (Mounjaro® FDA-approved)
For a detailed side-by-side breakdown, see the Semaglutide vs. Tirzepatide comparison guide.
How GLP-1 Treatment Works at Tactus Health
Fully managed by our licensed providers from initial consultation through ongoing dose optimization.
Skin, Muscle & Body Composition
Rapid weight loss can affect skin elasticity and muscle mass. At Tactus Health, our medical team monitors body composition throughout your program and uses a high-protein nutrition protocol and conservative titration to help preserve muscle. For patients concerned about skin laxity following significant weight loss, Tactus Health’s Sugar Hill clinic offers RF Microneedling and skin tightening treatments performed by Cynthia, our licensed aesthetician.
The integration of medical weight loss and aesthetics under one roof is intentional. Losing weight is one outcome. Looking and feeling your best throughout the process is another. Both matter.
Dr. Ashar N.
Dr. Ashar holds a Doctor of Nursing Practice and two national board certifications, one in family practice and one in psychiatric mental health.
She founded Tactus Health to close the gap she watched her own family fall through: symptoms that were real, labs that came back normal, and no one willing to connect the two.
She is responsible for the protocols our medical team follows, and for the training of the clinicians who deliver them. Holding both certifications is why those protocols treat hormones, mood, sleep and metabolism as one system rather than five separate appointments.
GLP-1 Questions
Semaglutide activates only GLP-1 receptors. Tirzepatide activates both GLP-1 and GIP receptors simultaneously. The dual mechanism of tirzepatide produces greater average weight loss: approximately 14.9% with semaglutide versus 20.9% with tirzepatide at maximum doses in clinical trials. Semaglutide is more established with stronger cardiovascular outcomes data; tirzepatide is more potent for total weight reduction. See the full semaglutide vs. tirzepatide comparison.
Compounded semaglutide and tirzepatide are prepared by FDA-registered 503A compounding pharmacies using pharmaceutical-grade active ingredients. They contain the same active molecule as the brand-name medications. Our medical team prescribes compounded formulations from reputable pharmacies and monitors patients throughout treatment. The compounding pathway is a legal and clinically recognized route for medication access.
Most patients notice appetite reduction and reduced food noise within the first 2–4 weeks. Visible weight loss typically begins in weeks 4–8 as the dose reaches therapeutic levels. Maximum results occur at maintenance dose, typically around 16–24 weeks. The clinical trial results (14.9% for semaglutide, 20.9% for tirzepatide) were measured at 68–72 weeks respectively.
The most common side effects are gastrointestinal: nausea, constipation, and occasional vomiting, primarily during dose escalation. These typically resolve as the body adjusts. Conservative titration, the standard at Tactus Health, significantly reduces severity. Serious but rare risks include pancreatitis. GLP-1 medications are contraindicated in patients with a personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma or Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia type 2.
Not necessarily. The goal at Tactus Health is metabolic health, not indefinite medication dependence. Many patients transition to a lower maintenance dose or eventually discontinue medication after establishing lasting changes to appetite, eating patterns, and metabolic function. Our licensed providers build an exit strategy into your program from the start, monitoring your metabolic markers throughout to determine the appropriate transition point.
FDA approval criteria for GLP-1 weight management medications are a BMI of 30 or higher, or a BMI of 27 or higher with at least one weight-related condition such as hypertension, type 2 diabetes, or high cholesterol. Our providers may also consider GLP-1 therapy for patients with insulin resistance or pre-diabetes. Eligibility is determined based on your complete clinical profile at your free consultation.
Start Your GLP-1 Program
Free consultation with our licensed providers. Your care team will review your labs, health history, and goals and recommend the right GLP-1 medication and formulation for your situation.