Dr. Rocio Salas-Whalen

So every patient is individual and we try to adjust their lifestyle, but we need to see those frequent visits to see where the patient is, right? Are they tolerating it? Can we go up? Do we need to go up or do we need to come down on the dose?

So every patient is individual and we try to adjust their lifestyle, but we need to see those frequent visits to see where the patient is, right? Are they tolerating it? Can we go up? Do we need to go up or do we need to come down on the dose?

So the first thing to look is that we, as medical doctors, we don't sell FDA-approved medications in our offices. We send a prescription to your local pharmacy. It could be a commercial pharmacy, but we don't sell it in our office. If you encounter somebody who does, they're not, they're selling you the compounded version, right?

So the first thing to look is that we, as medical doctors, we don't sell FDA-approved medications in our offices. We send a prescription to your local pharmacy. It could be a commercial pharmacy, but we don't sell it in our office. If you encounter somebody who does, they're not, they're selling you the compounded version, right?

So the first thing to look is that we, as medical doctors, we don't sell FDA-approved medications in our offices. We send a prescription to your local pharmacy. It could be a commercial pharmacy, but we don't sell it in our office. If you encounter somebody who does, they're not, they're selling you the compounded version, right?

Also, many of those med spas or mail order or telemedicine platforms, what they're offering you is the compounded version of the drug.

Also, many of those med spas or mail order or telemedicine platforms, what they're offering you is the compounded version of the drug.

Also, many of those med spas or mail order or telemedicine platforms, what they're offering you is the compounded version of the drug.

The FDA-approved medications are evidence-based. They're from the clinical trials. They're heavily, heavily regulated. For a drug to be FDA-approved, they sometimes have to show 10 years of research, right? Efficacy and safety to get FDA approval. Compounded medications are not regulated. They're not FDA-approved.

The FDA-approved medications are evidence-based. They're from the clinical trials. They're heavily, heavily regulated. For a drug to be FDA-approved, they sometimes have to show 10 years of research, right? Efficacy and safety to get FDA approval. Compounded medications are not regulated. They're not FDA-approved.

The FDA-approved medications are evidence-based. They're from the clinical trials. They're heavily, heavily regulated. For a drug to be FDA-approved, they sometimes have to show 10 years of research, right? Efficacy and safety to get FDA approval. Compounded medications are not regulated. They're not FDA-approved.

So many times what you're getting, it may not be exactly what they're promising, right? Many times they put fillers on the medications. So safety should always be above anything. Granted, these medications, the FDA versions are expensive, right? But I always tell people safety should not be jeopardized by cost. And second, because there's always the risk of self-administrating more medication.

So many times what you're getting, it may not be exactly what they're promising, right? Many times they put fillers on the medications. So safety should always be above anything. Granted, these medications, the FDA versions are expensive, right? But I always tell people safety should not be jeopardized by cost. And second, because there's always the risk of self-administrating more medication.

So many times what you're getting, it may not be exactly what they're promising, right? Many times they put fillers on the medications. So safety should always be above anything. Granted, these medications, the FDA versions are expensive, right? But I always tell people safety should not be jeopardized by cost. And second, because there's always the risk of self-administrating more medication.

Oh. The current FDA versions, they're pre-dose medications. So there's no way that a patient can inject themselves more or less. With the compounded medications and what we've seen and there's studies showing that most of the hospital visits for severe side effects of GLP-1s are from compounded medications from overdosing.

Oh. The current FDA versions, they're pre-dose medications. So there's no way that a patient can inject themselves more or less. With the compounded medications and what we've seen and there's studies showing that most of the hospital visits for severe side effects of GLP-1s are from compounded medications from overdosing.

Oh. The current FDA versions, they're pre-dose medications. So there's no way that a patient can inject themselves more or less. With the compounded medications and what we've seen and there's studies showing that most of the hospital visits for severe side effects of GLP-1s are from compounded medications from overdosing.

So you leave it to the patient many times to figure out the dosing or to run the risk of underdose or overdose, right? And this can lead to severe side effects.

So you leave it to the patient many times to figure out the dosing or to run the risk of underdose or overdose, right? And this can lead to severe side effects.

So you leave it to the patient many times to figure out the dosing or to run the risk of underdose or overdose, right? And this can lead to severe side effects.