Priority care · GLP-1 weight
Physician-led GLP-1 medical weight management in Orlando
A monthly, physician-supervised program. GLP-1 medication is prescribed only after an evaluation with Kenny Chantasi, DO — then titrated, monitored and paired with the strength and maintenance plan that decides whether the weight stays off.
Scheduling opens securely in Prospyr · in-office or telemedicine evaluation
PrimeCell’s program uses compounded GLP-1 medications, prescribed only after a physician evaluation. Compounded drugs are not FDA-approved, and the FDA does not review them for safety, effectiveness or quality. About compounded GLP-1 medications
In one paragraph
What GLP-1 weight management means at PrimeCell
Short answer
It is a medical program, not a prescription subscription. Dr. Chantasi evaluates you first, decides whether a GLP-1-based medication is appropriate and safe for you, adjusts the dose to your tolerance and response, and builds the nutrition, strength and maintenance plan around it. No specific amount of weight loss is promised to anyone.
Weight is influenced by appetite signaling, metabolic health, sleep, stress, medications, hormones, movement, nutrition, genetics and life circumstances. That is why the program begins with a medical consultation rather than a one-size-fits-all prescription: we review your health history, current medications, prior weight-loss efforts, goals and risk factors before discussing which options may fit.
Medication is one tool. For some patients it is the right one; for others the better answer is a different medication, a different sequence, or no medication at all. How medical weight loss works covers the broader approach.
What PrimeCell does
- Evaluates you before any medication is discussed as a plan
- Screens for contraindications and reviews or orders labs
- Tells you plainly that the medication is compounded, and which licensed pharmacy compounds it
- Increases the dose gradually, based on tolerance and response
- Plans protein, hydration and strength training to protect lean mass
- Plans for maintenance — including what happens if medication stops
What PrimeCell will not do
- Promise a number of pounds or a date you will reach it
- Prescribe without a physician evaluation
- Handle GLP-1 medication as an ordinary online purchase
- Describe a compounded medication as the same as Wegovy or Zepbound
- Keep increasing a dose that you are not tolerating
- Present patient stories or before-and-after photos as proof
Why physician-led
A physician who has been on the other side of the scale
Over one year, Dr. Chantasi lost roughly 100 pounds during a weight-loss journey of his own that included GLP-1 therapy.
He shares it because it shapes how he practices, not as a benchmark. It is his personal experience, not a result any patient should expect: responses to these medications vary widely, and many people lose far less. What it does mean is that he takes the parts between visits — eating enough protein when appetite is low, keeping strength while the scale drops, planning for what comes after — as seriously as the prescription.
- Board certification
- Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation and Pain Medicine (AOBPMR)
- Why it matters here
- A rehabilitation physician’s focus on strength, mobility and function — the things weight loss should improve
- Academic
- Former Assistant Professor of Rehabilitation & Regenerative Medicine, Columbia University Irving Medical Center
Understanding the science
How GLP-1-based medicines work
GLP-1 is a gut hormone involved in appetite and blood-sugar regulation. Semaglutide mimics GLP-1 signaling; tirzepatide acts on both the GIP and GLP-1 pathways. Effects vary by medication and by person.
- 01
Brain
May reduce hunger, quiet persistent food thoughts and help you feel satisfied with less food.
- 02
Stomach
Can slow gastric emptying, which may extend fullness after meals — and is also the source of many side effects.
- 03
Pancreas
Supports glucose-dependent insulin release and may reduce inappropriate glucagon release.
- 04
Daily habits
Reduced appetite creates an opening to build nutrition, movement and strength habits. These medicines do not replace them.
Medication education
What the FDA-approved products show
This summary describes the FDA-approved semaglutide and tirzepatide products (Wegovy and Zepbound) and the trials behind them. PrimeCell’s program uses compounded GLP-1 medications, which are not those products; their labeling and trial results cannot be assumed to apply.
- FDA-approved
The FDA has approved a specific product for a specific use, with labeling that sets out who it is for, dosing and warnings.
- Brand ≠ molecule
The same molecule may be sold under different brand names with different approved uses — chronic weight management versus type 2 diabetes.
- Compounded · not FDA-approved
What PrimeCell’s program uses. The FDA does not review compounded drugs for safety, effectiveness or quality, and has published specific concerns about unapproved GLP-1 drugs.
| Semaglutide (FDA-approved product: Wegovy) | Tirzepatide (FDA-approved product: Zepbound) | |
|---|---|---|
| How it acts | GLP-1 receptor agonist | GIP and GLP-1 receptor agonist |
| FDA-approved for weight management | Yes — specific products, with indications that also include cardiovascular risk reduction in adults with established heart disease and overweight or obesity | Yes — specific products, with an indication that also includes moderate-to-severe obstructive sleep apnea in adults with obesity |
| Dosing | Once-weekly injection (a once-daily tablet is also approved); dose increased gradually | Once-weekly injection; dose increased gradually |
| Pivotal trial average | −14.9% body weight at 68 weeks vs −2.4% with placebo (STEP 1)1 | −15.0% to −20.9% at 72 weeks, by dose, vs −3.1% with placebo (SURMOUNT-1)2 |
| Shared label cautions | Boxed warning for thyroid C-cell tumors in rodents; not for people with a personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma or MEN 2. Pancreatitis, gallbladder disease, kidney injury from dehydration, hypoglycemia with some diabetes drugs, and aspiration risk under anesthesia.7,8 | |
Trial figures are averages from large studies in which participants also received lifestyle counseling. Individual results range widely — some people lose much less, and a few lose little. They describe what happened in those trials, not what you should expect. In the SELECT trial, semaglutide also reduced major cardiovascular events by 20% versus placebo in adults with established heart disease and overweight or obesity without diabetes.3
STEP 1, SURMOUNT-1 and SELECT studied the FDA-approved products. Their results cannot be assumed to apply to compounded versions, which have not been tested in those trials or reviewed by the FDA.9,12 About compounded GLP-1 medications
Medication source
About compounded GLP-1 medications
Compounded · not FDA-approved
Short answer
PrimeCell’s weight-management program uses compounded GLP-1 medications, prescribed only after a physician evaluation with Dr. Kenny Chantasi. Compounded drugs are not FDA-approved, and the FDA does not review them for safety, effectiveness or quality before they are marketed.9,12
What compounding means
A compounded drug is prepared for a patient by a licensed pharmacist in a state-licensed pharmacy, by a physician, or in an FDA-registered outsourcing facility, rather than manufactured as an FDA-approved product. Quality standards differ by setting: outsourcing facilities are inspected by the FDA and must follow current good manufacturing practice, while state-licensed pharmacies are overseen mainly by state boards of pharmacy and are not held to that manufacturing standard.12
Not the same as Wegovy or Zepbound
Compounded semaglutide or tirzepatide is not the same as, and must not be assumed equivalent to, FDA-approved Wegovy or Zepbound. It is not a generic version of either: generic drugs are FDA-approved and shown to be equivalent to the brand, and compounded drugs are not.12 The dosing, warnings and trial results of the approved products describe those products; they cannot be assumed to apply to a compounded version.
Why the pharmacy matters
Because the FDA does not review compounded drugs before they reach patients, the pharmacy that makes the medication carries much of the responsibility for its quality. You can ask which licensed pharmacy compounds your medication, and its name should appear on the label. The FDA has reported fraudulent compounded semaglutide and tirzepatide labeled with the names of pharmacies that did not make them, or that do not exist.9
What the FDA has reported
- Adverse events, some requiring hospitalization, that may be related to dosing errors with compounded semaglutide — patients measuring the wrong amount, and in some cases clinicians miscalculating a dose.
- Adverse events that may be related to compounded semaglutide or tirzepatide given at doses, or increased on schedules, beyond those in the approved labeling.
- Salt forms such as semaglutide sodium and semaglutide acetate, which are different active ingredients from the approved drugs; the FDA says it is not aware of any lawful basis for using them in compounding.
- For multiple-dose vials, the FDA recommends discarding the vial 28 days after first use, and not using an injectable GLP-1 that arrives warm.
The FDA’s position is that compounded drugs should be used only when a patient’s medical needs cannot be met by an FDA-approved drug.9,12 At the evaluation, Dr. Chantasi explains the options, including FDA-approved brand-name products you may be able to obtain through your own insurance or pharmacy, so that the decision is an informed one.
Before any compounded GLP-1 medication, ask: which licensed pharmacy compounds it; what the exact active ingredient is; what your dose is in milligrams and exactly how to measure it; how to store it; and whom to call about a side effect.
Your program
Built around your health, goals and response
A monthly, physician-supervised program in five parts, run by the same physician from the first visit to maintenance.
- 01
Medical consultation
Review of your history, medications, contraindications, prior treatment and weight-related health concerns — the step that decides whether medication is appropriate at all.
- 02
Individualized medication plan
When medication is appropriate, it is a compounded GLP-1 medication, and you are told so before you start. Dose is selected and adjusted according to clinical appropriateness, tolerability and response. Increases are gradual; holding or lowering a dose is a normal decision, not a setback.
- 03
Nutrition guidance
Practical strategies for protein, hydration, fiber, meal structure, and managing reduced appetite or gastrointestinal symptoms.
- 04
Movement & strength
Recommendations that support cardiovascular health, function and preservation of lean muscle — built around joint pain or other limits, not in spite of them.
- 05
Follow-up & monitoring
Progress reviews, side-effect management, dose decisions and updates to the long-term plan.
Program structure
What happens at each stage
“Not a candidate right now” is a valid outcome of the first visit. Program fees are explained at your consultation.
Evaluation
Weight history, prior attempts, medications, conditions and family history; contraindication screen; labs reviewed or ordered. You leave knowing whether medication is reasonable for you — and why.
Plan & start
If you proceed: the medication and starting dose, how to take it, what side effects to expect and when to call, plus first nutrition and strength priorities.
Titration visits
Tolerance, weight trend, symptoms and labs when indicated. Each dose decision — increase, hold or reduce — is made by the physician, not a preset schedule.
Maintenance
When progress slows or you near your goal: the maintenance dose question, strength and protein, and a written plan for what happens if you stop.
Candidacy
Who these medicines are for — and who should not start
Short answer
FDA-approved weight-management products are labeled for adults with obesity, or with overweight plus at least one weight-related condition, alongside diet and activity. The pivotal trials used BMI ≥30, or ≥27 with a condition such as high blood pressure or prediabetes. Compounded medications have no FDA-approved labeling, so the approved products’ labeling is the usual reference for who should and should not take these medicines.
Often reasonable to evaluate
- BMI in the labeled range, with repeated attempts that have not held
- Weight-related conditions: prediabetes, high blood pressure, sleep apnea, fatty liver, joint pain
- Willingness to follow up, report side effects and build strength
- Realistic expectations about pace, plateaus and maintenance
Should not start, or needs extra caution
- Personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma or MEN 2
- Pregnancy, or trying to conceive
- Prior serious allergic reaction to the medication
- History of pancreatitis, gallbladder disease or severe gastroparesis — discussed case by case
- Insulin or sulfonylurea use, diabetic retinopathy, or planned surgery with anesthesia
Who is a candidate for GLP-1 weight loss — criteria, labs and exclusions
Labs, monitoring & side effects
What we check, what we watch, and when to call
Short answer
Most side effects are gastrointestinal — nausea, diarrhea, constipation, vomiting — and most often appear when a dose is started or increased. Serious problems are uncommon but real, which is why monitoring continues for as long as you take the medication.
Before a prescription, labs are reviewed or ordered based on your history. These commonly include blood sugar and A1c, kidney function, liver tests, lipids and thyroid testing, with others as your history suggests. During the program, the physician follows your weight trend, symptoms, hydration and — where relevant — kidney function, blood sugar and blood pressure medications, which sometimes need adjusting as weight falls.
Seek care promptly for severe or persistent abdominal pain (possible pancreatitis or gallbladder disease), vomiting or diarrhea that stops you keeping fluids down, signs of an allergic reaction, or a lump or swelling in the neck. Tell any surgeon or anesthesiologist that you take a GLP-1-based medicine.
Muscle, plateaus & maintenance
The part most programs skip
Losing weight and keeping it off are different problems. The plan for the second one starts on day one.
- 01
Protect lean mass
Some of the weight lost on any diet or medication is lean tissue. In body-composition substudies of the pivotal trials of the FDA-approved products, lean mass accounted for roughly a quarter to two-fifths of weight lost.10,11 Adequate protein and regular resistance training are the main tools we have to limit it.
- 02
Expect plateaus
In the trials, weight loss slowed and then leveled off over months. A plateau is usually the body adapting, not the medication “stopping working” — and it is a reason to review the whole plan, not only the dose.
Every trial figure on this page comes from studies of FDA-approved products. Those results cannot be assumed to apply to compounded versions.
Keeping weight off after GLP-1s: muscle, plateaus and regain
Choosing a program
Physician practice, med spa or telehealth app?
Good care exists in every model, and so do gaps. These are the questions that separate them — ask them of any program, including ours.
| Question to ask | What to look for |
|---|---|
| Who evaluates and prescribes? | A named, licensed prescriber who reviews your full history — and who you will see again. |
| Are labs part of it? | Labs reviewed or ordered based on your history before a prescription, and repeated when indicated. |
| How are doses changed? | By a clinician responding to your tolerance and progress, not an automatic monthly escalation. |
| Where does the medication come from? | A clear answer about the product, whether it is FDA-approved or compounded, and the licensed pharmacy that compounds or dispenses it. |
| What does it cost? | Program fees and medication costs explained separately, before you commit. |
Telemedicine
In office, or by telemedicine in Florida
Visits take place at the practice in MetroWest, Orlando, or by secure video. Telemedicine may be available for eligible Florida patients, although an in-person examination, laboratory testing or other evaluation may be required.
Cost & insurance
Self-pay program, with fees explained up front
PrimeCell is a self-pay practice and does not bill insurance. Program fees are explained at your consultation. Medication coverage varies widely by plan, diagnosis, medication and pharmacy benefit; whether your plan covers a medication is between you and your insurer, and we recommend confirming it with them directly.
Go deeper
Questions patients research before a GLP-1 consult
Written by Dr. Chantasi, with sources you can check.
- Who is a candidate for GLP-1 weight-loss medication?
- GLP-1 side effects and monitoring: what to expect, when to call
- Keeping weight off after GLP-1s: muscle, plateaus and regain
- Physician-led vs. med spa vs. telehealth weight loss
- How medical weight loss works
Weight, energy and hormones often travel together. When symptoms point that way, lab-informed hormone therapy is evaluated by the same physician.
Questions
GLP-1 weight management FAQ
How much weight will I lose?
There is no guaranteed amount. Results depend on the medication, dose, duration, starting health, nutrition, activity, sleep, adherence, side effects and individual biology. Trial averages are published, but they describe groups of people, not what any one person will lose.
Will I need to stay on medication forever?
Not necessarily, but plan for the question. Obesity is often a chronic condition, and some people benefit from long-term therapy. In withdrawal trials, most participants regained a substantial part of the weight within a year of stopping. The duration is decided with your physician, with a maintenance plan either way.
Are the GLP-1 medications at PrimeCell compounded?
Yes. PrimeCell’s program uses compounded GLP-1 medications, prescribed only after a physician evaluation. Compounded drugs are not FDA-approved, and the FDA does not review them for safety, effectiveness or quality. You can ask which licensed pharmacy compounds your medication.
Is compounded semaglutide the same as Wegovy?
No. Compounded semaglutide is not FDA-approved and has not been reviewed by the FDA for safety, effectiveness or quality. It is not the same as Wegovy, it is not a generic version of it, and the results of the trials behind Wegovy cannot be assumed to apply to it. The same is true of compounded tirzepatide and Zepbound.
Why does PrimeCell use compounded medication?
Dr. Chantasi explains the options at your evaluation, including FDA-approved brand-name products that you may be able to obtain through your own insurance or pharmacy, so that the decision about which medication to use, if any, is an informed one made with you.
Are semaglutide and tirzepatide the same?
No. Semaglutide acts on the GLP-1 receptor, while tirzepatide acts on both GIP and GLP-1 receptors. They have different FDA-approved products, indications and dosing schedules. Compounded versions of either are not FDA-approved.
What happens at the first visit?
Dr. Chantasi reviews your weight history, prior attempts, medications and conditions, screens for reasons not to use these medicines, and reviews or orders labs. You leave knowing whether medication is reasonable for you, what else matters, and what the program involves and costs.
Can I receive GLP-1 care through telemedicine?
Telemedicine may be available for eligible Florida patients, although an in-person examination, laboratory testing or other evaluation may be required.
Is the program covered by insurance?
PrimeCell is self-pay and does not bill insurance; program fees are explained at your consultation. Medication coverage varies widely by plan, diagnosis, medication and pharmacy benefit, so confirm coverage directly with your insurer.
Do I have to exercise?
The approved products are labeled for use with a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity. Resistance training matters in particular because it helps limit the loss of lean muscle during weight loss. The plan is built around what your joints and schedule allow.
Start with an evaluation, not a prescription.
Your history, your labs, and an honest answer about whether a GLP-1-based medicine is right for you — from the physician who will follow you.
$97Initial physician consultation · offer valid through October 31, 2026
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References
- Wilding JPH, Batterham RL, Calanna S, et al. Once-weekly semaglutide in adults with overweight or obesity (STEP 1). N Engl J Med. 2021;384:989-1002. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa2032183
- Jastreboff AM, Aronne LJ, Ahmad NN, et al. Tirzepatide once weekly for the treatment of obesity (SURMOUNT-1). N Engl J Med. 2022;387:205-216. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa2206038
- Lincoff AM, Brown-Frandsen K, Colhoun HM, et al. Semaglutide and cardiovascular outcomes in obesity without diabetes (SELECT). N Engl J Med. 2023;389:2221-2232. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa2307563
- Wilding JPH, Batterham RL, Davies M, et al. Weight regain and cardiometabolic effects after withdrawal of semaglutide: the STEP 1 trial extension. Diabetes Obes Metab. 2022;24(8):1553-1564. doi:10.1111/dom.14725
- Rubino D, Abrahamsson N, Davies M, et al. Effect of continued weekly subcutaneous semaglutide vs placebo on weight loss maintenance in adults with overweight or obesity: the STEP 4 randomized clinical trial. JAMA. 2021;325(14):1414-1425. doi:10.1001/jama.2021.3224
- Aronne LJ, Sattar N, Horn DB, et al. Continued treatment with tirzepatide for maintenance of weight reduction in adults with obesity: the SURMOUNT-4 randomized clinical trial. JAMA. 2024;331(1):38-48. doi:10.1001/jama.2023.24945
- U.S. National Library of Medicine. DailyMed: semaglutide injection and tablets for chronic weight management (Wegovy) — prescribing information. dailymed.nlm.nih.gov
- U.S. National Library of Medicine. DailyMed: tirzepatide injection for chronic weight management (Zepbound) — prescribing information. dailymed.nlm.nih.gov
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration. FDA’s concerns with unapproved GLP-1 drugs used for weight loss (content current as of September 1, 2026). fda.gov
- Wilding JPH, et al. STEP 1 dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry substudy, reported with reference 1. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa2032183
- Look M, Dunn JP, Kushner RF, et al. Body composition changes during weight reduction with tirzepatide in the SURMOUNT-1 study of adults with obesity or overweight. Diabetes Obes Metab. 2025;27(5):2720-2729. doi:10.1111/dom.16275
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Compounding and the FDA: questions and answers. fda.gov
Medically reviewed by Kenny Chantasi, DO, on September 23, 2026. General education only; not medical advice and does not establish a physician-patient relationship. Prescription weight-management medication is not appropriate for everyone. PrimeCell’s program uses compounded GLP-1 medications; compounded drugs are not FDA-approved, and the FDA does not review them for safety, effectiveness or quality. Wegovy and Zepbound are FDA-approved products named for identification and comparison; trial results cited here come from those products and cannot be assumed to apply to compounded versions. Individual results vary and are not guaranteed.