Frequently Asked Questions

      The active ingredient in Tirzepatide works by  "activating"  two naturally produced hormones in the body. The combination slows the emptying of the stomach, making people feel full longer, and suppress appetite by slowing hunger signals in the brain. 

              This is a combo "peptide" including both GLP-1 and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) receptor agonists. When given together, they impact your metabolism and digestion in complementary ways. GIP plays about 2/3 of the role in the incretin effect, which is related to insulin secretion from your pancreas in response to carbs that we consume. Both combined are responsible for up to 70% of our post-meal insulin response, which is a huge factor in metabolism. GIP helps improve your insulin sensitivity in binding to circulating glucose, while GLP-1 helps increase your insulin secretion. In other terms, you’ll be making more insulin and your body will be more receptive to it. Another benefit is how these peptides affect your appetite and digestion. GIP helps breakdown fats, while GLP-1 slows down your gastric emptying, making you feel full with smaller portions and for longer timespans.

These peptides are made by licensed compounding pharmacies in sterile labs with pharmaceutical grade components by licensed pharmacists. The benefit of compounding pharmacies is that they ensure the quality batch-by-batch and can be more easily customized to patient needs, unlike mass commercial drug companies

Supporting Articles:

https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2032183

https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2206038

https://cardiab.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12933-021-01412-5

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK546653/

weight loss, ozempic, mounjaro, st johns fl, st augustine, jacksonville 

 If your BMI is greater than 30, you may be a candidate for prescription weight-loss medications like Mounjaro.

• If your BMI is greater than 27 and you have a serious medical problem related to weight, such as diabetes, high cholesterol, or high blood pressure, you may also be a candidate for these medications.
• If you have tried diet and exercise for the last 6 months and have not seen a desirable result, prescription weight-loss medications may be a helpful addition to your weight loss plan.

                It’s important to understand that prescription weight-loss medications are not a substitute for diet and exercise, but rather a complement to them. It’s still important to make lifestyle changes to support your weight loss goals.

 At the initial consult, we do a comprehensive review of your medical history, including exploring previous weight loss attempts. Lab work ensures that the medication of choice is safe for you, and provides a baseline for gauging improvement of overall health. It can also identify underlying metabolic issues that can be addressed to encourage weight loss. St Johns Wellness  weight loss program is multi-faceted, and is designed to address the underlying causes of excess weight. We’ll discuss recommendations for changes in lifestyle habits, including nutritional goals and physical activity regimens. An individualized schedule will be implemented regarding frequency of follow-up visits. 

 Medical weight loss may be a good option if you have a significant amount of weight to lose, or if you have underlying health conditions that may be contributing to your weight gain. You may not be a candidate for injectable weight loss medications:

• If you have a personal or family history of thyroid cancer.
• If you have type 1 diabetes.
• If you have a history of pancreatitis.
• If you are pregnant or breastfeeding.

We will explore your medical history to determine your eligibility for their weight loss program. 

 Most people report no side effects! This is why at St. Johns Wellness we prefer  the combination of GIP/GLP-1 as opposed to using GLP-1 medications 

- But, IF there are side effects- these will be very MILD and would usually last a day or two after initial treatment, and they will stop after a week or two:  

• Nausea and vomiting
• Indigestion
• Diarrhea
• Constipation
• Injection site reactions

        Direct primary care (DPC) is a health care model that differs significantly from traditional insurance-based medicine. That's because direct primary care doesn't involve insurance companies at all. When you select a direct primary care practitioner, you instead deal directly with our experienced medical practitioner. This removes a significant financial burden for the patient and allows for more personalized care.

              Direct primary care functions similarly to a traditional insurance plan, only with no insurance company. Instead, patients pay for ongoing support from their primary care physician on a monthly or yearly basis. This payment goes directly to the physician's office, rather than to a third party. That means more of the patient's money is spent on what benefits them, rather than being redirected to unnecessary places.

           In many cases, direct primary care plans are cheaper than traditional insurance plans. DPC plans also encourage overall health by allowing patients more access to their physician without worrying about getting approved for visits by an insurance company.

                  While there are many benefits to a direct primary care plan, it typically must be accompanied by some level of health insurance. That's because health insurance is required by the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Many people who elect to purchase a direct primary care membership pair it with a high deductible, low premium insurance plan.

Initial consultation: FREE
Follow up visits: Included with the price of the medication
Medication: $450-$600 monthly
Labs (if needed): $75-$200 (we will accept recent lab results done with other providers)
We accept credit cards, Venmo, Zelle, HSA

Initial consultation: $150
Follow up visits: Included with the price of the medication
Medication: $100 every month -includes syringes.  

Labs (if needed): $180 initially and then $90 within the first 3 months and then $90 once a year (we will accept recent lab results done with other providers)
We accept credit cards, Venmo, Zelle, HSA

 If you are experiencing higher body fat levels, slower recovery, sleeplessness, or joint discomfort, peptide therapy may be a great option for turning the tide in your health. 

    Peptides are proteins that become less concentrated in our bodies as we age. This can be a problem considering their essential role in processes like joint recovery, muscle growth, restorative sleep, and longevity.

This can often be the culprit when we experience an accelerated aging state.

The good news is that it is possible to flush our bodies with healthy levels of peptides that can reverse the tide of aging and boost our health and recovery

           Some of the greatest potential benefits St johns, St Augustine, Jacksonville clients experience with peptide therapy may include:

• Increased levels of energy, strength, and endurance
• Improved muscle mass and definition
• Speedier joint and muscle recovery
• Improved skin elasticity resulting in fewer wrinkles
• Boosts the cognitive functions
• Accelerates wound healing and post-op recovery
• Strengthens the immune system
• Increased levels of growth hormone
• Improved bone density
• Elimination of chronic fatigue
• Better stress management

 There can be many ways that declining hormones can negatively impact your quality of life. If you are a man or woman over 30, you may be a candidate for hormone replacement if you:

• Often feel fatigued, or have a lack of energy
• Have low libido and/or other sexual wellness issues
• Are gaining weight, particularly abdominal fat
• Are having difficulty building muscle, even while working out
• Are experiencing memory loss and other cognitive difficulties
• Have evidence of bone loss and/or bone weakness
• Are experiencing depression, anxiety, and other emotional changes

***  Men  can suffer needlessly from testosterone deficiency either because hormone deficiency goes unrecognized or the male does not talk about it, especially as it relates to any perceived decline in sexual function. Decreased enjoyment of life, a decline in competitive drive or decreased enthusiasm, are all symptoms of hormone imbalance in men. 

** Aging is difficult enough for women without having to suffer from declining hormone levels. Women often complain of a diminished sense of well-being, chronic fatigue, and a loss of libido just to mention a few hormone imbalance symptoms. This is not necessary! Once women realize they can restore their natural hormones (their bodies once made abundantly) with bioidentical hormones, they can restore their energy, feelings of well-being, and sexuality. 

 Otherwise known as Male Menopause, Andropause refers to the hormonal changes that some men experience as they get older. As men age, their testosterone levels tend to decrease. A man’s testosterone level usually peaks in his 20s. "After age 30", the average man’s testosterone level declines 1 to 2 percent each year. This change can be caused by the normal physiologic changes of aging, testicular dysfunction, or hypothalamic-pituitary dysfunction. By 60 years of age, more than 50 percent of men have testosterone levels in the hypogonadal range. Hypogonadism is defined as a low serum testosterone level coupled with any of the signs and symptoms. The presentation varies from person to person. 

 Erectile Dysfunction, sometimes called “impotence,” is the repeated inability to get or keep an erection firm enough for sexual intercourse. Statically speaking, 50% of all men, have experienced erectile dysfunction at some time or another. After age 40, nearly 40% have to deal with the condition, and by the age of 70, about 70% of men experience some form of ED, usually accompanied by a loss of libido or sex drive.

          In the last few decades, the number of men suffering from ED has been increasing. Statistics aside, the truth is, every man probably has had trouble achieving an erection at one time or another. Any disorder that causes injury to the nerves or impairs blood flow in the penis has the potential to cause ED. Many common everyday issues, from stress and anxiety to alcohol consumption, could contribute to your ability to achieve or maintain an erection.

Incidence increases with age but it is not an inevitable part of aging. Erectile Dysfunction is treatable at any age. Thanks to the introduction of well-known oral ED medication, and other treatment, ED no longer has the stigma it once had, and more men are seeking treatment, and enjoying a healthy sex life at almost any age!

        Today, we have many ways to treat ED. For some men, making a few healthy lifestyle changes is all that is needed to solve the problem. Quitting smoking, losing excess weight, and increasing physical activity may help some men regain sexual function.

Cutting back on any drugs with harmful side effects is considered next. Psychotherapy and behavior modifications in selected patients has been helpful. In rare cases, surgery involving veins or arteries may be considered. However, most men can be treated with a simple medication that relaxes muscles and increases blood flow to the penis! Ask us about this!