Planning Pregnancy or Using Birth Control? Weight Loss Medication Guide | San Antonio, TX | TeleSlim Clinic
Planning Pregnancy or Using Birth Control? What It Means for Weight Loss Medication
If you could become pregnant, or you take hormonal birth control, this should be part of any conversation about prescription weight-loss medicine. This page covers the main points for San Antonio patients. It is general education, and your physician decides what is right for you.
Pregnancy and these medicines
- GLP-1 medicines such as Zepbound, Wegovy, oral Wegovy and Foundayo are not for use in pregnancy. Tell your physician if you are pregnant, breastfeeding or planning to become pregnant, because some people need to stop in advance.
- Qsymia is not for use in pregnancy because of the risk of birth defects. Pregnancy testing and effective contraception are part of safe prescribing.
- Phentermine is not for use during pregnancy or breastfeeding.
Birth control
Zepbound may reduce the effectiveness of oral birth control pills. Your physician may suggest a non-oral method or an added barrier method, especially around starting the medicine and dose increases. Do not change your birth control on your own. Talk with your physician or gynecologist.
What to tell your physician
- Whether you are pregnant, breastfeeding or planning pregnancy.
- Which birth control method you use.
- Your current medicines and supplements.
Planning ahead
If you hope to become pregnant in the coming months, mention it at your first visit. Your physician can discuss the timing of treatment and whether another approach fits better. See the pages for Zepbound, Wegovy and Qsymia for more.
Questions from San Antonio patients
What if I become pregnant while taking one?
Contact your physician right away. Do not stop or change any medicine without medical advice unless you are told to.
Can I use these medicines while breastfeeding?
Ask your physician, who will review the label and your situation.
Cost and how to get started
TeleSlim Clinic visits are self-pay: $99 for the first video consultation and $99 per month for physician follow-up, with lower per-month rates on 3-month, 6-month and annual plans (see our cost guide for San Antonio). The medication is a separate cost paid at the pharmacy or through manufacturer programs. Cash prices for weight-loss medications typically run about $150 to $450 per month depending on the medicine and dose, and they change over time, so ask your pharmacy for the current price. We provide a superbill you can submit to your insurer, but reimbursement is not guaranteed (see insurance and weight loss medication in San Antonio).
TeleSlim Clinic does not dispense medication, and we do not offer compounded GLP-1 medications. If your physician prescribes a medicine, the prescription goes to the pharmacy you choose. Visits are by video with Dr. Diala Alatassi, MD, DABIM, DABOM, FACP, who is board-certified in Internal Medicine and Obesity Medicine and licensed to practice in Texas. TeleSlim Clinic serves adults 18 and older.
Book your $99 video visit to talk through your options with a Texas-licensed physician.
Related reading: Qsymia vs Wegovy, questions to ask before starting weight loss medication, weight loss medications in San Antonio.
This page is general education, not medical advice. Whether a medication is appropriate is a decision made by a physician after an evaluation. Individual results vary. Always read the manufacturer's full prescribing information.
