Weight Loss Medication Without Needles in San Antonio, TX | Pill Options | TeleSlim Clinic

Weight Loss Medication Without Needles in San Antonio, TX: Your Pill Options

Many San Antonio patients ask whether there is a prescription weight-loss option that does not involve injections. There are several, and they work in different ways. All require a prescription and a physician's evaluation, and not everyone qualifies for each one.

The pill options at a glance

• Oral Wegovy (semaglutide tablet): a GLP-1 medicine taken once a day in the morning on an empty stomach with plain water, then waiting at least 30 minutes before eating, drinking or taking other oral medicines.
• Foundayo (orforglipron tablet): a GLP-1 medicine taken once a day at any time of day, with or without food, swallowed whole.
• Phentermine: an appetite suppressant tablet or capsule labeled for short-term use, a Schedule IV controlled substance.
• Qsymia: a once-daily capsule combining phentermine and topiramate, also a Schedule IV controlled substance.

How to think about the choice

• Your morning routine: oral Wegovy has timing rules; Foundayo does not.
• Type of medicine: the two GLP-1 pills work on gut-hormone signals; phentermine and Qsymia suppress appetite in a different way.
• Safety profile: phentermine can raise heart rate and blood pressure; Qsymia is not for use in pregnancy because of the risk of birth defects; GLP-1 pills carry a boxed warning about thyroid C-cell tumors seen in rodents.
• Controlled-substance rules: under the federal telemedicine rules currently in effect, a DEA-registered, Texas-licensed physician can prescribe Schedule IV medicines after a video evaluation. Texas law also applies and requirements can change.

Safety information for the GLP-1 pills

Like other GLP-1 medicines, these carry a boxed warning about the risk of thyroid C-cell tumors seen in rodents. They should not be used by people with a personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) or Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2), or by anyone allergic to the medicine. Common side effects include nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, constipation and stomach pain. Serious risks include pancreatitis, gallbladder problems, kidney problems from dehydration and allergic reactions. They are not for use in pregnancy.

Questions from San Antonio patients

Are pills as effective as injections?

They are different medicines with different labels, and individual results vary. Your physician can explain what each label says.

Is there any option with no medication?

Nutrition and activity support are part of every plan we offer, and your physician can talk with you about starting there.

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, online weight loss doctor 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.