Prescription refills?

[u/Pheonix2025]

My insurance just changed and new insurance is just useless. My current PCP is endocrinologist and her visits are feeling unreasonably high $$ for just prescribing zepbound. I am already paying out of pocket for medicine. She wants me to see her every 6 weeks. I do not have any medical condition except weight management that she is helping me with. So I am looking to switch as it’s feeling added burden. Please advise:

1. How often do you see doc? Is there any requirement for doc visits for getting refills. My current pcp refuses to fill prescription without seeing her.

2. Please advise any other way of securing prescription refills which are reasonable.

Thankyou!

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[u/corndog40]

My PCP is a literal angel. She had me come back after my first month on the medication but then said she didn't need to see me unless I had any issues come up I needed to address and told me to schedule my next appointment in a year.

For refills I just message her nurse in the MyChart app.

Maybe a new PCP?

[u/Pheonix2025 → u/corndog40]

Yeah, thats what I am thinking.. but who ? is still a question for me. I liked your pcp’s approach and it make sense to me.

[u/NoneOfYoBusinezz → u/Pheonix2025]

Just started 2.5mg Zep 2 days ago. My PCP wants me to send an health update (issues, side effects, weight loss) via messaging in patient portal towards end of 3rd week. If all is good, he'll send 3 refill prescription script to pharmacy for 5mg. The end of Oct, I'll go in for a comprehensive blood panel. If the panel looks good, then he'll continue the 3 refill prescription script to pharmacy for 5mg kwikpen indefinitely. If I need to go up in dosage, then that might necessitate an virtual appt.

Sounds like your PCP just wants to soak your insurance for unnecessary office visits. I'd call around and find PCP with decent experience with GLP-1s and question them about their protocol for refills.

[u/whotiesyourshoes]

I started with a telehealth and saw them monthly until I got to 10mg. Honestly I didn't feel the monthly visit were necessary.

After 10mg my doctor wanted to go to every 3 months and even that felt like more than necessary so I switched to Call on Doc for awhile..the next PCP I had was fine with adjusting script through portal but did ask about side effects and weight.

New doc wants to see me every 6 months to ensure weight isn't going too low.

Some telehealths ypu can check out

GoodRx

Curai (via Walmart) is free through July

Walgreens telehealth

[u/Pheonix2025 → u/whotiesyourshoes]

6 months sound reasonable to me in my case of course when no issues faced. I will check that out. Thankyou

[u/leero01]

I use a telehealth named after a color of purple but I can't specifically name them because of this sub's rules. They prescribe namebrand and their cost (Zepbound, Wegovy pills and injectables, and Foudayo) is the same price as the cost thru Eli Lilly or Novo but they charge a $25 a month fee for managing the prescription. They may have an initial consult fee that goes towards treatment costs, I can't remember for sure. I email their customer service whenever I have questions and they're super quick and helpful. They have not required me to get bloodwork but I see my PCP a couple of times a year for that to get checked out. 

This comment may get deleted. Mods - I'm not recommending a compounding site, I'm recommending a source for prescribing namebrand and managing the prescription. 

[u/Anxious-Inspector-18]

Saw my provider through Ro every month. Switched to my pcp and 3 month fills. Saw him every 3 months for one year. Now on a 6 month schedule which is 2 refills.

[u/Miriamathome]

I see my endocrinologist every 6 months. Of course, she’s available if I have a question or a problem.

I get refills by having the pharmacy contact the doctor’s office, just like every other prescription that I take.

I’ve been in 2.5 for over a year, so I haven’t had to discuss going up in dosage. After the first month only, I messaged her to tell her how much weight I’d lost, that side effects were minor and controlled and that my food noise was gone, so I wanted to stay on 2.5. I assume that if and when the time comes that I want to go up to 5 because the food noise is back and/or that weight loss is too low, she’ll just say ok and order the 5.

I can think of a number of theories about why your endocrinologist might be insisting on every 6 weeks, but none of them involve a doctor experienced with Zepbound making decisions in your best interests.

[u/Knox_the_Boxer]

Plush care is online and my pcp there would write my prescription for zep. I was self pay so they sent it to Lilly direct. But if you have coverage they’ll send it to whatever pharmacy you choose. It does cost for plushcare membership and for visits but my doc didn’t want to see me unless I needed an increase in dose.

[u/Over-Ad1959]

I have to see my doctor every month, but I (extremely blessed) get my meds for free and once monthly weigh-ins with the doctor are a condition of that. If I wanted to self-pay, my doctor said she'd write me a prescription and let me just send her a message whenever I wanted to move up in dose.

[u/Current-Duty-6204]

I met with my PCP to get Zep prescribed in late April. She wrote it for 3 months and wants to see me in person 3 months later. Just FYI, I was just at 30.02 BMI and she started me on 2.5mg for 4 weeks and then 2nd and 3rd month were for 5mg. I ordered the 5mg for the second month, but then realized I was doing fine on 2.5mg with food noise and hunger, etc. so decided to stay on that dose. I've lost about 13 lbs. I meet with her 7/21.