Important Safety Information for Weight Care
Weight care may include lifestyle support, medical evaluation, prescription treatment, and regular follow-up with a healthcare provider. Some prescription weight-care medicines affect appetite, digestion, blood sugar, or how the body responds to food. These medicines are not right for everyone, and your doctor will review your health history before recommending or approving treatment.
What weight-care treatment is used for
Weight-care treatment may be used to support long-term weight management in people who may benefit from medical care. Treatment works best when paired with nutrition changes, physical activity when appropriate, sleep support, and ongoing monitoring.
Weight-care medicines are not a quick fix. They should be used only as prescribed and with regular medical follow-up.
Who may not be eligible for prescription weight care
You may not be eligible, or you may need a different treatment plan, if you:
- Are pregnant, breastfeeding, trying to become pregnant, or unsure if you are pregnant
- Have a history of certain thyroid cancers or Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2
- Have had pancreatitis or severe ongoing abdominal pain
- Have severe stomach or digestion problems, such as severe gastroparesis
- Have kidney disease, liver disease, gallbladder disease, or dehydration risk
- Have diabetes, use insulin, or take medicines that can lower blood sugar
- Have diabetic eye disease or recent vision changes
- Have a history of eating disorder symptoms
- Have had a serious allergic reaction to a weight-care medicine or injectable medicine
Talk to a doctor before use
Before starting weight-care treatment, tell your doctor if you:
- Take prescription medicines, over-the-counter medicines, supplements, or herbal products
- Use insulin, sulfonylureas, or other diabetes medicines
- Use oral birth control
- Have planned surgery or a procedure requiring anesthesia or deep sedation
- Have frequent nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, or trouble staying hydrated
- Have chest pain, shortness of breath, fainting, or heart rhythm symptoms
- Have mood changes, depression, anxiety, or thoughts of self-harm
How treatment is used
Use weight-care medicines exactly as prescribed. Do not change your dose, combine treatments, or restart after missed doses unless your healthcare provider tells you to.
General reminders:
- Follow the dosing schedule for your specific medicine.
- Keep regular follow-up appointments.
- Report side effects early, especially if they are severe or persistent.
- Do not share prescription medicines, injection pens, needles, or syringes.
- Tell healthcare providers about your treatment before surgery or procedures.
Special precautions
Some weight-care medicines can cause stomach-related side effects such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, or abdominal pain. These symptoms can sometimes lead to dehydration, which may worsen kidney problems. Contact your healthcare provider if you cannot keep fluids down or if symptoms are severe or do not improve.
Some treatments can slow stomach emptying and may affect how oral medicines are absorbed. If you use oral birth control or medicines that require careful timing, ask your healthcare provider whether backup contraception or medication timing changes are needed.
Warning signs and emergency care
Seek emergency medical care immediately if you experience:
- Severe stomach pain that does not go away, especially if it spreads to your back or comes with vomiting
- Signs of a serious allergic reaction, such as swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat; trouble breathing; fainting; or a severe rash
- Severe dehydration, confusion, fainting, or inability to keep fluids down
- Yellowing of the skin or eyes, fever, clay-colored stools, or severe upper-right abdominal pain
- Chest pain, severe shortness of breath, or fainting
- Severe mood changes or thoughts of self-harm
- Very low blood sugar symptoms, such as shakiness, sweating, confusion, fast heartbeat, or loss of consciousness, especially if you use diabetes medicines
Do not wait for an online consultation if you have emergency symptoms.
Common side effects
Common side effects vary by medicine, but may include:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Constipation
- Stomach pain or indigestion
- Decreased appetite
- Headache
- Dizziness or fatigue
- Injection site discomfort, if using an injectable medicine
Contact a doctor if side effects are severe, persistent, or concerning.
This page is for general educational purposes only and does not replace medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.