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What should I ask my doctor about GLP-1 medicines?

Answer a few questions and get a printable visit sheet for your doctor, a specialist or a telehealth prescriber: what to bring, questions for your situation (including insurance, prior authorization and compounded versions), how to check an online service, and when to call 911.

Takes about 2 minutes Nothing you type leaves your device Every question cites its source
Step 1 of 9Who it's for
Who is this visit sheet for?

We'll write the sheet in the right voice: "my" for you, "their" for someone else.

Age (optional)
Sex (optional; sets the pregnancy questions)
Health coverage (optional; adds the right coverage question)
What's the main reason for the visit?

Pick the closest one. It changes which questions come first.

Do you have any of these health conditions?

Check any that apply and skip the rest. Each one you check adds a question for the doctor to your sheet.

Linked to weight or sugar
Need extra care with these medicines
Personal or family history
Which medicines do you take now?

Some of these change what the prescriber needs to plan. Tick all that apply.

Could you be pregnant, or are you planning a baby?

These medicines aren't used in pregnancy, and one affects the birth-control pill. This step is skipped if you chose "Man".

Which tests have you had in the last 3 months?

Tick the ones with a result you can show, for example in a patient portal. The sheet asks about the rest.

What worries you most?

Pick as many as you like. Each adds a sourced question.

Height, weight and waist

Optional. If you add them, the sheet shows BMI against the CDC ranges (or the ADA cut points for Asian Americans) and your waist against the NIH marks. Skip this if you'd rather be measured at the appointment.

Height
Weight
Waist (standing, tape just above your hip bones, after breathing out)
Background (optional; sets which BMI cut points describe weight)
Anything else the prescriber should know?

Optional. For example: past attempts at losing weight, side effects so far, or a surgery date. It goes into the "About" box, and you can edit it on the sheet too.

Next, you'll see the sheet. You can tick items, edit any line, add your own questions, then print it, save it as a PDF or email it to yourself.

Private by design: the sheet is built in your browser. Nothing is sent or stored unless you choose to email it to yourself, and nothing goes in the link. Privacy notice

Your visit sheet is ready

Tap any line in "About" or any question to change the words. Remove questions with ×, or add your own. Ticks print too.

What this means

What this doesn't mean

  • It isn't a yes or a no. No tool can tell whether a GLP-1 medicine suits someone. A prescriber decides that after a history, a check-up and tests.
  • It isn't every question. It covers the common ones and those your answers point to. Your doctor may ask about things not listed here.
  • Don't change any medicine on your own. The dose questions are for the prescriber to answer, not for you to act on before the visit.

Why each question is on your sheet

The rule behind each question for your situation, with its source. The numbers match the sources at the foot of the sheet. All checked Oct 12, 2026.

    Read before the visit

    How this works

    You answer up to 9 short questions. Only the first one is needed. The tool then picks questions from a fixed list, and every question is tied to a source: an FDA label, NIH or FDA advice, or the CMS rules for Medicare.1,2,4,10

    Seven or eight core questions go on every sheet. Your answers add more. For example, insulin or a sulfonylurea (such as glipizide) adds a question about low blood sugar, because the Ozempic label warns about low blood sugar with that mix.3 Picking your coverage adds the right coverage question: prior authorization for insurance, the Medicare GLP-1 Bridge for Medicare, or your state's rules for Medicaid.15,9,10

    If you add height and weight, the sheet shows BMI against the CDC's adult ranges, or the lower cut points the American Diabetes Association uses for Asian Americans. A waist measurement is compared with the NIH marks: more than 35 inches for women or more than 40 inches for men raises risk.5,6,7 These numbers describe weight. They are not a threshold for medicine.

    The "Check your provider" box uses the FDA's BeSafeRx advice for online pharmacies and its statements on compounded GLP-1 drugs.8,11,12 The red box lists the symptoms that need 911, the Poison Control number, and how to report a side effect to FDA MedWatch.14,13

    What this can't tell you

    • Whether a GLP-1 medicine suits you, or which one. That's for a prescriber who has checked you.
    • Anything about your dose. The tool never suggests one.
    • Whether your plan will pay. Each plan has its own drug list and prior authorization rules, and Medicare confirms Bridge eligibility itself.15,9

    Questions people ask

    Is anything I type saved or sent anywhere?

    No. The sheet is built inside your browser. Nothing you type is sent to us or stored, and there is no link that contains your answers. Only if you choose "Email it to me" do we pass the sheet and your address to our email service once, to deliver it.

    Can I make a sheet for my mother or father?

    Yes. Choose "A family member" on the first screen and the sheet is written about them.

    What should I ask about insurance or Medicare?

    Ask whether your plan covers the medicine for your use and whether it needs prior authorization (approval before the pharmacy fills it).15 On Medicare, ask whether you meet the criteria for the Medicare GLP-1 Bridge, which runs from July 1, 2026 to December 31, 2027 with a $50 copay; the prescriber sends the prescription and Medicare confirms eligibility.9,10 Our posts on prior authorization and the Medicare GLP-1 Bridge go step by step.

    Is a compounded GLP-1 the same as Wegovy or Zepbound?

    No. The FDA says compounded drugs are not FDA-approved, so it does not review their safety, effectiveness or quality before they are sold, and that they are not the same as generic drugs.11,12 If you take one, the sheet adds questions on what is in it and how to measure the dose. See compounded semaglutide and tirzepatide in 2026.

    Why does it ask about the birth-control pill?

    Tirzepatide (Zepbound or Mounjaro) may make the pill less reliable. The US labels advise switching to a non-oral method, or adding a barrier method such as condoms, for 4 weeks after starting and for 4 weeks after each dose increase.2

    How do I report a side effect?

    Report it to the FDA's MedWatch program online at fda.gov/medwatch, or call 1-800-FDA-1088. Anyone can report, including patients and family members.13 For a possible overdose, call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222; in an emergency, call 911.14 More in how to report a side effect to the FDA and when to call 911.

    Sources

    1. Novo Nordisk. Wegovy (semaglutide) prescribing information, US label, revised June 2026: boxed warning, sections 4, 5, 8. PDF. Checked Oct 12, 2026.
    2. Eli Lilly. Zepbound (tirzepatide) prescribing information, US label, revised August 2026: sections 1, 2, 7 (oral contraceptives), 8. PDF. Checked Oct 12, 2026.
    3. Novo Nordisk. Ozempic (semaglutide) prescribing information, US label, revised May 2026: sections 5, 7, 8. PDF. Checked Oct 12, 2026.
    4. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK). Prescription medications to treat overweight and obesity. Last reviewed June 2024. niddk.nih.gov. Checked Oct 12, 2026.
    5. CDC. Adult BMI categories. Page dated March 19, 2024. cdc.gov. Checked Oct 12, 2026.
    6. American Diabetes Association. Standards of Care in Diabetes—2023, Section 8, Table 8.1 (cut points for Asian American individuals). Diabetes Care 2023;46(Suppl 1):S128–S139. doi:10.2337/dc23-S008. Checked Oct 12, 2026.
    7. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NIH). Assessing your weight and health risk (waist: more than 35 inches for women or more than 40 inches for men). Updated December 11, 2025. nhlbi.nih.gov. Checked Oct 12, 2026.
    8. FDA. BeSafeRx: your source for online pharmacy information. fda.gov. Checked Oct 12, 2026.
    9. CMS. Medicare GLP-1 Bridge (July 1, 2026 to December 31, 2027; $50 copay). Page last modified July 13, 2026. cms.gov. Checked Oct 12, 2026.
    10. CMS. Medicare GLP-1 Bridge: information for prescribers. Product No. 12235, June 2026. PDF. Checked Oct 12, 2026.
    11. FDA. FDA's concerns with unapproved GLP-1 drugs used for weight loss. Content current as of October 1, 2026. fda.gov. Checked Oct 12, 2026.
    12. FDA. FDA intends to take action against non-FDA-approved GLP-1 drugs. February 6, 2026. fda.gov. Checked Oct 12, 2026.
    13. FDA. MedWatch: the FDA safety information and adverse event reporting program (report online or call 1-800-FDA-1088). fda.gov. Checked Oct 12, 2026.
    14. America's Poison Centers. Poison Control, 1-800-222-1222 ("free, expert, and confidential"); call 911 if someone collapses, has a seizure, has trouble breathing or can't be awakened. poison.org. Checked Oct 12, 2026.
    15. KFF. 2025 Employer Health Benefits Survey (GLP-1 coverage for weight loss is optional and usually needs prior authorization). kff.org. Checked Oct 12, 2026.

    The sheet itself cites up to 30 more sources, listed at its foot. Last checked Oct 12, 2026 · Next review due Jan 2027

    How this tool was made. Written by the GLP Guidebook team from the sources above. It's general information, not medical advice. Talk to your doctor or another licensed prescriber before starting, stopping or changing any medicine. In an emergency, call 911. How we write