12 Questions to Ask Your Doctor Before Starting GLP-1 (and the Answers a Good Doctor Gives)
A GLP-1 prescription is a 9-to-12-month commitment of money and biology. Fifteen minutes of good questions before starting protects both. Here is the checklist, plus what a competent answer to each question sounds like.
ALTRcare Medical Team
Clinical Editorial
The quality of a weight loss program reveals itself in how its doctor answers questions, so ask good ones. Bring this list to any consultation, ours included. A clinician worth your money answers all twelve comfortably; evasion on any of them, especially the cost and stopping questions, tells you to keep looking.
Eligibility and safety
- 1"Based on my BMI, waist and history, am I actually a candidate?" Good answer: cites the Indian thresholds (BMI 27+ alone, or 23+ with metabolic conditions as commonly applied clinically), and is willing to say no if you do not qualify.
- 2"What in my history could make this unsafe?" Good answer: actively asks about thyroid cancer family history, pancreatitis, gallbladder disease, pregnancy plans, and your current medicines, rather than waiting for you to volunteer them.
- 3"Which blood tests do I need before starting?" Good answer: at minimum HbA1c or fasting glucose, lipids, thyroid and typically liver/kidney function, both for safety and to create the baseline you will measure success against.
The plan
- 1"Semaglutide or tirzepatide for me, and why?" Good answer: reasons from your BMI, budget and comorbidities, not from whatever is in stock.
- 2"What is my exact titration schedule?" Good answer: a written week-by-week ladder with the four-week minimum per step, and the rule that side effects pause escalation.
- 3"What weight loss is realistic for me, by when?" Good answer: 0.5 to 1 kg a week once at therapeutic doses, 10 to 15% of body weight over 9 to 12 months on semaglutide; promises of a fixed number by a fixed date are a red flag.
- 4"Who do I contact when side effects hit at 9pm, and how fast do they respond?" This is the question that separates programs from prescriptions. Good answer: a named channel with a response-time commitment, because the first bad-nausea evening is when unattended patients quit.
Money
- 1"What is my total cost at month six, not month one?" Good answer: walks you through the maintenance-dose price, not just the starter, and puts a number on the full course.
- 2"What exactly is included: medicine, consults, follow-ups, delivery?" Good answer: itemised, in writing, with nothing important sold separately as a surprise later.
The exit
- 1"What happens when I stop?" Good answer: honest about regain risk after abrupt stops, and describes a maintenance strategy: gradual tapering, protein and strength habits, possibly a low maintenance dose.
- 2"How will we protect my muscle while I lose?" Good answer: a protein target in grams and a resistance training expectation, stated unprompted or immediately when asked.
- 3"What would make you stop or change my treatment?" Good answer: specific stop rules (persistent vomiting, pancreatitis symptoms, pregnancy) showing they monitor rather than just dispense.
The meta-signal
Notice whether the doctor asks YOU more questions than you ask them. A consultation that gathers your history hungrily is medicine; a consultation racing to the payment link is retail.
Bring these questions to us
ALTRcare's free consultation welcomes exactly this checklist. If any answer does not satisfy you, you owe nothing and you will have learned what to demand elsewhere.
Frequently asked questions
What should I ask before starting semaglutide?
Cover four areas: eligibility and safety screening (contraindications, blood tests), the plan (which medicine, titration schedule, realistic timeline, side-effect support channel), full cost at maintenance dose, and the exit strategy for stopping without regain.
What blood tests are needed before GLP-1 treatment?
Typically HbA1c or fasting glucose, a lipid profile, thyroid function, and liver and kidney tests, forming both a safety screen and the baseline for measuring your progress.
What are red flags in a weight loss clinic?
Guaranteed kilogram promises by fixed dates, no interest in your medical history, no named side-effect support channel, evasiveness about total maintenance-dose cost, and prescriptions issued without any real consultation.
Should the doctor discuss what happens after stopping GLP-1?
Yes, unprompted ideally. Weight regain after abrupt stopping is well documented, so a credible program describes tapering, maintenance habits and follow-up before you ever start.
Ready to take the next step?
Take the free 2-minute eligibility assessment. A doctor reviews it before anything is prescribed — no obligation.
This article is for general educational purposes and is not a substitute for personalised medical advice. GLP-1 medications are prescription-only and not suitable for everyone. Always consult a qualified doctor before starting, changing, or stopping any treatment.
