Editorial · pending clinical review · 2 min read · Updated 20 Oct 2026
Questions to ask your doctor before starting a GLP-1
A practical checklist for the prescription conversation: eligibility, expectations, side effects, costs, monitoring and the long-term plan — so you leave the appointment with answers, not assumptions.
Starting a GLP-1 medication is a significant decision, and the appointment where it's prescribed is often short. Members consistently tell us the same thing: the people happiest with their treatment six months in are usually the ones who asked the most questions at the start. Bring this list, add your own, and write the answers down.
About whether it's right for you
- Why this medication for me, and why now?
- What alternatives did you consider, and why did you rule them out?
- Do any of my other conditions or medications change the risk picture?
- What results would tell us it's working — and what would tell us it isn't?
About what to expect
- What side effects do your patients most commonly report, and how long do they typically last?
- Which symptoms are normal to ride out, and which should make me contact you immediately?
- What's the dose plan — starting dose, how and when it escalates, and what we're aiming for?
- How soon should I expect to notice changes in appetite or weight?
About the practical side
- What will this cost per month at the doses I'm likely to reach, and are there alternatives if that becomes unsustainable?
- How should I store it, and what do I do if I miss a dose or travel?
- How often will we meet, and what will you monitor at follow-ups?
About the long game
- How long do you anticipate I'll be on treatment?
- What's your approach when a patient reaches their goal — and what does maintenance look like after?
- If we ever conclude treatment, what does that transition plan look like?
No doctor will mind these questions. A doctor who does mind them is itself useful information.
If you'd rather have this whole conversation inside one structured setup, medically supervised programs fold most of this list into their onboarding — Steer Club, built by the same team as Offpill, is one such doctor-led program in India. Independent doctor or program, the test is identical: every question above should be welcome.