Medical Weight Loss in Troy, MI
Duraid Ahad-Daman, MD
Family Medicine located in Troy, MI
Weight management is personal. At Ahad MD PC, we help you understand your options and build a plan around your health, daily routine, and goals. Your visit may include nutrition guidance, physical activity, and medication when appropriate.
Medical weight loss: understanding your options
Some prescription medicines help you feel less hungry and full sooner. We review your health history and current medicines before deciding whether treatment is right for you.
Which FDA-approved medications might we discuss?
- Wegovy (semaglutide): a weekly injection or a daily pill.
- Wegovy HD (semaglutide): a higher-dose, 7.2 mg weekly injection for certain adults.
- Saxenda (liraglutide): a daily injection.
- Zepbound (tirzepatide): a weekly injection.
- Foundayo (orforglipron): a daily pill.
These medicines act on pathways that help regulate appetite. Wegovy, Wegovy HD, Saxenda, and Foundayo target GLP-1. Zepbound targets both GLP-1 and GIP. We will explain the options, dosing, and what to expect before you start.
How much weight could I lose?
Weight loss takes time. These are average results from selected adult studies of the injection doses shown below, alongside changes in eating and physical activity. They do not describe results with pills or Wegovy HD:
| Medication studied | Average weight loss | Time in study |
|---|---|---|
| Semaglutide 2.4 mg weekly | About 15% | 68 weeks about 16 months |
| Tirzepatide 5–15 mg weekly | About 15–21% depending on dose | 72 weeks about 17 months |
| Liraglutide 3 mg daily | About 5–8% | 56 weeks about 13 months |
Percentages refer to starting body weight. These separate studies involved different patients and are not a direct comparison. Results vary with dose, consistency, health conditions, and lifestyle. Weight loss is often lower in people with type 2 diabetes. These figures are not a guarantee or dosing instructions.
What’s new in weight-loss treatment?
More treatment choices are becoming available. The Wegovy pill was FDA-approved in December 2025, followed by Wegovy HD in March 2026 and Foundayo in April 2026.
The two pills have different instructions. Foundayo can be taken with or without food. Take the Wegovy pill in the morning on an empty stomach with no more than 4 ounces of plain water, then wait at least 30 minutes before food, drinks, or other oral medicines.
Wegovy HD provides another injection option for certain adults who need additional weight loss. We will review whether the higher dose fits your needs and discuss side effects, including possible changes in skin sensation.
Other treatments are still being studied:
- Retatrutide targets three hormone pathways: GLP-1, GIP, and glucagon. In a late-stage trial called TRIUMPH-1, the manufacturer reported about 28% average weight loss at 80 weeks with the 12 mg dose, in adults without diabetes. Safety and effectiveness are still being studied.
- CagriSema combines semaglutide with cagrilintide, another medicine being studied to help regulate appetite. Its application is under FDA review.
Retatrutide and CagriSema are not FDA-approved and are not available as routine prescriptions. Trial results do not guarantee an individual’s outcome. We follow new research and approvals and will discuss which options may be appropriate for you as they become available.
New-treatment information checked October 9, 2026. Approval status and availability may change.
What side effects can GLP-1 medicines cause?
Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, stomach discomfort, and heartburn can occur. Many symptoms improve with time. Starting at a low dose and increasing gradually may help. Contact us if symptoms persist, worsen, or make it hard to eat or drink.
Serious symptoms: when to get help
- Pancreatitis: Stop the medicine and seek urgent medical care for severe, ongoing stomach pain, especially pain reaching your back, with or without vomiting.
- Gallbladder problems: These medicines and rapid weight loss can increase the chance of gallstones or gallbladder inflammation. Seek prompt care for upper stomach pain, fever, or yellow skin or eyes. Some cases require surgery to remove the gallbladder.
- Dehydration: Repeated vomiting or diarrhea can affect your kidneys. Seek prompt care if you cannot keep fluids down or are urinating much less.
- Severe allergic reaction: Stop the medicine and get emergency help for trouble breathing or swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Important FDA warning about thyroid tumors
Wegovy, Wegovy HD, Saxenda, Zepbound, and Foundayo carry a boxed warning, the FDA’s strongest warning, about thyroid C-cell tumors. The warning is based on animal findings with medicines in this group; whether the risk applies to people is not known. Tell us promptly about a neck lump, ongoing hoarseness, or trouble swallowing. Trouble breathing needs immediate attention.
Who should avoid GLP-1 or GLP-1/GIP medicines?
Do not take the medication if you have:
- A personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC), a specific type of thyroid cancer.
- Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2).
- A previous serious allergic reaction to that medicine or one of its ingredients.
Pregnancy: Do not use these medicines for weight loss during pregnancy. Discuss pregnancy plans before starting. Semaglutide should be stopped at least two months before a planned pregnancy.
Taking birth-control pills? Use a non-oral method or add a barrier method, such as condoms, for four weeks with Zepbound or 30 days with Foundayo after starting and after each dose increase.
Tell us about severe slow stomach emptying (gastroparesis), previous pancreatitis, kidney or liver problems, diabetic eye disease, breastfeeding, and any planned anesthesia or sedation. Insulin and certain diabetes pills can raise the risk of low blood sugar when combined with these medicines.
Other FDA-approved weight-loss medications
GLP-1 medicines are one option. Depending on your health history, other treatments may be worth discussing:
- Contrave (naltrexone/bupropion): A prescription pill that combines two medicines to help manage hunger. It is approved for long-term weight management. It is not suitable for people with uncontrolled high blood pressure, a history of seizures, or regular opioid use.
- Qsymia (phentermine/topiramate): A daily prescription pill that helps reduce appetite and is approved for long-term weight management. It can cause birth defects; people who can become pregnant need effective birth control and pregnancy testing before treatment and monthly during treatment.
- Xenical and Alli (orlistat): These reduce the amount of fat your body absorbs from food. Xenical requires a prescription; lower-dose Alli is available over the counter for adults. Oily stools and an urgent need to use the bathroom can occur.
- Adipex-P and Lomaira (phentermine): Prescription appetite suppressants approved for short-term use, usually a few weeks. They can raise blood pressure or heart rate and are not suitable for everyone.
- Other short-term appetite suppressants: These include benzphetamine (previously sold as Didrex and Regimex), diethylpropion, and phendimetrazine. These older medicines require careful medical review and monitoring. Availability varies.
- Imcivree (setmelanotide): A targeted injection for certain rare genetic forms of obesity, including Bardet-Biedl syndrome, and for acquired hypothalamic obesity—a rare condition caused by injury or dysfunction in the brain’s appetite-control center. It requires a specific diagnosis and is not a treatment for general obesity. We can discuss whether specialist evaluation is appropriate.
Each medicine has its own benefits, risks, and interactions. We will review these with you before choosing treatment. Do not combine weight-loss medicines or supplements unless your clinician recommends it.
Will I need treatment long term?
Obesity is a chronic condition. Medicines approved for long-term use may be continued if they are helping and remain safe. Short-term medicines have different treatment limits. Weight regain is common after stopping. We will review your progress and plan the next steps together.
Food, activity, and muscle health still matter
Treatment works best with balanced meals, enough protein for your health needs, and regular activity. Strength training can help protect muscle during weight loss. We can help you choose realistic changes that fit your abilities and routine.
What about cost and compounded medications?
We will discuss insurance coverage, out-of-pocket costs, availability, and FDA-approved options. If you have questions about compounded medicines, we can review whether one is appropriate for a specific medical need. Compounded medicines are not FDA-approved; the FDA does not review them for safety, effectiveness, or quality before they are marketed.
Let’s talk about your goals
Schedule a consultation to review your health history, ask questions, and find out which weight-management options may be right for you.
Schedule a weight-loss consultationMedication guides and trusted information
This is a summary of key benefits and risks. Read the guide for your prescribed medication and review your full medical history with us.
- Wegovy prescribing information and Medication Guide
- Zepbound prescribing information and Medication Guide
- Foundayo prescribing information
- FDA: Wegovy HD approval
- FDA: Foundayo approval
- Novo Nordisk: Wegovy pill approval
- Lilly: retatrutide research and availability
- Lilly: TRIUMPH-1 clinical trial results
- Novo Nordisk: CagriSema research and FDA review
- Saxenda prescribing information and Medication Guide
- Contrave prescribing information and Medication Guide
- Qsymia prescribing information and Medication Guide
- Adipex-P prescribing information
- Benzphetamine prescribing information
- Imcivree prescribing information and Patient Information
- NIDDK: medicines for weight management
- FDA: information about unapproved and compounded GLP-1 medicines
Insurance Accepted
Dr. Ahad-Daman accepts most major insurance providers. Please contact your insurance provider directly for any coverage-related questions.