Physician-guided weight loss at Pandora Family Medicine, with no subscription and no monthly fees.
Dr. Rachel Gougian is a Diplomate of the American Board of Obesity Medicine and sees weight loss patients at our University Park office. She prescribes Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, Zepbound, phentermine, Qsymia, and other medications based on your health, your history, and what actually makes sense for you.
Pricing, upfront:
Ro, Noom, and Calibrate charge a subscription and connect you to whoever is available. Here, you see the same doctor every visit. No handoffs. No rotating providers. Your doctor knows your name, your history, and what you have already tried.
We do not judge how you got here or ask you to prove you are sick enough to deserve help. Weight is a medical issue, not a willpower issue. If you have tried other approaches and they have not worked, that is exactly what physician-guided care is for.
Depending on where you are starting from, there are a few different ways we can work together.
A full medical evaluation, labs, and a medication plan if one makes sense for you. Dr. Gougian reviews your health history, talks through your goals, and builds a plan that fits your actual life. Adjustments happen at follow-up visits as your body responds.
Weekly GLP-1 medications like Wegovy, Zepbound, Ozempic, and Mounjaro, prescribed by a doctor who will monitor how you are doing. Not a telehealth script sent to your door. A real visit with a doctor who tracks your progress.
Insurance rarely covers these medications without paperwork first. We submit the prior authorization, follow up with your insurer, and handle the back-and-forth. If your PA is denied, we talk through your options, including lower-cost alternatives and appeal pathways. There is no extra charge for this work on top of your visit.
If you want to understand why weight is so hard to change on your own, and what these medications actually do in your body, we can walk through that. A lot of patients find it useful before deciding on a path forward.
These are the brand names you have probably already heard. Your doctor will tell you which one fits your situation.
A weekly GLP-1 injection approved specifically for weight loss. The same molecule as Ozempic, at a higher dose. One of the most studied weight loss medications available right now.
WegovyA weekly injection that works on two gut hormones, GLP-1 and GIP. Clinical studies have shown strong weight loss results, often more than semaglutide alone. Approved for weight management.
ZepboundApproved for type 2 diabetes, and sometimes the option your insurance will actually cover when Wegovy requires a fight. Supports meaningful weight loss for many patients.
OzempicApproved for type 2 diabetes, with weight loss results in studies that have gotten a lot of attention. May be an option depending on your health profile and coverage.
MounjaroA daily oral option that combines two medications to reduce appetite. A reasonable choice for patients who prefer not to inject or for whom GLP-1s are not the right fit.
QsymiaA daily oral medication that works on the appetite and reward pathways in the brain. Helpful for patients where cravings and emotional eating are part of the picture.
ContraveA long-used, low-cost oral appetite suppressant. Often a practical first step when GLP-1s are out of reach financially or not yet covered by insurance.
PhentermineNot a weight loss drug officially, but an inexpensive tool that can be useful for certain patients, particularly those with insulin resistance or prediabetes. Your doctor will tell you honestly if it makes sense for you.
MetforminThe visit and the medication are two separate costs. The visit is straightforward: $200 for a new patient, $150 for follow-ups. Medicare, Maryland Medicaid, and most major insurance plans are accepted for the visit itself.
The medication is where things get complicated. GLP-1s like Wegovy and Zepbound often require prior authorization, and coverage varies a lot by plan. We submit the PA for you and follow through on it. If your plan denies coverage, we will not leave you without options. We will talk through what is available at a cost you can actually manage.
The first visit is a conversation. Your doctor will ask about your history, your goals, and what you have already tried. No judgment, no pressure. Same doctor every visit, from the first appointment forward.
