Sunrise Weight Loss Program: A Comprehensive Review

The Sunrise weight loss program leverages telemedicine to provide accessible and user-friendly weight loss treatments. This article aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the Sunrise program, including its features, costs, medications, customer reviews, and potential benefits and drawbacks, to help individuals make informed decisions about their weight loss journey.

What is Sunrise?

Sunrise is a telemedicine platform that facilitates access to prescription weight loss medications and support. It connects individuals with licensed providers for consultations and offers various tools and resources to aid in weight management. The program emphasizes a holistic approach, incorporating medication, nutrition, exercise, and mental health support.

Shed It Program Overview

Sunrise offers the "Shed It" program, a holistic prescription weight loss program designed to help individuals shed extra pounds. The program includes several key components:

  • Consultation: An online consultation with a licensed provider to determine eligibility for prescription weight loss medication. Telehealth laws differ by state, so patients in some states are required to have a live phone or video consult with a provider to adhere to their state laws. Other patients may have to do a live consult if a provider needs clarification about answers submitted in the chat consultation to ensure their treatment option is accurate, safe and effective. Patients can also request a video consult with a provider if they feel they would get extra peace of mind from a bit of face-to-face time. Patients can also request a provider callback to discuss questions or concerns throughout the program-we’ve included such check-ins in the ongoing care cost!
  • Medication: If approved, patients can receive prescription weight loss medication, either through local pharmacy pickup or home delivery.
  • Support: Ongoing support from licensed providers and the Dr. B team is available to address questions and concerns. You’ll do a follow-up consultation with a provider before they can issue your monthly prescription refill. For most patients, that means once every four weeks until you hit your maintenance dose.
  • Power: Access to science-backed exercise, nutrition, and mental health tools to foster healthy habits.

Medication Options

Sunrise offers a range of prescription weight loss medications, including both compounded and brand-name options:

  • Compounded Liraglutide + B12: Starts at $141/month, cash pay only, with home delivery.
  • Zepbound® vial: Starts at $349/month, cash pay only, with home delivery.
  • Wegovy®: $499/month with cash pay; copay varies with insurance approval. GLP-1 medication, available via insurance or cash pay, through pharmacy pickup or home delivery.
  • Zepbound® pen: Price subject to insurance approval. Dual GIP/GLP-1 medication, insurance eligible, available through pharmacy pickup.
  • Ozempic®: Price subject to insurance approval. GLP-1 medication, insurance eligible, available through pharmacy pickup.
  • Mounjaro®: Price subject to insurance approval. Dual GIP/GLP-1 medication, insurance eligible, available through pharmacy pickup.

Note: Prices are for a 4-week supply at the lowest dosage and do not include the program fee.

Read also: The Truth About Sunrise Weight Loss

Understanding GLP-1 Medications

Semaglutide is a GLP-1 receptor agonist that helps control appetite and slow digestion-it’s the active ingredient in Ozempic® and Wegovy®. Tirzepatide is a GLP-1/GIP dual-agonist that lowers blood sugar levels, slows digestion and helps control appetite-it’s the active ingredient in Mounjaro® and Zepbound®.

GLP-1 medications are technically called GLP-1 receptor agonist medications. That’s because they mimic the glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) hormone naturally made by the body. GLP-1 slows digestion, so food takes longer to leave your stomach. This can help you feel fuller longer, controlling appetite and reducing calorie consumption. It also encourages the production of insulin, which helps lower and control blood sugar levels. The combination of a reduced appetite and lowered blood sugar levels can help some people eat less and lose weight. GLP-1 receptor agonist medications include:

  • Semaglutide, which is the active ingredient in Wegovy®* and Ozempic®*.
  • Tirzepatide, which is a dual GIP/GLP-1 receptor co-agonist medication and the active ingredient in Zepound®* and Mounjaro®*.
  • Liraglutide, which is the active ingredient in Saxenda®* and Victoza®*.

Insurance Coverage and Cost Considerations

If you have health insurance, Dr. B can find out if your insurance will cover the cost of a brand-name medication. If approved, they’ll send the prescription to your local pharmacy for pickup. If you’re ineligible for insurance coverage but approved for treatment, affordable out-of-pocket medication options are available. Some patients may qualify for personalized compounded medications from licensed compounding pharmacies. Others can access brand-name formulations and discount programs offered by pharmaceutical companies.

Cost, Payment, and Insurance

If approved for prescription weight loss treatment, your monthly price will include a Shed It program fee and a medication fee. The Shed It program fee is $145 per month and includes your clinical essentials-consultations, check-ins, lab work, support tools and more. The medication fee is determined by the medication type, brand (if applicable) and dosage you’re prescribed each month. If prescribed a brand-name medication, you’ll have the option to pay with insurance coverage or out-of-pocket, which will also affect your cost. You can get a closer look at costs at our Shed It pricing page.

You will be billed in two parts. The $145 Shed It program will be charged to your account each time you complete a Shed It consultation. If prescribed a compounded medication, your medication fee will be calculated when your provider confirms your medication type/brand and dosage for the month. You must pay the balance of these fees before Dr. B can release your prescription for fulfillment. If prescribed a brand-name medication, your provider will send the prescription to a pharmacy, and you will pay the fee there directly. If your provider prescribes a brand-name medication, you may use insurance coverage to pay for it at your chosen pharmacy.

Read also: Is the Sunrise Program Right for You?

Shed It program or medication fees may be partially or fully refunded under specific circumstances, like if a pharmacy or technical error results in you receiving an unusable medication. But we don't provide refunds if a provider approves you for treatment and you change your mind-or you try the medication for a few weeks and decide it's not for you.

Depending on the medication prescribed, your medication cost may increase if your medication dosage increases.

Compounded Medications

A compounded medicine is custom-made by pharmacists. It might involve mixing different ingredients to create a specific medication dose or form (like a liquid or cream) when standard medications aren't suitable or if the correct dose isn't available. Compounded medications can also relieve drug shortages when brand-name medications aren’t available so that patients can get the treatments they need-as is currently happening with GLP-1 medications. It’s important to note that compounded medications are not FDA-approved.

While the medications they make are not FDA-approved, licensed compounding pharmacies follow strict rules to make sure these medicines are safe and work well, testing their products rigorously to guarantee their potency, safety and stability.

Sometimes, pharmacies package injectable weight loss medications in vials to keep material costs down. This also helps patients adjust their dosage-which additionally reduces medication waste. These are important because providers adjust medication dosages over time to help patients get the best results while minimizing the risk of side effects.

Read also: Weight Loss Supplement Dangers

Dosage Levels of Compounded Injectable Semaglutide

Licensed compounding pharmacists make injectable Semaglutide medications in varying concentrations-the potency of the medication within the volume of medication. As you progress with Semaglutide treatment from one dosage phase to another, you may inject more medication units of the same concentration or fewer units of a more potent concentration to meet your prescribed dosage.

When patients reach phase 2 of compounded Semaglutide treatment, they receive double the number of vials and inject double the volume of units as they did in phase 1-and the medication cost doubles to match. In phase 3, the concentration of medication in the vial increases. This reduces the number of vials you receive, the units of medication you inject, and the relative cost.

A provider can not prescribe the third dosage phase (1mg/week) and instruct you to inject half the unit amount to meet the second dosage phase (.5mg/week). Doing so would provide you with more than twice the amount of medication needed for one month of treatment and introduce potentially dangerous safety concerns. You may take your next medication dosage phase incorrectly, take leftover medication despite it having expired, or confuse old and new medication of varying potency!

Eligibility for Prescription Weight Loss Medications

GLP-1 receptor agonist weight loss medications are prescription weight loss treatments for adults with a BMI of or above 27. Some people shouldn’t take these medications even if they have this BMI. Your provider will let you know if one of these medical weight loss solutions suits your situation.

Potential Weight Loss

Total weight loss differs for everyone. But most people lose between 5% to 20% of their starting body weight in 1 year while taking injectable GLP-1 medications. That means that if you weigh 200 lb, you could lose between 10 and 40 pounds. Your provider will work with you to choose the medication that’s best for you and adjust the dosage for optimal results.

Risks of GLP-1 Medications

Like all medications, there are some risks to taking GLP-1 weight loss medications-and it’s important to talk to your doctor about the risks and any health conditions you have before starting any medical weight loss treatment. Serious issues of GLP-1 treatment can include pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas) and thyroid tumors. Some people experience low blood sugar-especially if they take other diabetes medications. People who are pregnant, breastfeeding or may become pregnant should talk to their provider before starting GLP-1 treatment. Clinical trials of Semaglutide, Tirzepatide and Liraglutide did not include pregnant patients and therefore have not confirmed that GLP-1 medications are safe to use during pregnancy.

Customer Reviews and Feedback

Analyzing customer reviews provides valuable insights into the real-world experiences of individuals using the Sunrise program. Here's a summary of the feedback:

Positive Reviews:

  • Easy Process: Many users found the process smooth and easy, from initial consultation to medication delivery.
  • Helpful Customer Service: Several reviewers praised the customer service team for their responsiveness, kindness, and ability to resolve issues.
  • Effective Treatments: Some customers reported positive experiences with the treatments, noting that Sunrise helped them access medications like Ozempic® when other doctors had denied them.
  • Convenient Delivery: The convenience of medication delivery services was appreciated by many users.
  • Exceptional Communication: The communication throughout the process was described as exceptional by multiple reviewers.
  • Insurance Coverage Assistance: Sunrise's assistance in getting prescriptions covered by insurance was a significant benefit for some customers.
  • Guidance and Support: The team has helped and guided me through my weigh loss journey. Their customer service team has been amazing every step of the way.
  • Friendly Service: Anything I was concerned about was answered right away very understandable I appreciate the friendly service

Negative Reviews:

  • Shipping Issues: Some users experienced delays in receiving their medication.
  • Refund Issues: A few customers reported difficulties in obtaining refunds, even after canceling orders.
  • Scam Accusations: One review claimed the company was a scam, alleging non-receipt of product and inability to get a refund.

Trustpilot Score: Sunrise Reviews has a Trustpilot score of 4.4 based on 367 reviews.

Potential Pros and Cons

Based on the information available, here's a summary of the potential pros and cons of the Sunrise weight loss program:

Pros:

  • Accessibility: Telemedicine makes weight loss treatments more accessible.
  • Variety of Medications: Offers a range of compounded and brand-name medications.
  • Insurance Support: Assistance with insurance coverage for eligible medications.
  • Holistic Approach: Combines medication with nutrition, exercise, and mental health support.
  • Customer Support: Generally positive feedback regarding customer service responsiveness.
  • Convenience: Home delivery of medication (for some medications).

Cons:

  • Cost: Program fees and medication costs can be significant, especially without insurance coverage.
  • Refund Policy: Limited refund options may not satisfy all customers.
  • Compounded Medication Concerns: Compounded medications are not FDA-approved, raising potential safety concerns for some individuals.
  • Shipping Issues: Potential for delays or issues with medication delivery.
  • Customer Service Response Time: Some customers reported delays in customer service responses.
  • Controversy: These options for medical weight loss can be controversial because the brand-name drugs are often expensive when paid out-of-pocket (since many health insurance plans do not cover them). As they are taken long-term to manage a chronic condition (like cholesterol medicine or blood pressure pills), those costs add up. Also, most people tend to regain weight if they stop taking them. These drugs can also add to the stigma around weight and health. After all, it’s possible to be healthy even with a higher BMI, and losing weight does not automatically improve health. It's important to talk openly about these concerns with your provider.

Sunrise + F45 Training

We've teamed up with F45 Training to offer a special version of Shed It. Enroll now to unlock the F45 mobile app, packed with functional training workouts, curated nutrition tools and wellness solutions designed to support + elevate your weight loss journey.

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