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What tests + when, based on Endocrine Society + AACE 2024 guidelines. Plus direct cash-pay ordering links for patients without insurance coverage.
Most telehealth providers don\'t pre-empt lab monitoring
Mochi, Hims, and Eden routinely skip baseline labs to streamline onboarding. This is a safety compromise. Use this schedule to verify your prescriber\'s monitoring plan, or order labs yourself direct.
Your GLP-1 start details
Your lab schedule
Total upfront cost (baseline panel): $168.00 at cash-pay labs. Many GLP-1 telehealth providers bundle this — check before paying out-of-pocket.
Get all baselines before first GLP-1 dose. Personalabs/RequestATest run $130-180 for the full panel.
Liver enzymes (ALT/AST), kidney function (creatinine/eGFR), electrolytes, glucose.
Glycemic baseline. Critical if comorbid diabetes or insulin resistance.
Cholesterol baseline. Expect significant improvement during weight loss.
Critical: GLP-1 changes levothyroxine absorption +33% AUC.
Baseline blood counts. Detects anemia, infection.
Pancreas baseline. GLP-1 rare pancreatitis risk requires baseline.
Most critical follow-up. Dehydration from GI side effects can cause AKI — early CMP catches it.
Verify no acute kidney injury during titration. Watch ALT/AST if rising.
Pancreatitis screening during early titration.
Stable maintenance can space to every 4-6 months after first year.
Trend kidney + liver function.
If diabetic — every 3 months until target. Otherwise every 6 months.
Recurring every 3 months thereafter.
Lipid improvement is one of the best long-term benefits — track and celebrate it.
Document LDL/HDL/triglyceride trajectory. May trigger statin dose reduction.
Ongoing liver + kidney trend.
Recurring every 6.5 months thereafter.
You can order labs yourself without a doctor\'s visit through these direct-to-consumer services. Results go to your prescriber via portal upload.
Schedule based on Endocrine Society + AACE 2024 GLP-1 monitoring guidelines. Insurance coverage of these panels varies — most commercial plans cover all listed tests as preventive care. Your prescriber may have specific monitoring preferences that differ.
Yes. Pre-treatment liver enzymes, kidney function (eGFR), thyroid (TSH), and pancreas (lipase) baselines are critical. Without baselines, you can't detect drug-induced organ stress later. Most reputable telehealth providers require this; the ones that don't are cutting safety corners.
Week 8 (early organ stress check). Most GI side effects peak during titration weeks 4-8. Dehydration from vomiting can cause acute kidney injury that's reversible if caught early. This single CMP draw can prevent a hospitalization.
Yes. Personalabs, RequestATest, and Healthon let you order panels directly. Results go to your prescriber via portal upload. ~$120-180 for the full baseline panel. Useful if your insurance doesn't cover or your prescriber bundle costs more.
GLP-1 delayed gastric emptying paradoxically INCREASES levothyroxine bioavailability by ~33%. Many patients become slightly hyperthyroid 2-3 months in. Recheck TSH at 6-8 weeks → adjust thyroid dose if needed. Then recheck at 3 and 6 months.
First year: every 3 months. After year 1 on stable maintenance: every 6 months. After 2+ years of stable maintenance with normal labs: annually is acceptable for most patients.