Specialty Care / Weight Management
Weight management support, with a pharmacist in your corner
If you're on a GLP-1 medication like Mounjaro or Zepbound, or your doctor has referred you for one, Optimum Pharmacy fills, dispenses, and supports your treatment from the first prescription onward.
Start your referral today
Already have a prescription, or a doctor who's writing one? Fill out the referral form and a pharmacist will call you back — no appointment needed.
Fill out the referral formWhere the pharmacy fits
Most of it happens between appointments
Managing weight with medication is a long process, and most of it happens between appointments. You pick up a prescription, learn to use an injection device, manage side effects, and figure out how the medication fits into daily life, often with more questions than your last doctor's visit had time to answer.
Optimum Pharmacy's role is to make that part easier. We dispense GLP-1 medications prescribed by your doctor or nurse practitioner, walk you through how to use your device, check your medication against everything else you take, and stay reachable when something feels off. We do not diagnose obesity, prescribe weight-loss medication ourselves, or promise a result. That decision sits with your prescriber.
Our job starts once the prescription reaches our counter.
Is this for you?
Who this page is for
This page is for people who already have, or are pursuing, a prescription for a weight-management medication from a physician or nurse practitioner. It's a good fit if:
- You have a prescription for a GLP-1 medication (such as Mounjaro or Zepbound) and want a pharmacy that will dispense it, explain the device, and follow up.
- You're new to injectable medication and want someone to walk you through your first dose.
- You want your weight-management prescription filled at the same pharmacy as your other medications, so a pharmacist can check for interactions.
- Your current pharmacy doesn't stock these medications reliably and you need a pharmacy that does.
This page is not a substitute for seeing a physician or nurse practitioner. A pharmacist cannot diagnose obesity or start you on a weight-management medication without a prescription from your doctor or nurse practitioner.
How it works
From your prescription to your next refill
No appointment needed
If you have side effects, a supply question, or a refill coming up, call or come in. A quick question doesn't need a booking.
- You bring in or transfer your prescription.If your doctor or nurse practitioner has already prescribed a GLP-1 medication, bring the prescription to Optimum Pharmacy, or ask us to transfer it from your current pharmacy.
- We check your file.A pharmacist reviews your other medications and health conditions for anything that could interact with the new prescription, and flags questions back to your prescriber if needed.
- We fill it and show you how to use it.Most GLP-1 medications come in a prefilled injection pen. We walk you through storage, dosing, and injection technique the first time you pick it up.
- We follow up.If you have side effects, run into a supply issue, or have questions about your next refill, call or come in. You don't need an appointment for a quick question.
- We coordinate refills and dose changes.As your prescriber adjusts your dose over time, we fill the updated prescription and update our records so nothing gets missed.
Who's behind the counter
An independent Newmarket pharmacy, not a counter in a big-box aisle
Your prescription is filled and checked by the same small team every month, led by pharmacist and owner Fora Rahmati, so nothing about your file has to be re-explained at each refill.
Accreditation No. 307499 Scope of practice
The pharmacist's role
A pharmacist's job in weight management is dispensing and support, not diagnosis. Concretely, that means:
What your pharmacist does
- Filling prescriptions written by your physician or nurse practitioner.
- Checking your medication list for interactions and duplicate therapy.
- Teaching injection technique for pen devices.
- Explaining how to store your medication (most GLP-1s need refrigeration until first use).
- Answering questions about common side effects like nausea or injection-site reactions, and telling you when a side effect needs a call to your prescriber instead.
- Tracking your refill schedule so you don't run out between doses.
What a pharmacist can't do
- Diagnose obesity.
- Decide which medication is right for you.
- Guarantee any amount of weight loss.
Results vary by person, and any claim that promises a specific outcome should be treated with caution, from any provider.
What we stock
Medications we support
Optimum Pharmacy stocks and dispenses GLP-1 and GIP/GLP-1 medications prescribed for weight management, including tirzepatide (Mounjaro, Zepbound) and other agents your prescriber may choose. Availability depends on manufacturer supply, which has fluctuated across Canada; call ahead if you need a specific dose filled by a certain date.
Manufacturer patient-support programs
Eli Lilly runs two enrolment-based support programs for its own medications:
Run by Eli Lilly, the manufacturer — not by Optimum Pharmacy
myMounjaro
For patients prescribed Mounjaro (tirzepatide) for type 2 diabetes.
mymounjaro.ca (opens Eli Lilly's site in a new tab) Managing type 2 diabetes too? See our diabetes care page →myZepbound
For patients prescribed Zepbound (tirzepatide) for weight management.
myzepbound.ca (opens Eli Lilly's site in a new tab) Not sure where to start? Ask a pharmacist →Both are free to join directly through Eli Lilly, not through Optimum Pharmacy, and offer savings support and injection guidance depending on your insurance coverage. You enrol yourself; we can point you to the sign-up if you're not sure where to start, but the enrolment and any savings decision is between you and the manufacturer.
Common questions
Weight management FAQ
Something not covered here? Call (905) 235 8820 and a pharmacist will walk you through it.
Do I need a referral to start a weight-management medication?
Yes. You need a prescription from a physician or nurse practitioner. Optimum Pharmacy dispenses and supports these medications; we don't diagnose or start treatment.
Can Optimum Pharmacy refer me to a doctor for weight management?
If you don't already have a prescriber, ask your family doctor or use Ontario's Health Care Connect service to find one. Once you have a prescription, bring it to us.
Will my insurance cover Mounjaro or Zepbound?
Coverage depends on your plan. Some private plans cover GLP-1 medications for approved uses; OHIP does not cover them for weight management. Check with your insurer, and ask our team to run a trial claim before you commit to a fill.
What if the medication is on backorder?
Supply for these medications has been inconsistent across Canada. If your dose isn't in stock, we'll tell you honestly and help you find the next available option, including checking other pharmacies if needed.
How do I switch my prescription to Optimum Pharmacy?
Fill out our prescription transfer form or call us and we’ll contact your current pharmacy directly.
What are myMounjaro and myZepbound?
They're free enrolment programs run by Eli Lilly, the manufacturer, offering savings support and injection resources to patients prescribed those specific medications. They're separate from Optimum Pharmacy; we can point you toward them but don't manage your enrolment.
Weight management referral
Ready to bring us your prescription?
By completing and submitting this form, your information is sent to Optimum Pharmacy only. A pharmacist will follow up with you directly. This form does not involve diagnosis, clinical evaluation, or therapeutic planning; that remains between you and your physician or nurse practitioner.