Ascend Knowledge Base
Health Guides
Clear, clinician-reviewed answers to the questions patients actually ask. Written by the team at Ascend Mind and Body, serving Tampa Bay and all of Florida.
31clinician-reviewed guides
2care areas
FLTampa Bay + statewide telehealth
Not sure where to begin? Read first, then decide.
These decision guides walk through the questions patients ask most, so you can have a more informed conversation with a Florida-licensed clinician.
Decision guide
Is Ketamine Therapy Right for You?
A straight-talk decision guide: who ketamine therapy helps, who should wait, and the questions to ask before you start.
Read the guide →Decision guide
Which GLP-1 Is Right for You?
A decision guide comparing Ozempic, Wegovy, Zepbound, and Mounjaro by use case, mechanism, and what to ask a prescriber.
Read the guide →Ketamine Therapy
12 guidesEvidence, candidacy, cost, and what to expect from supervised ketamine care for treatment-resistant depression and PTSD.
- Is Ketamine Therapy Right for You?A straight-talk decision guide: who ketamine therapy helps, who should wait, and the questions to ask before you start.
- What Is Ketamine Therapy?What ketamine therapy actually is, how it works in the brain, and what it treats, in plain language.
- Ketamine for Treatment-Resistant DepressionWhat the evidence actually shows about ketamine for depression that has not responded to other treatments.
- Does Ketamine Therapy Get You High?An honest description of what ketamine therapy feels like and how it differs from getting high.
- How Much Does Ketamine Therapy Cost?What ketamine therapy typically costs, why insurance is complicated, and how to compare options honestly.
- At-Home vs In-Clinic KetamineAt-home versus in-clinic ketamine, compared honestly on safety, monitoring, and who each option fits.
- IV Ketamine vs Spravato vs LozengesIV ketamine, Spravato, and lozenges compared on evidence, monitoring, insurance, and cost.
- What to Expect at a Ketamine InfusionA step-by-step walkthrough of a ketamine infusion visit, from check-in to aftercare.
- How Many Ketamine Sessions Do You Need?How many ketamine sessions most people need, from the initial series to maintenance, and how response is tracked.
- Ketamine for PTSDWhat the evidence shows about ketamine for PTSD, how it differs from depression use, and who it may help.
- Ketamine vs Traditional AntidepressantsHow ketamine and traditional antidepressants differ in mechanism, speed, and durability, and when each fits.
- Ketamine Integration: Why the Days After MatterWhat ketamine integration is, why the days after a session matter, and how therapy makes relief last.
Weight Loss & GLP-1
19 guidesHow GLP-1 medications like Ozempic, Wegovy, and Zepbound actually work, compared honestly, with the practical details.
- Which GLP-1 Is Right for You?A decision guide comparing Ozempic, Wegovy, Zepbound, and Mounjaro by use case, mechanism, and what to ask a prescriber.
- Ozempic vs Wegovy: Same Drug, Different UseOzempic and Wegovy share one active ingredient but differ in approved use and dosing. Here is what matters.
- Ozempic Face: What Causes It and How to Prevent ItWhat "Ozempic face" really is, why it happens, and the practical steps that reduce it.
- Mounjaro vs Ozempic: The Differences That MatterMounjaro and Ozempic differ by active ingredient and mechanism. Here is what separates tirzepatide from semaglutide.
- GLP-1 Side Effects: What Is Normal and How to ManageThe common GLP-1 side effects, what is normal versus a red flag, and how to manage them under supervision.
- Wegovy vs Zepbound: Which Wins for Weight LossWegovy and Zepbound are both for weight management but differ by drug and mechanism. Here is how to compare them.
- Semaglutide for Weight Loss: What to ExpectHow semaglutide works for weight loss, the typical dosing schedule, and what results are realistic.
- Compounded vs Brand-Name SemaglutideWhat compounded semaglutide is, how it differs from FDA-approved products, and what the FDA has said about it.
- How Much Does Semaglutide Cost Without Insurance?What semaglutide costs without insurance, why prices vary so widely, and how to estimate real out-of-pocket cost.
- Semaglutide Dosage Chart: How Titration WorksHow semaglutide titration works for Wegovy and Ozempic, and why doses are increased gradually.
- What Happens When You Stop a GLP-1?What the research shows about appetite return and weight regain after stopping a GLP-1, and how to plan for it.
- GLP-1s and Hair Loss: Drug or Weight Loss?Why hair shedding happens on a GLP-1, whether it is the drug or the weight loss, and what helps.
- How Do GLP-1 Medications Work for Weight Loss?How GLP-1 medications mimic a gut hormone to reduce appetite and slow digestion for weight loss.
- Who Qualifies for GLP-1 Weight Loss Medication?The BMI criteria, weight-related conditions, and contraindications that determine GLP-1 eligibility.
- What to Eat on a GLP-1: A Practical Food GuideA practical food guide for GLP-1s: protein first, foods that ease nausea, and what to limit.
- Can You Drink Alcohol on a GLP-1?Whether you can drink on a GLP-1, why interest in alcohol often drops, and the risks to weigh.
- Protein and Muscle on GLP-1sHow protein, resistance training, and a sensible pace protect muscle during GLP-1 weight loss.
- GLP-1 Injection Guide: Sites, Timing, RotationWhere to inject a GLP-1, why to rotate sites, weekly timing, and storage basics.
- Bariatric Surgery vs GLP-1: How to DecideHow bariatric surgery and GLP-1 medications compare on results, risk, and durability, and how to choose.