Lorphen Medical

About Lorphen Medical

What is Lorphen Medical?

Lorphen Medical is a weight loss clinic at 6000 Camino Real, Ste. B in Riverside, California. Its medical director and founder is Charles T. Nguyen, MD, who completed his psychiatry residency and faculty work at the University of California at Irvine. The clinic's main offering is what it calls the Thinsulin Program, built around three ideas: managing insulin rather than counting calories, using cognitive behavioral therapy to change eating habits, and working through a maintenance phase meant to address weight regain after initial loss. Alongside the behavioral program, Lorphen Medical prescribes weight loss medications including phentermine, Contrave (naltrexone and bupropion) and Qsymia (phentermine and topiramate), depending on a patient's medical history and eating patterns. It also offers what it describes as ongoing support, including text messaging access to staff and social media contact between visits. Dr. Nguyen is also the author of a book on the Thinsulin approach.

What does it cost?

Lorphen Medical does not publish any prices for its program, consultations or medications. It advertises a free consultation as the way to start. Before paying anything, ask what the free consultation includes, what a typical month of the program costs once you move past that first visit, and whether medication is billed separately from the program fee.

What should you ask before you book?

Ask whether Dr. Nguyen is the one who will see you and write any prescription, or whether another staff member handles visits after the initial consult. Ask whether the monthly cost of the Thinsulin Program includes the medication itself, phentermine, Contrave or Qsymia, or whether that is billed on top. Ask whether these medications are dispensed as brand-name FDA-approved products or through a compounding pharmacy, since they are named as the approved versions but no filling method is stated. Ask what follow-up visits cost once you are past the Active Phase, and what lab work, if any, is required and at what price. Ask whether insurance is accepted for any part of the visit, since nothing is stated on that. Ask what "ongoing support" costs beyond the base fee, since text and social media access are mentioned as features but not priced separately. Finally, ask what cancellation looks like if you decide to stop partway through the Active or Passive Phase.

Who is it a good fit for?

In its own words: "a true understanding of the psychological and behavioral aspects of the human psyche to change eating habits," which points to Dr. Nguyen's psychiatry background shaping the program's approach. This is a good fit if you want a weight loss plan built around behavioral counseling and insulin-focused eating alongside medication, and you are comfortable calling ahead to get the costs, billing structure and medication sourcing in writing before you commit. It is less of a fit if you need clear published pricing up front or want confirmation of insurance coverage before you ever pick up the phone.

Sources: lorphenmedical.com, lorphenmedical.com/our-program, lorphenmedical.com/about

Services Offered