Can You Still Get Compounded Semaglutide? Insights into the Current Landscape

Usually drugs that go into shortage are cheap generics, not expensive brand-name ones that are still under patent, Tenille Davis, PharmD, chief advocacy officer at the Alliance for Pharmacy Compounding, tells SELF. So, while GLP-1 compounders have technically been operating to fill an availability void, they’ve also been de facto solving for the price issue. Hence why recent moves to cut them out of the picture could majorly slash access. And then on top of that, these companies are using patents to effectively block the competitors from entering the market for decades. Their drug maker, Novo Nordisk — there was a report that was put out. And according to that report, they had applied for over 300 patents on this one active ingredient in the U.S. alone.

• The US FDA allows pharmacies to sell customized versions of commercially available medications to help with these scenarios.
• We also prioritized companies that accept insurance, as well as those that will ship your prescribed medications directly to your home or provide a prescription that you can fill at your preferred pharmacy.
• While Ozempic has become increasingly popular for weight loss, it’s approved only for managing type 2 diabetes.
• In reality, it’s the physical symptom of the underlying metabolic problem, and that’s what these drugs address,” he says.
• Diabetic retinopathy complications have been observed in some patients with pre-existing retinopathy who experience rapid improvements in glycemic control with semaglutide therapy.
• Then, in February 2025, the FDA announced that the semaglutide shortage was resolved, further reducing the need for compounded versions of these medications.

On Trustpilot, more than 71% of the 550+ reviews are a perfect 5 stars; only 16% of reviewers left a 1-star rating. People praised the thorough review of their medical history, the honest and supportive physicians and counselors, the quick replies to messages, and even the advocacy that Found has done when insurance stops covering a particular medication. We’re glad to report that Found’s headquarters earned an “A+” rating and accreditation from the Better Business Bureau just a few months before our evaluation. That should tell you how relatively new this company is (although the BBB pointed out that Found has been in business for 6 years). There were just under 100 complaints filed over the last 3 years, and from what we could see, most of them were from customers who didn’t understand that the cost of the Semaglutide was separate from the membership fee.

“Compounded GLP-1s serve a purpose, especially during shortages. But they were never meant to be a long-term, sustainable solution, especially to the obesity epidemic that our nation’s facing, ” said Kaylor. As well as sending to your local pharmacy for collection, they can also arrange for home delivery of your prescription if necessary. Your prescribed Wegovy will then be sent to a pharmacy of your choice, usually within 4 to 6 weeks after your initial visit. Keep in mind that even if you successfully fill your prescription online, you will likely need to undergo in-person laboratory tests or other assessments.

Weight loss drugs sold online offer cheaper alternative to Ozempic, Wegovy. Are they safe?

Patients are urged to consult their healthcare providers to discuss alternative medications or strategies to maintain their weight loss efforts. Compounded tirzepatide was significantly cheaper than brand-name options. You could get compounded versions for $200-$400, while a Zepbound pen without insurance costs over $1,000. Plus, many online telehealth companies made it super easy for people to order compounded tirzepatide, turning it into a giant cash cow for these businesses. The cheapest semaglutide without insurance or if your insurance company won’t offer coverage may be attainable through patient assistance programs and savings cards.

Administration technique is crucial for optimal absorption and minimizing injection site reactions. The medication should be injected subcutaneously into the abdomen, thigh, or upper arm, with rotation of injection sites to prevent lipodystrophy or persistent local reactions. Patients should be instructed to clean the injection site with alcohol and allow it to dry before injection. The medication should be allowed to reach room temperature before administration if stored under refrigeration, as cold injections may be more painful and could potentially affect absorption kinetics.

The semaglutide shortage may be officially over — but access and support still matter. Supply chains have faced lingering disruptions since the COVID-19 pandemic, including shortages in raw materials, shipping delays, and labor constraints. These issues compounded manufacturing slowdowns and led to sporadic pharmacy stock.

How much does compounded semaglutide cost?

Before considering compounded semaglutide, seek medical advice from your healthcare provider, who would be responsible for prescribing it. These specially designed medications could come with some risks, such as unwanted side effects. Compounded semaglutide should be used with caution as it is not approved by the FDA, and many versions do not meet the quality standards. Over the past two months, WIRED tested the process of ordering compounded semaglutide—the active ingredient in Ozempic and Wegovy—from a sample of the most prominent telehealth companies offering the medication in the United States. We focused on some of the brands we saw regularly advertising on social media.

Wegovy® Discount Program

All FDA-approved versions of semaglutide (Wegovy, Ozempic, and Rybelsus) are prescription-only medications. This means you must have a prescription from a licensed healthcare professional to access them. Wegovy and Ozempic contain the same active ingredient, semaglutide, a GLP-1 receptor agonist that is FDA approved for weight management and Type 2 diabetes, respectively. Compounded semaglutide is a copy of the brand-name version, created without FDA oversight. Now the law seems a little less clear — or at least different interpretations of it are pushing into more gray areas. Compounders say they have found loopholes that mean they can continue to sell copycat weight-loss drugs, despite warnings from the FDA about safety and legal threats from drugmakers Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk.

So what’s the current status of compounded GLP-1s, and are they all going to go off the market?

Your Rex MD-affiliated provider will review your medical history, current medications, and overall health to help determine whether Wegovy® is a safe and appropriate option for you. Wegovy® is FDA-approved for chronic weight management and has been studied in multiple clinical trials – but like any prescription medication, it may not be right for everyone. This action will help protect consumers from receiving poor-quality semaglutide 3mg tablets price compounded drugs containing foreign-made APIs (which are also called bulk drug substances) that may be manufactured without appropriate controls to assure quality.

Can You Get Semaglutide Without Insurance?

It averaged 3.3 stars out of 5 on Trustpilot when we looked recently, with more people putting down a 1-star rating than a perfect 5-star score (45% vs 39%). The average on Google is better (4.4 stars), but still no comments on Semaglutide and mixed feedback regarding the customer service experience at Everlywell as a whole. When you click the “Book” button, you’ll be asked to create a PlushCare account. If you’re paying with insurance, be aware that the list defaults to the bigger names in the industry (like Aetna and UHC), but you can type in your insurer if they’re not on the list. Or, opt to pay without insurance; you’ll be billed $129 for the visit (and refunded if it doesn’t work out, as we already mentioned). All that’s left to do is show up for your video visit, talk with the provider, and see if Semaglutide is on the table as an option.

“Everybody knows that… the injections are going to come off the shortage list eventually and patients need to be prepared for that,” says Scott Brunner, the CEO of the Alliance for Pharmacy Compounding, the industry trade group. “Compounded copies of these FDA-approved drugs are not a long-term therapy for these patients.” After some legal wrangling, the FDA pulled tirzepatide from its shortage list in December, giving compounders a short grace period to wrap things up. That means people taking the copycats will soon need to switch to the name-brand version, find another drug, or stop taking anything altogether. Much of the company’s compounded semaglutide is manufactured in two outsourcing facilities, so as of May 22, “we’ll be canceling a lot of plans,” with money refunded, he said.