{"id":630729,"date":"2024-12-12T15:12:02","date_gmt":"2024-12-12T20:12:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=630729"},"modified":"2025-10-07T21:25:29","modified_gmt":"2025-10-08T01:25:29","slug":"compounded-semaglutide-vs-ozempic","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/compounded-semaglutide-vs-ozempic\/","title":{"rendered":"Is compounded semaglutide the same as Ozempic?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Ozempic<\/span><\/a> (semaglutide) is a brand-name, once-weekly injectable prescription medication that\u2019s used to help control <\/span>blood sugar levels<\/span><\/a> in adults with <\/span>Type 2 diabetes<\/span><\/a>, as well as to lower the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (such as heart attack and <\/span>stroke<\/span><\/a>) in adults with both Type 2 diabetes and heart disease. Ozempic is also sometimes prescribed <\/span>off-label<\/span><\/a> (for a non-FDA-approved use) as a weight loss drug. With the popularity of glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists (<\/span>GLP-1 agonists<\/span><\/a>) like Ozempic, you may have seen advertisements for compounded semaglutide. Although compounded semaglutide may be similar to Ozempic, it has not been tested for safety and efficacy in clinical trials and is not exactly the same. Continue reading to learn more about compounded semaglutide and how it compares to Ozempic.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

An overview of semaglutide<\/span><\/h2>\n

Novo Nordisk, the pharmaceutical company that manufactures FDA-approved semaglutide products, currently manufactures three medicines that contain semaglutide. They include the weekly injectable drugs Ozempic and <\/span>Wegovy<\/span><\/a> and the once-daily oral medicine <\/span>Rybelsus<\/span><\/a>. Wegovy is FDA-approved for weight loss and cardiovascular <\/span>risk reduction<\/span><\/a>, while <\/span>Rybelsus<\/span><\/a>, like Ozempic, is approved for Type 2 diabetes. There are no <\/span>FDA-approved generic<\/span><\/a> versions of these three drugs, and there are no other FDA-approved semaglutide products.<\/span><\/p>\n

What is compounded semaglutide<\/span><\/h2>\n

According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), a <\/span>compounded drug<\/span><\/a> is a medication customized for an individual patient’s specific needs. For example, if a patient is prescribed a drug that\u2019s available in capsule form only, a compounding pharmacy may make that patient a liquid form of a drug. A compounded drug needs to be prepared by a licensed pharmacist (or under the supervision of a pharmacist) in a compounding pharmacy or facility. <\/span>Even in instances when compounding is legal, compounded drugs are not FDA approved, which means they have not been tested for safety, effectiveness, or quality control. That includes compounded semaglutide.<\/span><\/p>\n

Usually, if a drug is commercially available in pharmacies, pharmacies are not allowed to compound the drug. However, the <\/span>FDA notes<\/span><\/a> that when there is a shortage of a particular drug, compounding may be permitted to ensure the patient has access to treatment. This is the case with <\/span>semaglutide<\/span><\/a>. <\/span>However, On Feb. 21, 2025, the <\/span>FDA announced that the semaglutide shortage was over<\/span><\/a> and that compounding pharmacies need to stop making and selling semaglutide injection products that are copies of FDA-approved products (Ozempic, Wegovy, and Rybelsus). The deadline for state-licensed compounding pharmacies and physicians is April 22, 2025, and the deadline for outsourcing facilities is May 22, 2025.<\/span><\/p>\n

RELATED: Ozempic shortage<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Compounded semaglutide vs. Ozempic\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

While both medicines contain semaglutide, they are not exactly the same. Let\u2019s review some of the similarities and differences between compounded semaglutide and Ozempic.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Ingredients<\/span><\/h3>\n

The active ingredient in Ozempic is semaglutide, also known as semaglutide base. On the other hand, compounded semaglutide may contain <\/span>additional ingredients<\/span><\/a> such as <\/span>vitamin B-12<\/span><\/a>, vitamin B-6, L-carnitine, and others. There is no data on the safety and efficacy of semaglutide in combination with these other ingredients. The FDA also notes that some compounding facilities use different salt forms of semaglutide (such as semaglutide sodium or semaglutide acetate) rather than semaglutide base. These salt forms are not exactly the same as the active ingredient in Ozempic and are not <\/span>FDA approved<\/span><\/a> for use in compounding.<\/span><\/p>\n

Forms and dosage<\/span><\/h3>\n

According to its <\/span>prescribing information<\/span><\/a>, Ozempic is available in the following <\/span>dosages<\/span><\/a>:<\/span><\/p>\n