{"id":630960,"date":"2025-01-15T09:30:42","date_gmt":"2025-01-15T14:30:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=630960"},"modified":"2025-03-03T12:24:13","modified_gmt":"2025-03-03T17:24:13","slug":"buy-compounded-semaglutide-online","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/buy-compounded-semaglutide-online\/","title":{"rendered":"Can you buy compounded semaglutide online?"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you\u2019re looking to reduce your body weight and body mass index (BMI), your healthcare provider may prescribe a GLP-1 medication, such as <\/span>Wegovy<\/span><\/a> (semaglutide), as part of your weight-loss program. However, due to a national <\/span>shortage<\/span><\/a> of Wegovy and <\/span>Ozempic<\/span><\/a> (the Type 2 diabetes treatment with the same active ingredient), patients were looking for alternatives\u2014until the shortages were resolved. Those may include alternative prescriptions that are approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), such as <\/span>Rybelsus<\/span><\/a> (oral semaglutide), <\/span>Mounjaro<\/span><\/a> (tirzepatide), <\/span>Zepbound <\/span><\/a>(tirzepatide), and <\/span>Saxenda <\/span><\/a>(liraglutide). Compounded semaglutide was previously another option, but the FDA told manufacturers to shut down production in February 2025.<\/span><\/p>\n

Compounded drugs can feel like a reprieve from shortages, insurance denials, or high prices. But, it\u2019s essential to be aware of the potential risks, such as contamination or dosing errors. Here\u2019s what you need to know, according to experts.<\/span><\/p>\n

What are compounding pharmacies?<\/span><\/h2>\n

While a regular pharmacy dispenses commercially manufactured FDA-approved medications, <\/span>compounding pharmacies<\/span><\/a> prepare customized medications tailored to individual patient needs,\u00a0 says <\/span>Eric F. Smith<\/span><\/a>, DO, a board-certified bariatric surgeon and Medical Director of POP Recovery Systems. Compounding pharmacies specialize in creating customized medication formulations that are not commercially available.<\/span><\/p>\n

A drug may be <\/span>compounded<\/span><\/a> for patients who cannot take an FDA-approved drug due to allergies. Or, they may require another dosage, ingredient mix, or formulation. For example, pharmacists may produce a liquid or lollipop version for those who cannot swallow a pill, like older adults and pediatric patients.<\/span><\/p>\n

Copies of brand-name medications can be compounded only if there\u2019s a nationwide shortage. In the case of Ozempic and Wegovy, the shortage began in 2022 when the manufacturer, Novo Nordisk, could not supply adequate quantities of the drug to meet demand. As of February 2025, injectable semaglutide is no longer on the <\/span>FDA\u2019s drug shortages list<\/span><\/a>, so compounding pharmacies must stop producing it by May 2025 at the latest.<\/span><\/p>\n

Compounded drugs are not FDA approved, which means they aren\u2019t <\/span>evaluated <\/span><\/a>for safety, quality, or effectiveness before being dispensed to patients, says <\/span>Rekha Kumar, MD<\/span><\/a>, a board-certified endocrinologist with Weill Cornell Medical College in New York, New York. They may also have different dosing requirements than brand-name drugs.<\/span><\/p>\n

What\u2019s more, traditional compounding pharmacies, \u201cled by a licensed pharmacist within a state-licensed pharmacy or federal facility, or by a licensed physician,\u201d are <\/span>exempt<\/span><\/a> from federal <\/span>Current Good Manufacturing Practice (CGMP) regulations<\/span><\/a>. This means that they operate with less regulatory oversight than traditional pharmacies. As a result, there is a potential for inconsistencies in the purity and potency of compounded medications.<\/span><\/p>\n

RELATED: <\/b>Ozempic for weight loss<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n

Key differences between compounded semaglutide and FDA-approved brands<\/span><\/h2>\n

Wegovy and Ozempic contain the same active ingredient, semaglutide, a GLP-1 receptor agonist that is FDA approved for weight management and <\/span>Type 2 diabetes<\/span><\/a>, respectively. Compounded semaglutide is a copy of the brand-name version<\/span>, created without FDA oversight. As such, there are some key differences to be aware of.<\/span><\/p>\n