{"id":631393,"date":"2025-02-13T13:11:10","date_gmt":"2025-02-13T18:11:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=631393"},"modified":"2025-10-14T17:15:24","modified_gmt":"2025-10-14T21:15:24","slug":"zepbound-vs-compounded-tirzepatide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/zepbound-vs-compounded-tirzepatide\/","title":{"rendered":"Zepbound vs. compounded tirzepatide"},"content":{"rendered":"

Zepbound<\/span><\/a> (tirzepatide) is a popularly prescribed weekly weight-loss injection. It is classified as a <\/span>glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) receptor and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist, or GIP\/GLP-1 agonist. Zepbound, a brand-name drug, works by acting like natural hormones that regulate appetite and food intake, helping decrease \u201cfood noise,\u201d or persistent thoughts about food that can often derail even the best weight loss efforts.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Weight-loss drugs like <\/span>Zepbound<\/span><\/a> are all the rage right now\u2014and at times, the demand can exceed the supply. When this happens, compounding pharmacies (such as those that work with <\/span>telehealth companies<\/span><\/a>) are able to make formulations of a drug that is not readily available. Although compounded versions of tirzepatide, the active ingredient in Zepbound, are becoming popular online, the two drugs are not exactly the same.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What is compounded tirzepatide?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Eli Lilly and Company, the pharmaceutical company that manufactures FDA-approved tirzepatide products, currently makes two medicines that contain tirzepatide. They include the weekly injectable drugs Zepbound (FDA approved for weight loss and <\/span>sleep apnea<\/span><\/a>) and <\/span>Mounjaro<\/span><\/a> (FDA approved for improving <\/span>blood sugar levels<\/span><\/a> in people with <\/span>Type 2 diabetes<\/span><\/a>, but often prescribed <\/span>off-label<\/span><\/a> for weight loss). There are no FDA-approved generic versions of these two drugs, and there are no other FDA-approved tirzepatide products.<\/span><\/p>\n

So, what is compounded tirzepatide, and how is it different from Zepbound? <\/span>Compounding<\/span><\/a> is when a pharmacist or other healthcare provider creates a medicine that is specifically tailored to the needs of an individual patient. During compounding, ingredients may be combined, mixed, or altered.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

According to the <\/span>FDA<\/span><\/a>, a drug may be compounded for a patient who cannot receive treatment with an FDA-approved drug. For example, someone who has an allergy to an ingredient in a medicine may have a drug compounded that does not contain that particular ingredient. Or, someone who cannot swallow a pill may have a liquid version of medicine compounded. Another common reason that someone might need a compounded drug is when there is a short supply of a drug that they can\u2019t get from their pharmacy.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

There have been periodic shortages on Zepbound since 2022. As of Dec. 19, 2024, the FDA determined that <\/span>the tirzepatide shortage has been resolved<\/span><\/a>. Compounding pharmacies will be allowed to continue to compound tirzepatide for now, but it remains to be seen how long they will be able to do so and if they will be able to continue to do so by adding additional ingredients to differentiate their product from the non-compounded, non-approved version.<\/span><\/p>\n

Are compounded drugs approved by the FDA?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Zepbound (like all FDA-approved drugs) has been extensively studied in clinical trials for safety, quality, and effectiveness. However, compounded medications\u2014such as compounded tirzepatide\u2014are not FDA approved. While the <\/span>FDA regulates all prescription and over-the-counter drugs<\/span><\/a>, they do not regulate or approve drugs made in compounding pharmacies. Because compounded drugs are <\/span>not approved by the FDA<\/span><\/a>, this means that the FDA has not confirmed the safety, effectiveness, and quality of these products.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Compounded tirzepatide vs. Zepbound for weight loss<\/span><\/h2>\n

While compounded tirzepatide may be very similar to Zepbound, it is not FDA approved and is not exactly the same. Let\u2019s look at some of the main differences.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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

The active ingredient in Zepbound is tirzepatide. On the other hand, compounded tirzepatide may contain additional ingredients such as <\/span>vitamin B-12<\/span><\/a>, vitamin B-6, L-carnitine, and others\u2014that are not found in Zepbound. There is no data on the safety and efficacy of compounded tirzepatide alone or in combination with these other ingredients.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Dosage and forms<\/span><\/h3>\n

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