What is Compounded Semaglutide?

Compounded semaglutide can be an affordable alternative to brand-name weight loss injections like Ozempic® and Wegovy®. But it’s important to understand that compounded medications are not FDA-approved.

Compounding is the process of changing or combining ingredients in a medication. Compounded drugs are helpful for people with allergies to certain ingredients. They also help fill a gap in supply during drug shortages (like the one currently affecting many weight loss drugs).

While compounded semaglutide contains the same active ingredient as Ozempic and Wegovy (semaglutide), it hasn’t been subjected to the same rigorous testing and oversight.

Keep reading to learn more about compounded semaglutide, whether it’s safe, how much it costs, where to get it, and how you can mitigate risk.

Drug compounding is when a licensed pharmacist, doctor, or outsourcing facility combines, mixes, or alters ingredients to create a custom medication.

According to the FDA, people should turn to compounded drugs when they can’t take the FDA-approved version because of an allergy or another special need. For example, someone who can’t swallow pills may turn to a compounding pharmacy for a liquid version of a drug.

Drugs are also eligible for compounding if there is a shortage. The FDA maintains an active list of drugs currently in short supply.

The FDA has included Wegovy and Ozempic on their drug shortage list since May 2023, meaning they’re eligible for compounding.

Compounded semaglutide has never been tested in clinical trials, so we can’t say for certain whether it works. But, compounded semaglutide contains the same active ingredient as Ozempic and Wegovy.

Clinical trials on Ozempic and Wegovy have found that semaglutide can lead to significant weight loss in people both with and without type 2 diabetes.

One Wegovy trial on people with overweight and obesity found that people lost an average of about 15 percent of their body weight in under 16 months. (Study participants also participated in lifestyle coaching during the trial.)

About 30 percent of them lost 20 percent of their body weight — which is comparable to the amount of weight loss seen after weight loss surgery.

Semaglutide can also have protective effects on the heart.

In another study on semaglutide sponsored by Novo Nordisk, researchers found a 20 percent reduction in major adverse cardiovascular events among people with overweight or obesity and preexisting cardiovascular disease.

Just to reiterate, compounded semaglutide has not been tested in clinical trials or approved by the FDA. But by looking at existing research on GLP-1s like Ozempic and Wegovy, one can get an idea of the remarkable potential of these medications.

You can buy compounded semaglutide online or get it from a local compounding pharmacy. But compounded semaglutide is a prescription medication, so you’ll need to connect with a healthcare provider first.

Companies like Hims & Hers help streamline the process by connecting you with a licensed provider who can prescribe compounded semaglutide online if you qualify.

At Hers, the process for getting compounded semaglutide is quick and easy. You’ll take a brief online assessment to see if you might qualify for treatment and complete a medical history. A licensed healthcare provider will review your information and contact you through the platform with a recommended treatment plan.

If you qualify for compounded semaglutide, your provider will send your prescription to our pharmacy partners, and the medication will be shipped directly to your door.

Other telehealth platforms, like Ro, offer similar services. Hers stands out because we don’t charge for ongoing care and support. Through the Hers app, you’ll have 24/7 access to your healthcare team for any questions, dose adjustments, or other follow-up care you need.

If you don’t qualify for semaglutide, providers on the Hers platform can also recommend alternative options, like our oral weight loss medication kits.

If you decide to use compounded semaglutide, it’s important to understand that the medication isn’t regulated in the same way as other prescription medications. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) doesn’t verify the safety, quality, or effectiveness of compounded drugs.

Although compounded medications are often generally considered safe, there is some risk involved. So it’s good to be wary of unscrupulous suppliers or deals that look too good to be true.

Risks involved in compounded semaglutide could include things like:

• The medication containing too much or too little of the active ingredient

• Improperly sourced or altered ingredients

• Contaminants

• Improper handling or temperature control

• Confusing dosing instructions

You can mitigate these risks by working with a reputable telehealth company, like Hims & Hers, that has extensive experience connecting people with personalized, compounded medications.

All compounded GLP-1s available through Hers are produced at FDA-regulated 503B facilities in the United States using ingredients sourced from FDA-regulated manufacturers.

And each batch of our doctor-trusted compounded semaglutide is tested for safety and efficacy.

Compounded semaglutide tends to be far more affordable than brand-name medications. Hims & Hers offers compounded semaglutide starting at just $199 per month.

That’s considerably cheaper than the cost of Wegovy, for example, which starts at around $1,300 per month.

When considering the cost of compounded semaglutide, it’s important to look at what’s included in the price. For example, some telehealth companies charge for the initial consultation, while others charge for ongoing access to weight loss support.

Hers offers simplified, inclusive pricing, with no hidden fees. The cost of your medication includes your initial consultation, ongoing care and communication with your healthcare team, and access to the full Hers app.

On the Hers app you’ll find tons of useful resources like lifestyle guides, recipes, behavioral change exercises, and trackers.

How Long Does Compounded Semaglutide Last in the Fridge?

Compounded semaglutide available through Hers should be kept in the fridge until you’re ready to use it. If you don’t puncture the vial, your compounded semaglutide will last until the expiration date listed on the vial.

But once you puncture the vial of compounded semaglutide, the medication is exposed to air. Even if you keep it in the fridge, compounded semaglutide vials that have been punctured only stay good for 28 days. You should discard any unused medication after 28 days and start a new vial.

How Do I Inject Compounded Semaglutide?

While name-brand drugs like Ozempic typically come in a prefilled injection pen, compounded semaglutide usually comes in a vial. You’ll use a syringe to draw the medication out of the vial, insert the needle into your skin, and push down the plunger.

Compounded semaglutide is administered directly under the skin, which means it has a small needle that causes minimal discomfort. The injection, which you’ll take once a week, goes into your belly, arm, or upper thigh.

Is Compounded Semaglutide the Same as Ozempic?

Compounded semaglutide contains the same active ingredient as Ozempic, but it’s not the exact same medication. Ozempic is an FDA-approved medication — intended to treat type 2 diabetes — that’s often used off-label for weight loss.

Compounded semaglutide is not FDA-approved, so it hasn’t been tested in clinical trials to assure its safety and efficacy. It’s important to buy compounded semaglutide from a reputable company that partners only with licensed, FDA-regulated compounding pharmacies.

How Often Do I Need to Take Compounded Semaglutide?

You should take compounded semaglutide injections once per week. Ideally, you should take it at the same time of day each week.

If you miss a dose of compounded semaglutide, you can take it within five days of that missed dose. But if it’s been more than five days, you can wait and take the next dose on your regularly scheduled injection day.

What are Semaglutide Salts?

The FDA has received reports that some compounders are using salt forms of semaglutide such as semaglutide sodium or semaglutide acetate in their medications.

These forms of semaglutide are different than the base form used in approved drugs and have not been proven safe or effective.

According to a letter from the FDA to the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy, there are no legitimate reasons for including semaglutide salts in a compounded drug.

The compounded semaglutide available from Hims & Hers is the semaglutide base and does not contain semaglutide salts.

What is Counterfeit Ozempic?

The FDA has issued a warning telling patients, doctors, and pharmacies to watch out for counterfeit Ozempic. This counterfeit Ozempic was found within the legitimate Ozempic drug supply. The FDA’s investigation is ongoing and they are working with Novo Nordisk to identify and remove counterfeit Ozempic from the U.S. drug supply.

If you are concerned the Ozempic you got could be counterfeit, you can check to see if the serial number is listed in the FDA advisory. And if you experience any adverse effects, you can report it to MedWatch, the FDA’s Safety Information and Adverse Event Reporting Program.

Who Can Compound Drugs?

Compounding can be performed by:

• A licensed pharmacist

• A licensed doctor

• An outsourcing facility under the supervision of a licensed pharmacist

What Semaglutide Brands Are There?

Three brands of semaglutide are currently available in the United States: Wegovy, Ozempic, and Rybelsus. All three brands are produced by the company Novo Nordisk. There’s currently no generic version of the medication available.

Even if you’re taking semaglutide for weight loss, semaglutide is meant to be combined with healthy lifestyle changes to help you support your weight goals. Here are some habits you can adapt to help you achieve long-lasting and effective weight loss:

• Exercise regularly, ideally getting at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise every week.

• Focus on forms of exercise you enjoy instead of forcing yourself to do activities you dislike. For example, you may find biking more enjoyable than running.

• Try swapping sugary drinks for calorie-free alternatives such as water or tea.

• Try reducing your intake of high-sugar, ultra-processed foods.

• Aim to get an adequate amount of sleep each night.

• Set realistic weight loss goals.

Compounded semaglutide can be an affordable and accessible alternative to brand-name weight loss medications. It contains the same active ingredient as Ozempic and Wegovy, but it isn’t FDA-approved.

Compounded drugs don’t undergo the same rigorous testing as branded alternatives.

You can protect yourself by only obtaining compounded products with a prescription from a licensed healthcare provider and by obtaining your medication from a reputable compounding pharmacy based in the United States.

Interested in learning more about Weight Loss by Hers? Start by taking our free online assessment to see if you might be a good candidate.