Compounding Pharmacies

Compounding pharmacies can save you money on drugs like Ozempic but there are a few things you need to know and before considering that route.

How Much Can You Save?

Savings vary a great deal depending on the pharmacy, dosage, and which drug you’re looking to use. Here’s an approximate comparison of the current out-of-pocket costs:

• Brand-Name Semaglutide Ozempic is $935.77 source and Wegovy about $1,349.02 source per month.
• Compounded Semaglutide: Costs can range from $60 to $400 per month depending on the source and dosage you need. Some places even offer it cheaper if you buy in bulk.
• Brand-name Tirzepatide (Mounjaro/Zepbound) currently goes for $1,079.77 source per month.
• Compounded Tirzepatide: can be anywhere from $200 to $429 per month depending on the source and dosage you need. Some places even offer it cheaper if you buy in bulk.

Can You Do Injections?

Branded GLP-1 drugs come in snazzy, easy-to-use injector pens, but compounded versions generally arrive in vials requiring you to measure doses and inject manually. While some pharmacies offer pre-filled syringes or pens, these options increase the cost.

Are Compounded Versions the Same?

Not exactly. Compounding pharmacies often use alternative formulations (e.g., semaglutide salts instead of the patented API). These variants can still be effective but may differ in potency or absorption.

If a drug is on the FDA drug shortage list, compounding pharmacies can legally produce versions of patented drugs. Semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy) is currently on this list, while tirzepatide (Mounjaro/Zepbound) is not—though temporary legal challenges have enabled compounding during an ongoing FDA evaluation. (source)

Because compounded drugs aren’t FDA-approved, they don’t go through the same rigorous clinical trials and may lack consistency in quality. They are still regulated under different sections of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act and must adhere to state pharmacy board regulations

Should You Trust These Pharmacies?

This is a huge concern, especially if you’re sourcing from unaccountable foreign pharmacies. I would never consider using anything but a US pharmacy with a rock-solid reputation – even if it cost more. Look for accreditations from the Pharmacy Compounding Accreditation Board (PCAB) or affiliations with reputable healthcare systems. Injecting substances with dodgy provenance into one’s body seems exceedingly unwise.