GLP-1 and GIP medications, like Mounjaro/Zepbound (tirzepatide) and Wegovy/Ozempic (semaglutide), have been in the news and on social media due to the dramatic weight loss seen by many people.
First check with your insurance company and see if they cover weight loss medications like Wegovy or Zepbound. If your insurance does not cover weight loss medications, you could consider paying out-of-pocket. These medications can cost $900-$1600+. They can be cheaper if using coupons or discounts, like GoodRx. GoodRx can help you compare pharmacy pricing and find the cheapest options in your area.
But what if my insurance does not cover them and I cannot afford to pay out-of-pocket?
Due to the brand-name medications being on the FDA Shortage List, legally they can be compounded. You could also consider a different weight loss medication.
What are compounding medications?
A compounded medication refers to a pharmaceutical product that is customized or tailored to meet the specific needs of an individual patient. This process involves a pharmacist or a licensed compounding professional combining or altering ingredients of a medication to create a formulation that is not available commercially.
Compounded medications are often required when a patient cannot use a commercially available medication due to reasons such as allergies to certain ingredients, dosage requirements not met by available products, or the need for specific formulations (e.g., liquid form for patients who have difficulty swallowing pills).
Compounding pharmacies play a crucial role in preparing these medications under strict guidelines to ensure safety, efficacy, and quality. They follow regulations set by relevant health authorities to maintain standards in compounding practices.
What regulations do compounding pharmacies follow?
• Supervised by licensed pharmacists and pharmacy technicians; as well as their individual state licensing boards of pharmacy.
• Must comply with the FDA regulations outlined in Section 503A in the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act of 1938 in order to operate.
• Only use FDA approved active pharmaceutical ingredients that we use in all of our compounded medications.
• Follow all Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) rules and regulations in the use of controlled substances.
• Follow United States Pharmacopeia (USP) guidelines and standards that set acceptable chemical purity, quality, strength of all ingredients used in compounds.
Why use a compounded medication instead of brand-name Mounjaro, Zepbound, Ozempic, or Wegovy?
• Decreased Cost (brand name medications can cost up to $1600)
• Increased Availability (some brand names are on the FDA Shortage List and are unavailable)
• Decreased Side Effects (can adjust up or down as tolerated, not pre-filled pre-set pens)
• Improved Efficacy Due to the Individualization of Dose (which may help decrease side effects and potentially increase weight loss)
Compounded medications are similar to the brand-name medications but are more affordable. They can also possibly increase efficacy and tolerance because the dosage can be adjusted up or down due to tolerability and/or side effects. Some compounded medications are combined with other components (like B12, L-carnitine, B-6, etc.) which can also help in decreasing the side effects and may increase weight loss.
The brand name medications (Wegovy/Ozempic/Mounjaro/Zepbound) come in pre-filled pens which cannot be adjusted- so you could be taking too much or too little of the medication for the entire 4 weeks. This causes possible decreased efficacy and can increase side effects. By using compounded semaglutide or tirzepatide, the medications can be personalized to maximize weight loss but adjusted to keep side effects minimal.
Are compounded medications safe?
It is important to order your medications from a reputable source, like from a healthcare provider that only uses FDA-regulated pharmacies (503a/503b), which meet all the safety standards for its products.
Contact Us Today to See What Options Are Available for You!
How Can MD by the Sea Help with my Weight Loss Journey?
MD by the Sea can help you get the new weight loss medications like Zepbound, Mounjaro, Wegovy, or Ozempic!
We offer an online medical weight loss program that is physician-led by our Board-Certified Internal Medicine physician, Dr. Jami Feltner.
Our team will work with your insurance company to try and get the medications approved. If your insurance will not cover the brand-name medications- we offer more affordable options, such as compounded versions. There are also other alternative weight loss medications that can be effective.
