With brand-name GLP-1 medications costing $900–$1,500 per month without insurance, many people are turning to compounded versions as a more affordable alternative. Understanding the real differences — and the real risks — is essential.
Compounding pharmacies can legally prepare copies of medications when there's a documented shortage — which applied to semaglutide and tirzepatide from 2022–2024. Compounded versions use the same active ingredient but are manufactured in a different setting with different oversight standards.
The FDA has issued warnings about compounded GLP-1 products, particularly those using semaglutide salt forms (like semaglutide sodium) rather than the base molecule. In 2024–2025, as shortages were resolved, the FDA moved to restrict compounding of these medications. Always check the current regulatory status in your country.
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