Semaglutide is a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist approved by the FDA for treating type 2 diabetes and obesity. The brand name version sold by Novo Nordisk is Ozempic, which contains semaglutide as the active ingredient.
Compounded medications are made by mixing ingredients to create a medication tailored to an individual patient's needs. Compounding allows flexibility with the medication's strength, dosage form, or flavor. Compounded semaglutide contains the same active ingredient as Ozempic but may differ in other inactive aspects.
Some key similarities and differences between compounded semaglutide and Ozempic include:
- Active ingredient: Both contain the GLP-1 receptor agonist semaglutide. This is the key therapeutic component that lowers blood sugar levels and enhances weight loss.
- Strength/dosage: Compounded semaglutide may provide more flexibility in dosing levels to meet individual needs. Ozempic has standardized 0.25 mg and 1 mg pre-filled pens.
- Administration: Ozempic comes in pre-filled, fixed-dose pens for injection under the skin. Compounded semaglutide can come in vials for injection or in oral capsules.
- Approval and purity: Ozempic is FDA approved in a controlled environment to ensure quality and purity. Compounding pharmacies have more variability in their compounding practices and purity testing compared to large pharmaceutical manufacturers.
- Cost: Compounded medications are often not covered by insurance. Out-of-pocket costs of compounded semaglutide may be higher than Ozempic, depending on one's coverage.
In summary,
Ozempic and compounded semaglutide both contain the active drug semaglutide. However, there may be slight differences in the strength, delivery method, purity, quality control, and cost due to the more individualized nature of compounded medications. Work closely with your
healthcare provider at
Vital Hormones Clinic to determine if custom-compounded semaglutide is appropriate for your health needs compared to the branded Ozempic product.
Vital Hormones Clinic specializes in hormonal therapies including *diabetes and
weight loss treatments. Under the supervision of our expert clinicians, we offer compounded semaglutide and other GLP-1 agonists to help patients achieve better outcomes.
Contact us for a consultation to discuss treatment options tailored to your health goals.*