For most people considering medical weight loss using medications like Semaglutide and Tirzepatide, one of the first and biggest concerns is cost. Prices can vary wildly for these drugs, and much of what you pay depends on two things- 1. Whether you’re using compound vs brand name medications, and 2. The level of service offered by your weight loss company or clinic. Let’s dig into these variables a little deeper to try and figure out which options make the most sense for you.
Name brand vs Compound Semaglutide/Tirzepatide
When starting one of the GLP-1 medications, like Semaglutide or Tirzepatide, you essentially have two options- Name brand drugs, like Mounjaro, Zepbound, Ozempic, and Wegovy, or Compounded Semaglutide or Tirzepatide. Both the name brand and the corresponding compound typically use the exact same active ingredient. The difference is in where and how they are manufactured. Here are the key differences:
- The name brand drugs are mass produced in factories by Big Pharma companies, like Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk. Compounds are produced in small batches in a compounding pharmacy by an expert compounding pharmacist.
- As of the writing of this article in August of 2024, the name brands are only available in pen injector form in the U.S. Compounds typically come in vials with syringes, which are used to draw up and inject the medication.
- The name brands contain only one active ingredient. Depending on your provider and pharmacy, compounds will typically contain the same active ingredient as the name brand, but they may also have additional ingredients, such as B vitamins or amino acids added for a specific purpose. For example, compound Semaglutide will contain Semaglutide, the same active ingredient as Ozempic and Wegovy, but it may be compounded with Vitamin B6 to help reduce and prevent nausea.
- Cost- If you’re paying out of pocket like most people, the name brand GLP-1 medications are going to be significantly more expensive than their compounded counterparts. Average out of pocket cost for the name brands is anywhere from $1,000-1,200 per month, whereas compound Semaglutide and Tirzepatide may start as low as $150-200 per month.
The cost of the name brand drugs is relatively fixed, and there is not much variation from pharmacy to pharmacy. The cost is largely set by the manufacturers, and in addition to making massive profits, they also have to pay for all the research and development that went into making the drugs in the first place. The cost of compounded medications, on the other hand, will depend on who is prescribing it and where you’re getting it.
How level of service may affect compound prices
If you’ve done much research into the costs of compound GLP-1 medications, you’ve probably noticed that they can vary widely. How much you will pay for compound Semaglutide and Tirzepatide is often tied to the level of service offered by the company or clinic who is prescribing it. There are online companies that will allow you to essentially order your choice of medication just like you would order a pair of shoes, with little to no professional guidance or communication. Since they invest very little time into patient success or support, the cost to run their company can be significantly lower than a company who provides a higher level of support. Therefore, they can afford to sell their compound medications at lower prices. The tradeoff is that you may not get the level of support and guidance that you need, and you may not be able to communicate with your provider when you need them, which can lead to frustration and increase the risk of side effects and accidental over or underdosing.
However, if you go with a company that offers a high level of patient support and service, you may not pay absolute bottom dollar for the medication, but you will have consistent personalized support from an expert provider, as well as quick and easy means of communication, which may help increase your chances of success and decrease your risk for side effects and improper dosing. To give you an example of how much you might expect to pay for compounded GLP-1s from a high service level provider, check out the chart below to see all of our prices broken down by dose, monthly cost, and by vial.
Another aspect of compound GLP-1 cost to consider is the cost per month vs the cost per vial. If you’ll notice in the pricing chart above, there is a cost per 4 weeks listed, as well as a cost per vial. That’s because compounded GLP-1s come in various different vial sizes and concentrations. Depending on which dose you’re taking, you’ll get anywhere from 4-8 weeks of medication in each vial. So it’s important to note that, while you might pay $725 for a whole vial of Tirzepatide at the 10mg dose, you’re getting 7.5 weeks of medication in that vial, so the cost per month is actually only $387.
You should now have a solid sense of how GLP-1 pricing works and what variables are at play when you’re comparing costs. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out! We love answering questions, and we are happy to help you decide which options might be right for you. If you’re ready to get started on your weight loss journey with GLP-1s, click here to join our program today!
Dr. Kyle Adams, MD
CEO and Medical Director
New Leaf Online
This article is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. You should always consult your doctor before starting or changing any medications or to discuss any health concerns you may have.
