Compounded GLP-1 Cost Calculator

The Compounded GLP-1 Cost Calculator compares the monthly expense of compounded semaglutide (and potentially tirzepatide) from licensed compounding pharmacies against brand-name FDA-approved products (Wegovy, Ozempic, Mounjaro, Zepbound). Compounded semaglutide has emerged as a significantly lower-cost alternative at $150 to $300 per month compared to $900 to $1,350 for brand-name products, making GLP-1 therapy accessible to millions of patients who cannot afford or obtain insurance coverage for brand-name medications. Compounding pharmacies are legally permitted to produce semaglutide preparations during periods when the FDA has declared a drug shortage, under the authority of Section 503A and 503B of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. The FDA declared semaglutide in shortage intermittently since 2022, enabling compounding. However, the regulatory landscape is dynamic: when the FDA determines the shortage has resolved, compounding pharmacies must cease production of the compounded version. This regulatory uncertainty is a critical factor in the cost comparison, as patients may need to transition to brand-name products if compounding becomes unavailable. Compounded semaglutide is not FDA-approved and does not undergo the same rigorous testing for bioequivalence, purity, potency, and sterility as brand-name products. Quality varies significantly between compounding pharmacies: 503B outsourcing facilities are subject to FDA inspection and follow cGMP (current Good Manufacturing Practice) standards, while 503A compounding pharmacies are regulated by state boards of pharmacy with less federal oversight. Several compounding pharmacies have received FDA warning letters for quality violations including incorrect potency and contamination. This calculator is used by patients evaluating the cost savings versus safety trade-offs of compounded GLP-1 medications, by physicians counseling patients on compounded options, by telehealth platforms that prescribe compounded semaglutide, and by health policy analysts modeling the impact of compounding on the GLP-1 market.

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1. 1Select the compounded GLP-1 medication: semaglutide is the most widely available compounded option. Some compounding pharmacies also offer tirzepatide, though compounded tirzepatide availability is more limited and its shortage status differs from semaglutide. Enter the concentration (typically 1 mg/mL to 5 mg/mL) and your prescribed weekly dose.
2. 2Enter the compounding pharmacy's pricing. Compounded semaglutide typically costs $150 to $300 per month for a 4-week supply, though prices vary by pharmacy, concentration, geographic region, and whether the product includes additional ingredients (some pharmacies add B12, L-carnitine, or other compounds). The calculator accepts your specific pharmacy quote for accurate comparison.
3. 3Select the brand-name equivalent you would use if not using compounded. The calculator maps your compounded dose to the closest equivalent brand-name product and dose (accounting for the fact that compounded doses may not exactly match the fixed Wegovy pen doses) and retrieves the current list price. Insurance copay and savings card options are shown alongside the list price.
4. 4Review the side-by-side cost comparison showing monthly cost, annual cost, and 5-year projected cost for both compounded and brand-name options. The calculator also shows a hybrid scenario where a patient uses compounded for a portion of the year and brand-name for the remainder, which may occur if shortage status changes or if insurance coverage becomes available.
5. 5The safety comparison section presents the key differences between compounded and brand-name products: FDA approval status, manufacturing oversight level, testing and quality assurance, potency consistency, sterility assurance, and storage requirements. The calculator does not recommend for or against compounded products but presents the information objectively so patients can make informed decisions with their healthcare provider.
6. 6The regulatory status tracker shows the current FDA shortage declaration status for semaglutide and tirzepatide. This status determines whether compounding pharmacies can legally produce these medications. The calculator flags when the shortage status is expected to change and advises patients to have a transition plan for switching to brand-name products if compounding becomes unavailable.
7. 7The pharmacy verification checklist helps patients evaluate compounding pharmacy quality: Is the pharmacy licensed in their state? Is it a 503B outsourcing facility (higher oversight) or a 503A pharmacy? Has it received FDA warning letters? Does it provide certificates of analysis showing potency and sterility testing for each batch? Does it require a valid prescription? Patients are advised to verify these criteria before filling a compounded GLP-1 prescription.

• !Assuming all compounded semaglutide is the same quality is dangerous because compounding pharmacies range from FDA-inspected 503B outsourcing facilities with rigorous quality control to small 503A pharmacies with minimal oversight, and several have been cited for potency errors (products containing 50 to 150 percent of the labeled dose) and contamination issues.
• !Stockpiling compounded semaglutide in anticipation of the FDA resolving the shortage is both wasteful and potentially unsafe because injectable medications have shelf lives (typically 3 to 6 months for compounded products), must be stored properly, and may degrade if held beyond their beyond-use date.
• !Comparing compounded semaglutide doses directly to Wegovy pen doses without considering bioavailability differences is inaccurate because compounded products may have different formulations, concentrations, and injection volumes that affect drug absorption and effective dose, even when the milligram quantity on the label appears equivalent.