Compounded Semaglutide: How It Works And Why It’s Gaining Popularity

Semaglutide is the active ingredient in well-known weight loss medications like Ozempic and Wegovy, but more and more people are taking it in compounded form. But why? We discuss the benefits of taking Compounded Semaglutide — and, most importantly, whether compounding it's safe — in this post. 

What's semaglutide used for?

Semaglutide is an injectable medication that belongs to a class of drugs called glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists, which mimic the effects of the naturally occurring hormone GLP-1 in your gut. This hormone has a key role in insulin production, blood glucose levels and appetite. 

It’s typically prescribed to help adults with type-2 diabetes regulate their blood sugar levels, but it’s now also used for weight management and obesity treatment. 

How semaglutide promotes weight loss

We know semaglutide mimics the action of GLP-1 in your gut, but how does that help you lose weight? Here are the three key ways semaglutide affects your body: 

• Reduces your appetite by targeting hunger receptors in your brain, helping you feel full and satisfied [1]
• Slows gastric emptying, or the rate food leaves your stomach, which increases feelings of fullness and discourages overeating [2]
• Stabilizes your blood sugar levels, which curbs food cravings [3]

Understanding compounded medications 

Before taking a compounded medication, it's important you know what one is. Compounding is a method of creating personalized medications by combining, changing or tailoring ingredients to your unique needs. It's carried out by licensed compounding pharmacies, who are able to create unique dosages or formulations of medicines that aren't commercially available. 

What are the benefits of Compounded Semaglutide? 

Compounded Semaglutide is growing in popularity over well-known drugs such as Ozempic and Wegovy. This is because it comes with some additional benefits, such as: 

Low cost

Because Compounded Semaglutide is sold as a generic drug, without a premium brand name attached, it's available at a much lower price than medications mass-produced by large pharmaceutical companies. This makes it more accessible to people who may not be able to afford brand-name medications. 

Unaffected by drug shortages

Brand-name weight loss treatments like Ozempic and Wegovy have increased in popularity due to celebrity endorsements, which has driven demand for them. This creates shortages with drug manufacturers, but not necessarily at compounding pharmacies. In general, they are less likely to be affected by supply issues.   

Is Compounded Semaglutide safe? 

Safety should be your first priority when looking into trying compounded medications. Although semaglutide itself has been thoroughly researched and approved by the FDA, compounded versions aren't subject to the same rigorous testing. The safety of your medication depends on the quality and practices of the compounding pharmacy. Levity only works with compounding pharmacies that are LegitScript certified and regularly inspected to ensure they meet the highest quality standards.

Here's what you should always keep in mind: 

• Are you buying from a state-licensed pharmacy? Always make sure the pharmacy you purchase compounded semaglutide from is an FDA-registered facility and follows strict safety and quality standards. 
• Do you require a prescription to access treatment? Semaglutide is a prescription medication, so it should only be issued by a licensed prescriber. You should never buy semaglutide from a pharmacy that doesn’t provide a prescription.
• Does the medication contain semaglutide salts? Salt forms of semaglutide, like semaglutide sodium and semaglutide acetate, don't meet federal requirements for compounding. They may be unsafe and cause adverse effects. 
• Have you spoken to your healthcare provider? If you're unsure about anything, speak to your doctor. They can help you find a state-licensed compounding pharmacy and check whether the compounded formulation is appropriate for your dosage needs. 

To find out more about the safety of Compounded Semaglutide, read our blog post here. 

See if you're eligible for Compounded Semaglutide treatment

Start a consultation to find out if Compounded Semaglutide is right for you. Our prescribers assess your medical history and recommend a treatment plan to help you achieve your weight loss goals. We'll support you on every step of your weight loss journey with health coaching and regular check-ins to monitor your progress. 

Learn more here. 

References: 

1. Silveira SQ, da Silva LM, de Campos Vieira Abib A, de Moura DTH, de Moura EGH, Santos LB, et al. Relationship between perioperative semaglutide use and residual gastric content: A retrospective analysis of patients undergoing elective upper endoscopy. Journal of Clinical Anesthesia [Internet]. 2023 Aug 1 [cited 2023 Mar 3];87:111091. Available from: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0952818023000417?dgcid=coauthor
2. Blundell J, Finlayson G, Axelsen M, Flint A, Gibbons C, Kvist T, et al. Effects of once‐weekly semaglutide on appetite, energy intake, control of eating, food preference and body weight in subjects with obesity. Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism [Internet]. 2017 May 5;19(9):1242–51. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5573908/ 
3. Miles KE, Kerr JL. Semaglutide for the Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus. Journal of Pharmacy Technology [Internet]. 2018 Jul 30;34(6):281–9. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6231279/