Is Compounded Semaglutide The Same As Ozempic? Key Differences Explained

Ozempic and Compounded Semaglutide are both types of GLP-1 medication, a type of drug growing in popularity for medicated weight loss. Ozempic is often associated with celebrity weight loss, so it's a well-known treatment compared to Compounded Semaglutide. But what's the difference, if any, between the two? And which is the right medication for you? Here's our guide. 

What is semaglutide? 

Semaglutide is an active ingredient that belongs to a class of drugs known as GLP-1 receptor agonists (glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists). It mimics a naturally occurring hormone in your body that helps regulate insulin production, blood glucose levels and appetite. 

Initially, semaglutide was approved by the FDA to help manage type-2 diabetes. However, it has gained attention for its effect on weight loss, especially in higher doses. 

What is Ozempic?

Ozempic is a branded version of semaglutide, developed by the pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk. It's a once weekly injection, and was approved by the FDA in 2017 for use in people with type-2 diabetes. More recently, however, many people are seeking Ozempic off-label as a weight loss treatment. This has greatly increased its popularity, and this high demand could lead to drug shortages.

How does semaglutide help you lose weight?

Semaglutide, and medications containing it such as Ozempic and Wegovy, help you lose weight by mimicking the natural glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) hormone in your gut. It works by: 

• Slowing gastric emptying, or the rate food leaves your stomach, making you feel fuller for longer [1]
• Reducing your liver's glucose production and increasing insulin production after meals, which keeps your blood sugar levels stable
• Targeting hunger receptors in your brain, silencing food noise and helping you feel satisfied [2]

Understanding compounded medications 

A compounded medication is a custom-made formulation prepared by a licensed pharmacist to suit your specific needs. We compound medicines when you require a specific dose or combination of ingredients that isn't commercially available. Compounding is also useful if your medication needs to be delivered in a form that's easier for you to take (e.g. a liquid version for a patient who can't swallow pills). It can also help you access medications that may be impacted by supply issues at large pharmaceutical companies.  

What's the difference between Ozempic and Compounded Semaglutide? 

Compounded Semaglutide is a type of semaglutide that's mixed by pharmacists, rather than mass produced by a large pharmaceutical company. It may also contain different or extra ingredients to more well-known medications like Ozempic, however, the active ingredient, semaglutide, is the same as Ozempic. Because this form of semaglutide isn't a brand-name drug, it's available at a lower cost, which makes it more accessible to people who may not be able to afford premium prescription medicine. Crucially, it also means we can prescribe the most effective doses to boost your weight loss results. 

Ozempic, on the other hand, is mass-produced by drug manufacturers. It comes in pre-filled injection pens with a lower maximum dose than Compounded Semaglutide. By contrast, compounded semaglutide comes in vials and you inject it yourself using a syringe. Although Ozempic is an FDA-approved product, and compounded semaglutide isn’t, that doesn’t mean that compounded medication is unsafe. As long as your Compounded Semaglutide is prepared by a state-licensed compounding pharmacy that meets FDA and state requirements, it should be safe for use. At Levity, we only work with pharmacies that undergo regular inspections and meet the FDA’s highest safety and quality standards. Find out more here. 

Looking to try medicated weight loss?

Both Ozempic and compounded semaglutide need to be prescribed by a licensed healthcare provider like Levity. After a short online consultation, our prescribers assess your medical history and recommend the most suitable weight loss medication for your needs. 

See if you're eligible to start a treatment plan today. 

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/