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Compounded Semaglutide: Everything You Need To Know

Willow Editorial Team
Posted on
May 12, 2024
Compounded Semaglutide has been grabbing headlines recently due to its growing popularity as a treatment for weight loss. However, its rise to fame has raised several questions and concerns, particularly around its composition, effectiveness, and safety.

Understanding Compounded Semaglutide

Semaglutide, is a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist. It mimics the GLP-1 hormone, which is released in the gastrointestinal tract in response to food consumption. This hormone triggers the body to produce more insulin, which reduces blood glucose levels. It also interacts with the brain to reduce appetite and instill a feeling of fullness.

Semaglutide is marketed under the brand names Ozempic and Rybelsus for managing type-2 diabetes, and Wegovy for weight loss. However, with the continual increase in demand for these drugs, compounded versions have entered the market. This brings us to the question, what is compounded semaglutide?

Compounded semaglutide is a custom-prepared version of the drug, mixed specifically for a patient by a compounding pharmacy. This practice of creating tailored medicine is regulated, safe, and common practice and can be beneficial for patients with specific needs. For more information on how effective compounded semaglutide is, look no further.

Differences between Compounded Semaglutide and Ozempic

Is compounded semaglutide the same as Ozempic?

To address this, we must delve into the composition of these drugs. Ozempic contains the base form of semaglutide, which has been clinically tested and approved. However, some compounded semaglutide may include salt forms such as semaglutide sodium and semaglutide acetate. These salt forms are different active ingredients and are not FDA-approved. Leading compound semaglutide providers such as Willow, use only the base form of semaglutide, in the same way as the brand name medications.

Semaglutide Compounded with B12

So, is compounded semaglutide safe? A variant that has gained attention is semaglutide compounded with B12. This formulation is often marketed as a powerful solution for weight loss and diabetes treatment. B12 is thought to increase energy and is often used as a safe way to enhance the effectiveness of medication. As with any medication, patients should consult their healthcare provider before starting any new medication.

Side Effects of Compounded Semaglutide

When formulated correctly, compounded semaglutide is identical to the brand name medication and  can potentially cause the same side effects as the original drug, including nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain. However, the occurrence and severity of these side effects can vary due to the different active ingredients in the compounded versions.

Common Side Effects

  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Diarrhea
  • Constipation
  • Abdominal pain
  • Decreased appetite
  • Indigestion

Serious Side Effects

  • Gallbladder disease 
  • Pancreatitis
  • Certain thyroid cancers

Note: these are very rare and thought to be from the weight loss itself, not the medication

FDA Approval for Compounded Semaglutide

An aspect of compounded semaglutide that comes up often, is its regulatory status. So, is compounded semaglutide FDA approved? The answer is technically no. With this said, compounding pharmacies are highly regulated by government organizations other than the FDA. Furthermore, the FDA has approved compounded pharmacies to produce semaglutide due to current drug shortages.

The Way Forward

Compounded semaglutide offers a great solution to patients struggling to obtain their brand name medication due to high costs, shortages, and difficulty of access. Compounded medication like semaglutide is a safe, effective, and reliable alternative for Ozempic, Wegovy, and more. It's important that patients obtain semaglutide drugs with a prescription from a licensed healthcare provider to ensure safety and effectiveness.

To learn more about the science behind compounded semaglutide for weight loss, click here.

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