Compound Semaglutide Overview: Where To Buy, Safety, and Side Effects

CS is personalised medication prepared by a pharmacist from scratch according to a health-care provider’s instructions and customised to meet the patient’s needs.

Medically Reviewed By Mostafa Elhennawy MS, Pharm D

Semaglutide, a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist, was primarily a drug in diabetes therapy that was subsequently FDA approved for long-term weight management, cardiovascular risk reduction and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in patients with HIV. 

The FDA permits the compounding of Semaglutide due to shortages but only if the product is compounded by pharmacies following the regulations contained in Section 503A of the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act).In this article we will cover how to obtain Compounded Semaglutide (CS), its potential side effects, who is eligible for using CS for weight loss and what are unauthorized forms of CS.

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Because it works. 92% members have achieved lasting weight loss.

How to Get Compound Semaglutide

CS is personalised medication prepared by a pharmacist from scratch according to a health-care provider’s instructions and customised to meet the patient’s needs. Patients showing interest in losing weight for cosmetic purposes are able to obtain CS from med spas and weight loss clinics.

However, it is important to get medication from a reliable compounding pharmacy, such as a state-licensed pharmacy or FDA-registered facility.

Weight Loss Reviews

Potential Side Effects of Compound Semaglutide

Common side effect profile that should be mild and improve over time include:

  • Nausea
  • Flatulence
  • Upset Stomach
  • Diarrhea
  • Belching
  • Constipation
  • Fatigue
  • Injection Site Reaction
  • Headache
  • Rapid heartbeat
  • Hypoglycemia
  • Allergic reactions.

Contraindications for taking CS are:

  • Pancreatitis
  • Acute kidney injury
  • Thyroid cancer
  • Gallstones.

Due to drug interactions it should be avoided to take other medicines along with CS unless they have been discussed with a doctor.

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Eligibility for Using Compounded Semaglutide for Weight Loss

Semaglutide optimizes metabolism by reducing appetite and subsequently aids with weight maintenance. The only FDA-approved weight loss medicine containing Semaglutide is Wegovy. Wegovy is prescribed to adults with obesity (BMI≥30) or overweight adults (BM≥27) with at least one of the weight-related health conditions. CS is not FDA-approved for weight loss so it is very important to review the patient’s medical history and discuss potential risks with a healthcare provider prior to prescription.

Unauthorized Forms of Compound Semaglutide in Pharmacies

It is very important to obtain CS from a reputable compounding pharmacy in order to avoid counterfeit medication that can cause severe adverse effects due to too high of a dosage, too many active ingredients or containing undisclosed and potentially harmful ingredients.

Semaglutide Salts

The FDA alerted the public about the use of different forms of Semaglutide for production of CS whose chemical structure, mechanism of action and therapeutic efficacy differs from a traditional Semaglutide. Namely, compounders may be using salts which are not meeting the requirements for compounded medications set by the FD&C Act such as:

  • Semaglutide Sodium
  • Semaglutide Acetate.

Unauthorized Sources

If a prescription calls for a compounded medicine the legitimacy of the source can be checked on these websites:

Non-pharmaceutical Grade Products

The FDA’s Office of Pharmaceutical Quality puts all drugs and drug production components through rigorous testing to ensure they meet their high standards and labels them as pharmaceutical or non-pharmaceutical accordingly. Non-pharmaceutical grade products are not formulated or manufactured for use in medicine. They include agents obtained from chemical supply companies and pharmaceutical grade chemicals compounded with non-pharmaceutical grade chemicals. 

Signs that a product might be non-pharmaceutical grade are:

  • Product is not rated by the FDA as pharmaceutical grade or is simply rated as food grade.
  • Product contains excess fillers, chemicals, dyes and other additives. 
  • Product is not packed in pharmaceutical grade bags.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

Are Compounding Pharmacies Legit?

Compounding Pharmacies are legit if registered and certified by the state in which they physically make medications.

Is Compounded Semaglutide Cheaper Than Ozempic?

CS combines Semaglutide with extra ingredients (such as B12 vitamin) that enhance the drug’s effectiveness and lessen the side effects at a fraction of the cost –  $350-500 (depending on the dosage) for CS compared to $1000 per month for Ozempic.

How Much Weight Can You Lose with Compounded Semaglutide?

Incorporating healthy lifestyle changes together with CS treatment can lead to significant weight loss – around 15% of initial body weight.

Key Takeaways

Semaglutide is on the FDA’s list of drugs in shortage which means it is approved for compounding and can be obtained as a prescribed medicine from compounding facilities.

CS should have the same dosage form, administration route, pharmacokinetics, solubility, bioavailability, half-life, stability and potency as commercial Semaglutide if produced in a pharmacy that is FDA regulated, sterile and meets all safety standards.

There are risks involved in obtaining CS, such as distribution of unauthorized forms of CS, non-pharmaceutical grade products or even counterfeit needles.

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