Why Compounded GLPs Are Not a Good Choice

GLP-1 receptor medications like semaglutide and tirzepatide have revolutionized obesity treatment, helping people lose weight when past attempts at dieting and exercise have failed. 

As popularity has soared, demand for these drugs has increased, and plenty of specialty pharmacies have begun offering alternative versions (compounded drugs) that are often cheaper and easier to get. 

But despite the lower cost, you could pay a much bigger price in other ways if you use these alternative drugs.

At Premier Physicians Weight Loss & Wellness, we steer clear of compounded substitutes in our medical weight loss treatments and encourage you to do the same. 

In this post, Dana Trippi, DO, and our team want you to understand why compounded medications aren’t a good choice and how FDA-approved GLP-1s are better and safer.

Understanding compounded medications

Compounded medicines aren’t commercially available; instead, they’re mixed or “compounded” for patients with special needs, like allergies. There are compounding pharmacies that do nothing but prepare and produce compounded medications.

These pharmacies can change the form of a medication to make it easier to use. For instance, to help a patient with swallowing issues, a compounding pharmacy may prepare a capsule or liquid form of a medication commercially available only as a pill.

Such pharmacies may also be an appropriate choice when a commercial medication contains preservatives that trigger allergies in a patient. They can even change the flavor of medicine to make it more palatable.

Compounding pharmacies can also prepare alternative medications, including medications similar to commercially available products. While these compounded drugs may be more readily available or less expensive, they can pose some risks.

The risks of compounded GLP-1s

A big concern with compounded drugs is that they’re not FDA-approved. When a compounding pharmacy changes the form of a medication, like from pill to capsule, or removes ingredients that cause allergies, leaving the medication unchanged, that risk may be diminished. 

But for compounded GLP-1s (and other medication “alternatives”), it’s crucial to understand that these medicines haven’t been evaluated for safety or purity. That means they may be adulterated with substances that can pose serious, even life-threatening health risks.

Compounded medications can also vary from one batch to another. You can’t tell how your body might respond, making it difficult or impossible for our team (or other health care providers) to manage your treatment safely. 

What’s more, because there’s no way to monitor the ingredients and dosages of these batches, there’s also no way to know if they can help you lose weight. You could pay for compounded medicines only to see your weight unchanged — and you might face health complications.

Don’t risk your health

At Premier Physicians Weight Loss & Wellness, we take our patients’ health and safety seriously. We only prescribe FDA-approved GLP-1 medications, so you can feel confident that every dose meets strict federal standards — and that your treatment works as intended.

With FDA-approved medications, we can monitor your progress, fine-tune your treatment, and help you achieve meaningful, lasting results.

To learn more about GLP-1 medications and how they can help you achieve your weight loss goals, request an appointment online or over the phone today with the team at Premier Physicians Weight Loss & Wellness in Las Vegas, Henderson, and Reno, Nevada.