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What to Know About Compounded GLP-1 Agonists for Weight Loss

During the semaglutide shortage, many people turned to compounding pharmacies.

Written by Lauren Smith, MA | Reviewed by Mera Goodman, MD, FAAP

Published on August 11, 2023

Compounding pharmacies are types of pharmacies that can make customized medications. They can do this by mixing and combining ingredients to make medications that are not mass-produced at a standard pharmacy.

In 2022 and 2023, a shortage of semaglutide led to many people turning to compounding pharmacies. In this video, learn what you should know about using compounding pharmacies for weight-loss medications like semaglutide, according to Stacia Woodcock, PharmD, Pharmacy Editor at GoodRx.

Additional Medical Contributors

Stacia Woodcock, PharmDStacia Woodcock, PharmD, is a pharmacy editor for GoodRx. She earned her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Kentucky and is licensed in New York and Massachusetts.

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References

American Society of Health-System Pharmacists. (2023). Semaglutide injection.

Collins, L., et al. (2022). Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists. StatPearls.

View All References (5)

North Carolina Board of Pharmacy. (2023). Statement concerning semaglutide compounding.

Novo Nordisk. (2022). Ozempic [package insert].

Novo Nordisk. (2022). Wegovy [package insert].

U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (2023). Drug compounding and drug shortages.

U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (2023). Medications containing semaglutide marketed for Type 2 diabetes or weight loss.

GoodRx Health has strict sourcing policies and relies on primary sources such as medical organizations, governmental agencies, academic institutions, and peer-reviewed scientific journals. Learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate, thorough, and unbiased by reading our editorial guidelines.