Compound pharmacies can make custom medicine for people. Many people cannot take regular, readymade medicine, so they are used to mixing up a medicine just the right way.
It will be very beneficial for those who are allergic to some medicines and need a special one, or in case the medicine is hard to find.
Recently, compounding pharmacies have been in the news because they started making their versions of some very popular drugs for weight loss and diabetes, like Ozempic, Wegovy, and Zepbound. Most people are using these medicines because they help them to lose weight and help them to maintain their blood sugar levels.
What This Means for People Who Need Weight-Loss Drugs
Now that the official shortage of weight-loss drugs like Ozempic, Wegovy, and Zepbound is over, the companies that make these medicines say they have enough to go around. This means most pharmacies should be able to get these drugs for patients who need them, though sometimes there might still be small delays as the supply catches up everywhere.
Now the shortage is over, so that the compounding pharmacies are not used to making the drugs by themselves.
People who were buying cheaper, compounded versions will soon run out, and they’ll have to switch to the more expensive brand-name drugs if they want to keep taking them.
The Rise of GLP-1 Drugs: Ozempic, Wegovy, and Zepbound
Lately, a group of medicines called GLP-1 drugs has become very popular for treating diabetes and helping people lose weight. The most well-known ones are
- Ozempic (semaglutide): If you have type 2 diabetes, then it can be beneficial for you. It also helps with weight loss.
- Wegovy (semaglutide): It consists of similar ingredients to those in Ozempic. But it is only beneficial for weight loss.
- Zepbound (tirzepatide): A newer medicine used for weight loss.
These drugs are sometimes called “miracle” or “blockbuster” drugs because they help many people lose a lot of weight and control their blood sugar. Because of their success, lots of people want to use them, and the demand has grown very quickly.
The Shortage and the Role of Compounding Pharmacies:
When lots of people wanted weight-loss and diabetes drugs like Ozempic, Wegovy, and Zepbound, the companies couldn’t make enough. Nowadays, compounded drugs are not easily available, and their production is decreasing.
People are not able to get the real medicine, so the FDA launches special pharmacies that are known as compounding pharmacies to make their own version. This was only supposed to be a temporary fix, not a long-term solution. Many people got these custom-made medicines through online shops, med spas, or telehealth services.
The compounded medicines were usually much cheaper than the real brand-name drugs. While the real ones could cost more than $1,000 each month, the compounded versions often cost about $200 a month, which made them much easier for many people to afford.
Why Are Compounding Pharmacies Being Told to Stop?
Recently, the FDA reported that there are plenty of weight loss and diabetes drugs. Because of this, compounding pharmacies are not allowed to make their versions of Ozempic, Wegovy, or Zepbound anymore.
Under U.S. law, these pharmacies can only make copies of brand-name drugs when there’s a shortage. Now that the shortage is over, they have to stop. Since the FDA took these drugs off the shortage list, compounding pharmacies can’t legally make their own versions any longer.
The Legal Battle
Some compounding pharmacies did not agree with the new rules. They felt they were still helping patients who couldn’t afford the real medicines, and they believed their versions were both safe and helpful.
Some big drug companies like Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly claim that the compounded drugs are not safe for your health. They said that these custom medicines are not verified by the FDA, because of that, there could be problems with quality, or there may be some wrong ingredients involved. Novo Nordisk files a complaint against some pharmacies and medicine shops for not selling these drugs.
The judge said that compounding pharmacies must now stop making these custom versions of the medicines.
What Does This Mean for Patients?
For many people who need these medicines, this is a real problem. Lots of people were using the cheaper, custom-made versions from compounding pharmacies. Now, they have to choose between paying much more for the real brand-name drugs or stopping the medicine completely.
The drug companies have made some discounts available, but even with these, the price is still a lot higher than before. For example, the real drugs now cost between $350 and $700 a month, but the custom-made ones used to cost about $200 a month.
Some people are trying to stock up on the custom-made drugs before they run out, or they’re looking for other options. A few compounding pharmacies are trying to change the formula or dose to keep making their versions, but the FDA is watching carefully and says this is not allowed.
Are Compounded Versions Safe?
- Not tested for safety:
The FDA and drug companies say these custom-made versions are risky because they are not checked for safety, how well they work, or quality.
- Reports of side effects:
As of April 2025, the FDA had received 520 reports of side effects from compounded semaglutide (the main ingredient in Ozempic and Wegovy) and 480 reports from compounded tirzepatide (the main ingredient in Zepbound).
- Possible dangers:
Some side effects are similar to those from brand-name drugs, but since compounded versions are not regulated, it’s hard to know what is causing the problems.
- Impurities or wrong dose:
There have been cases where these custom-made drugs had things in them that shouldn’t be there, or the wrong amount of medicine, which can be dangerous.
- Fake drugs online:
The FDA also warns about fake versions of these drugs being sold online. These counterfeit drugs might have the wrong ingredients, too much or too little medicine, or even harmful substances.
What Are the Alternatives?
For people who can’t afford or get the real brand-name weight-loss drugs, it’s a difficult situation. Here are some options:
Other FDA-approved medicines:
- Doctors may suggest other medicines that are approved for diabetes or weight loss.
- However, these other medicines might not work as well or may have different side effects.
Still using compounded versions:
- Some online pharmacies and telehealth companies still offer custom-made versions, even though this isn’t allowed now.
- They say their versions are different enough from the real drugs, but the FDA says this is not legal since the shortage is over.
There are a few alternatives, but none are perfect. Other medicines may not work as well, and getting custom-made versions is now against the rules.
What Happens Next?
Right now, compounding pharmacies are not allowed to make their versions of Ozempic, Wegovy, or Zepbound anymore. Some are still trying to find ways to keep making these drugs, but the FDA is paying close attention and will stop illegal sales and fake medicines.
This is a big problem for many patients who were using the cheaper, compounded versions. Some people can switch to the brand-name drugs, but these are too expensive for a lot of people. Others may try different treatments or have to stop taking the medicine altogether.
In the future, the big drug companies will likely keep pushing for stricter rules, while compounding pharmacies will try to keep their right to make these drugs. The FDA will have to keep making tough decisions to make sure medicines are safe for everyone.
Conclusion
There are a lot of changes happening in compounded drugs, and many patients are suffering from a lot. No doubt, compounded drugs were cheaper, but one disadvantage of this is that it is not safe and reliable. Due to safety reasons, Compound drugs are banned, and people are used to referring to FDA-approved drugs.