I keep seeing wildly different price numbers thrown around so I spent the last week actually calling pharmacies and checking websites to compile current pricing as of March 2026. Here's what I found:

BRAND NAME (without insurance):

• Ozempic (semaglutide 1mg/dose): ~$935-1,050/month
• Wegovy (semaglutide 2.4mg/dose): ~$1,350-1,650/month
• Mounjaro (tirzepatide 5mg): ~$1,050-1,200/month
• Zepbound (tirzepatide 5mg): ~$1,050-1,200/month

COMPOUNDED (with prescription):

• Compounded semaglutide 5mg vial: $120-200/month (depending on pharmacy and dose)
• Compounded tirzepatide 10mg vial: $150-250/month (limited availability due to FDA enforcement)

That's roughly an 80-90% cost savings with compounded. The question is whether the quality justifies the price difference.

Good data, but it's important to note that these brand prices are WITHOUT insurance. Many patients with insurance pay significantly less:

• With commercial insurance + manufacturer coupon: $0-$25/month for Ozempic/Wegovy (if approved)
• With insurance but no coupon: $150-500/month depending on plan
• Medicare Part D: varies widely, but many plans now cover GLP-1s for diabetes, and some are starting to cover for obesity

The cost comparison only makes sense if you're paying out of pocket. If your insurance covers brand, there's very little financial incentive to use compounded.

Fair point, but let's be real — getting insurance to cover Wegovy for weight loss is still a nightmare for most people. The prior auth process can take weeks, many plans exclude weight loss medications entirely, and even when covered, the copay can still be $300+/month.

For people paying OOP, compounded is a lifeline.

Previously posted:

Compounded semaglutide 5mg vial: $120-200/month

I want to break this down further because price per mg matters. I'm paying $149 for a 5mg vial from a 503B facility. At my current dose of 1mg/week, that vial lasts me 5 weeks — so my actual monthly cost is about $130.

When I was on the lower titration doses (0.25-0.5mg), the same vial lasted 10-20 weeks. My cost was effectively $30-60/month. 😍

Compare that to Wegovy at $1,350/month for the same active ingredient. It's insane.

The price difference exists for reasons though. With brand Wegovy you're getting:

• FDA-approved product with Phase 3 clinical trial data
• Precise dosing in a prefilled pen (no reconstitution needed)
• Guaranteed potency and purity
• Manufacturer liability if something goes wrong
• Access to patient support programs

With compounded you're getting:

• A product that hasn't undergone FDA approval
• Variable quality depending on the pharmacy
• DIY reconstitution and dosing
• Limited recourse if there's a quality issue

I'm not saying brand is worth 10x more, but let's not pretend they're identical products. You're paying a premium for certainty.