Why we wrote this page
If you have looked into weight-loss medicine, you have probably seen offers online for low monthly prices, no visit needed, shipped to your door. Some of those offers are for compounded medicine. Some are worse. This page explains the difference in plain terms, so you can decide with clear eyes. It also explains how our practice handles it.
The short version: Dr. Conkright prescribes FDA-approved medicine for most patients. Compounded medicine is used only for a small number of patients, on his medical judgment.
What "FDA-approved" means
An FDA-approved medicine has been reviewed by the FDA before it is sold. The FDA reviews data on its safety and effectiveness for a specific use, and the manufacturing process and quality standards for the product. Each approved medicine comes with a label, the prescribing information, that sets out its approved uses, warnings and directions.
For weight management, the FDA-approved medicines Dr. Conkright prescribes include Wegovy, the Wegovy pill, Zepbound and Foundayo.
What "compounded" means
Compounding is when a licensed pharmacy prepares a medicine for an individual patient, based on a prescription. It has a legitimate place in medicine. The FDA gives examples: a patient may be allergic to a dye in an approved medicine, or may be unable to swallow a pill and need a liquid.
Compounded medicines are not FDA-approved. The FDA does not review compounded medicines for safety, effectiveness or quality before they are dispensed. That is the most important fact on this page.
A "503A" pharmacy is a state-licensed pharmacy that compounds medicine for an individual patient under a prescription. Federal law sets limits on what these pharmacies may compound. Since the national shortages of semaglutide and tirzepatide ended, those limits generally allow compounding only when a prescriber determines a patient has a specific need that an approved product does not meet.
What compounded medicine is not
Compounded medicine is not a brand-name product. It is not Wegovy, Zepbound, Ozempic, Mounjaro or any other brand, and it should never be sold under a brand name. It is not FDA-approved, and it has not been reviewed by the FDA for safety, effectiveness or quality.
Be cautious of any seller that:
- Uses a brand name to describe a compounded product
- Calls a compounded product "FDA-approved"
- Offers medicine with no prescription, or no real exam
- Sells products labeled "for research use only" or "not for human use"
- Will not tell you the name and license of the pharmacy that prepares it
The FDA has published warnings about unapproved and counterfeit versions of these medicines, and about dosing errors with some compounded products.
When Dr. Conkright uses compounded medicine
In our program, compounded medicine is the exception. Dr. Conkright prescribes it only when he determines that a particular patient has a specific medical need for it, often a patient who may not have another workable option. It is prepared by a state-licensed 503A compounding pharmacy for that one patient, and shipped overnight to the patient. It is not a major part of the program, and it is not offered to everyone as a cheaper version.
When it is prescribed, Dr. Conkright tells you plainly that it is not FDA-approved, why he is recommending it, and what to watch for.
How to check a pharmacy
Whether your medicine is brand-name or compounded, you can check where it comes from:
- Ask for the pharmacy's name. A legitimate seller tells you.
- Check its license. Ask whether it is licensed in Indiana, and check with the state if you are unsure.
- Make sure it is in the United States and requires a prescription.
- Watch for "research use only" labels. Those products are not for people.
- Ask your doctor. If you are not sure what you have been given, bring it to your visit.
Why a brand-name prescription is often worth a fresh look
A few years ago, many people chose compounded medicine because brand-name medicine was in short supply or very expensive without insurance. That picture has changed. The shortages have ended, and FDA-approved pills have joined the injections. Manufacturer cash-pay programs exist; we explain them at your visit.
We do not print outside prices here because they change. We walk through your options, and our program fees, at the visit. Our fees are on the cost page.
That is why Dr. Conkright starts with FDA-approved medicine for most people. If every patient who qualifies leaves with an FDA-approved prescription, that is exactly how we want it.
Questions
Is compounded semaglutide FDA-approved?
No. Compounded medicines are not FDA-approved. The FDA does not review them for safety, effectiveness or quality before they are dispensed.
Is compounded semaglutide a generic?
No. A generic is a medicine the FDA approves as the same as a brand-name medicine, with the same active ingredient, strength, dosage form and route. Compounded medicines are not FDA-approved, so they are not generics.
How is compounded tirzepatide different from Zepbound?
Zepbound is an FDA-approved brand-name product. A compounded product is prepared by a pharmacy for one patient, is not FDA-approved, and is not Zepbound.
Why would a doctor prescribe a compounded medicine at all?
Sometimes a patient has a specific medical need that an approved product does not meet. In our practice, that decision is Dr. Conkright's, made patient by patient, and it applies to a small number of patients.
Who prepares your compounded medicine?
A state-licensed 503A compounding pharmacy, for the individual patient. It is shipped overnight to the patient.
Can I just buy it online without a visit?
Not from us. Every patient starts with an in-person visit with Dr. Conkright.
Can I get brand-name medicine without insurance?
Yes. Manufacturer cash-pay programs exist; we explain them at your visit.
I am already on compounded medicine from somewhere else. Can you help?
Yes. Bring the vial or label and your pharmacy information to your visit. Dr. Conkright will review it and talk with you about your options.