Yes, you can ask to switch from Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro or Zepbound to a compounded GLP-1, and a licensed clinician will review whether it makes sense for you. The clinician decides whether to prescribe and what your starting dose should be. The most helpful thing you can do is give them a clear picture of where you are now.
Who can switch?
Under Beluga Health rules, adults 18 to 80 can be considered. If you are already taking a GLP-1, you can be considered to continue with a BMI above 20. First-time GLP-1 patients need a BMI of 25 or higher. You do not need diabetes. Read more about GLP-1 BMI eligibility.
A switch is not a fit if you are pregnant, breastfeeding or trying to conceive, or if you or a family member has had medullary thyroid carcinoma or MEN 2. The clinician also screens for other conditions and makes the final call. A prescription is never guaranteed.
What should I tell the clinician?
In your assessment, list these details as clearly as you can:
- Your current drug. The brand name (Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro or Zepbound) and whether it is semaglutide or tirzepatide.
- Your current dose. Copy it from your pen or pharmacy label rather than from memory.
- Your last injection date. The exact date you last took a dose.
- How long you have been on it. Include any breaks or missed weeks.
- Side effects. What you have had and how much it bothered you.
- Other medications. Especially insulin or a sulfonylurea, and birth-control pills.
- Why you want to switch. Cost, access or anything else.
The clinician may follow up by message or video if they need more information. If they prescribe, a licensed US pharmacy prepares the medication and ships it to your home. After that, your clinician checks in before refills and dose changes, and you can message them any time through your private My VevaMD page. That is also the place to report side effects or ask about your next dose.
Who decides my starting dose?
The clinician does. Your brand-name dose is important information, but it is not an automatic match for a compounded dose. Brand-name drugs usually come in prefilled pens. Compounded GLP-1s usually come in vials, and vials come in different concentrations from one pharmacy to the next.
That means the number of units you draw into a syringe depends on your pharmacy label. Do not use a conversion chart from the internet, and never convert milligrams to units yourself. Follow the clinician's instructions and the pharmacy label, and ask if anything is unclear. Our guide on how to inject compounded GLP-1 walks through the basics.
Should I keep taking my current medication?
Do not stop, skip or change your current medication on your own. Talk with the prescriber who manages it now. When the reviewing clinician knows your last injection date, they can plan around it. If you have any questions about timing, ask before you take a dose.
What is different about compounded GLP-1?
Knowing this up front helps you make an informed choice:
- Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro and Zepbound are FDA-approved brand-name drugs owned by their makers.
- A compounded GLP-1 is prepared by a state-licensed pharmacy for one patient with a valid prescription. That is legal under section 503A of federal law.
- The FDA does not approve compounded drugs or review them for safety or quality before they are sold.
- Compounded semaglutide and tirzepatide are not generic versions of the brand-name drugs.
For a side-by-side look, read compounded GLP-1 vs brand-name.
Can I switch from semaglutide to tirzepatide, or the other way?
You can tell the clinician if you would like to move from one to the other. Semaglutide acts on the GLP-1 receptor, and tirzepatide acts on both GLP-1 and GIP. The clinician weighs your history and decides. See can I choose semaglutide or tirzepatide for more.
What does it cost?
Plans start from $199/mo, and the assessment is free. It is cash-pay, and VevaMD does not bill insurance. Whether you can use an HSA or FSA depends on your plan, so check with your plan administrator. Pricing is the same in all 50 states and Washington, DC.
Next step
VevaMD is a technology company, not a medical provider or a pharmacy. Licensed clinicians in the Beluga Health network review each assessment, and if they prescribe, a licensed US pharmacy ships to your home. When you are ready, start the free online assessment with your current medication, dose and last injection date in hand. Questions first? Call +1 (888) 275-1703 or email info@vevamd.com.
VevaMD is a technology platform, not a medical provider. Educational content only, not medical advice. All prescriptions are written by independent licensed clinicians. Individual results vary.