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People who rely on compounded GLP-1 drugs say they might not be able to afford brand-name versions, which are often not covered by insurance. Iuliia Burmistrova/Getty Images

The FDA has ordered compounding pharmacies to stop making less expensive versions of popular weight loss medications like Ozempic and Zepbound.

The order comes after federal officials determined there was no longer a shortage of GLP-1 drugs.

People who rely on compounded medications say they may have to stop taking the drugs because the brand-name versions are too expensive.

A ban on so-called copycat versions of weight loss drugs that contain the active ingredient trizepatide took effect on March 19.

A similar prohibition on copycat weight loss medications that contain the active ingredient semaglutide is scheduled to take effect as early as April 22.

The bans follow the Food and Drug Administration’s updated guidance for compounding pharmacies manufacturing less expensive versions of Eli Lilly’s weight-loss medications Zepbound and Mounjaro as well as Novo Nordisk’s Ozempic and Wegovy.

The FDA announced the updated guidance after a federal judge ruled against the Outsourcing Facilities Association (OFA), which had filed a lawsuit on behalf of compounding pharmacies selling copycat trizepatide medications.

A similar lawsuit is being considered on behalf of pharmacies that produce the less expensive versions of semaglutide drugs.

Compounded drugs are not approved by the FDA, so the agency does not verify their safety, effectiveness, or quality. However, they can be sold under certain circumstances.

Telehealth providers such as Eden, Mochi, Ro, and Hims & Hers have been allowed to sell alternative versions of drugs since December 2022 due to a shortage of weight-loss drugs caused by increased demand for the products.

However, in December 2024, FDA officials announced that the medication shortage had ended. They ordered a transition period for compounding pharmacies to stop manufacturing the drugs, which are still protected by patents, and give Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk exclusive rights to their products.

People who take these less expensive medications are concerned about losing a product that has helped them lose weight. They say they now have to decide whether to pay significantly more for a brand-name medication or stop taking GLP-1 drugs and risk regaining the weight they’ve lost.

Experts say the FDA decision could result in people being denied an important medical tool.

“The reason there is so much demand is because at this time these drugs are the most effective medications for weight loss,” said Mir Ali, MD, a general surgeon, bariatric surgeon, and medical director of MemorialCare Surgical Weight Loss Center at Orange Coast Medical Center in Fountain Valley, CA.

What will happen to weight-loss drug supply?

A big question is whether Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk will be able to produce enough of their GLP-1 medications to meet demand if compounding pharmacies cease manufacturing the drugs.

There’s also the question of whether prices for Ozempic, Zepbound, Wegovy, and Mounjaro will rise without the competition of copy cat medications.

Officials at Eli Lilly did not respond to Healthline’s request for comment on this article. A spokesperson for Novo Nordisk told Healthline the drugmaker prioritizes patient safety above all else.

“Unapproved fake or illegitimate knockoffs expose patients to serious safety and efficacy risks. FDA has specifically warned that knockoff drugs claiming to contain semaglutide can be ‘risky‘ for patients,” the Novo Nordisk spokesperson said. 

Still, companies that sell compounded weight loss drugs have vowed to continue to help their customers.

“We will continue to work to ensure that our patients can access the best treatments for their individual needs and goals, and follow applicable FDA rules and regulations on compounding,” said a statement provided to Healthline by Ro officials.

 “GLP-1s are helping millions of Americans improve their health. Continued access to safe, affordable, and consistently available treatment options are critical as we fight against obesity, which impacts over 40% of Americans,” added a statement sent to Healthline by officials at Hims & Hers, which, like Ro, sells a compounded semaglutide product.

Officials at Hims & Hers have released a new report stating that a shortage of GLP-1 drugs still exists in the United States.

Nonetheless, Ali said he expects that Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk will be able to manufacture enough of their weight loss drugs to meet the demand.

People rely on compounded GLP-1s for affordability

Ali said he doesn’t expect the price on brand-name GLP-1 drugs to increase significantly because of the pressure on these companies to make the medications relatively affordable.

However, he said even if there is enough supply and the price doesn’t increase, that doesn’t mean people can afford them.

“Even if the medications are available, health insurance companies don’t cover these medications for a lot of people,” Ali told Healthline.

He added he is also concerned that consumers might purchase less expensive weight loss drugs in markets outside the U.S. Those products, he said, can be of dubious quality and sometimes even dangerous.

“People might not get what they pay for,” Ali said.

He noted that some people might be eligible for gastric bypass surgery as an alternative to losing weight without using drugs.

Minnesota resident Bailey Fields, 27, has polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), a condition that, among other things, can lead to weight gain and potentially type 2 diabetes.

Fields told Healthline her current semaglutide medication from Hims & Hers costs $199 per month compared to the $675 per month she spent previously on Mounjaro.

Because she has PCOS and is at risk for diabetes, Fields’ doctor prescribed Mounjaro. Despite this, Fields noted her health insurance company would only cover the cost of a weight loss drug treatment if she were to develop type 2 diabetes.

Fields intends to maintain her weight but she is concerned she won’t be able to do that if she can no longer purchase the copy cat semaglutide product.

“I don’t know what will happen if I stop taking it,” she said.

Fields is not alone. Tennessee resident Todd Kennedy, 45, relies on compounded semaglutide for weight maintenance and hopes to lose more weight. He’s concerned the ban on compounded semaglutide may endanger that goal.

Kennedy now pays $165 per month for the Hims & Hers product. He said a brand-name version of the same drug would cost him $1,500 per month. He told Healthline he simply can’t afford the more expensive versions and called the FDA decision “short-sighted.”

“It gives people a tool,” Kennedy said. “I feel that taking away a valuable and effective tool isn’t benefitting anybody.”

How GLP-1s like Ozempic, Zepbound aid weight loss

Wegovy and Zepbound have been approved by the FDA as a weight loss treatment.

Ozempic and Mounjaro are FDA-approved as a treatment for type 2 diabetes. Ozempic is frequently prescribed off-label for weight loss, however.

These products work by either targeting the brain or affecting certain hormones to suppress appetite and make a person feel less hungry.

People prescribed the medications are also usually put on a specific diet and exercise routine.

Ali said these drugs are effective because they focus on the source of weight-loss issues.

“By treating the source, they are more likely to produce success,” he said.

Ali noted that the drugs are part of a new strategy in the medical field for treating people with weight management issues.

“There is a slow shift on looking at obesity as a chronic disease and the fact that it needs to be treated that way,” he said.

Learn more about how to get GLP-1 medications from vetted and trusted online sources here:

How to Get Zepbound: What We Know So Far

Where to Buy Zepbound Online

How to Get Mounjaro (Tirzepatide)

Where to Buy Mounjaro (Tirzepatide) Online

Where to Buy Ozempic Online

Where to Buy Ozempic Online

How to Get Wegovy for Weight Loss In Person and Online

How to Get a Wegovy Prescription Online

Amy Schumer said she quit Wegovy due to side effects like nausea but was “having a really good experience” with Mounjaro. John Nacion/Variety via Getty Images

Amy Schumer recently shared she had quit Wegovy due to side effects like nausea.

However, Schumer said she was “having a really good experience” with Mounjaro, such as improved menopause symptoms and libido.

Experts say it’s common for people to have side effects with GLP-1s.

If you can’t tolerate a GLP-1 drug, your doctor might recommend switching to a different weight loss medication.

Writer, actress, and stand-up comedian Amy Schumer recently took to Instagram to discuss her experiences with the GLP-1 drugs Wegovy (semaglutide) and Mounjaro (tirzepatide).

While appearing to be driving through stop-and-go traffic, which she noted at one point was “completely unsafe,” Schumer said she wanted to “keep it a hundred” with her fans regarding her weight-loss journey.

After quipping that she’s “your favorite comedian with no top lip,” the star revealed on March 21 that she had used Wegovy three years prior but had experienced intolerable side effects.

“I was like puking, I couldn’t handle it,” she related.

Schumer then went on to describe how she had more recently used the telehealth provider Midi Health to receive hormone treatment for perimenopause as well as being prescribed Mounjaro for weight loss.

The actress added this combination of medications was working well for her.

“My symptoms of being in perimenopause have disappeared. My hair is fuller, my skin is better, I have more energy,” said Schumer.

“I want to get down more,” she added, referring to the positive effect on her libido. “So, yeah, that’s been great. Mounjaro’s been great,” Schumer said.

She further explained to viewers that Mounjaro is generally covered by insurance unless you have a diagnosis of diabetes or “severe obesity, which most of the Internet thinks I have.”

Schumer then closed out the video by saying she is “having a really good experience” and “wanted to keep it real,” adding that she liked Midi Health so much that she decided to invest in the company.

Why did Schumer do better on Mounjaro than Wegovy?

Meghan Garcia-Webb, MD, obesity medicine doctor at Weight Medicine MD, told Healthline it’s not uncommon for people to have significant side effects from one GLP-1 medication but not another.

“It is hard to predict who will be able to tolerate them and who won’t,” she said, “although people who already struggle with gastrointestinal health issues may find these medications make them worse.”

Garcia-Webb added that clinically, she does find that people often have fewer side effects on Mounjaro than on Wegovy. However, she said some research suggests the side effect profiles are similar.

Novo Nordisk states that common side effects with Wegovy include:

nausea

diarrhea

vomiting

constipation

abdominal pain

upset stomach

headache

tiredness

dizziness

bloating

belching

low blood sugar (if you have type 2 diabetes)

gas

stomach flu

heartburn

runny nose or sore throat

On the other hand, Eli Lilly lists nausea, diarrhea, decreased appetite, vomiting, constipation, indigestion, and abdominal pain as Mounjaro’s most common side effects.

Garcia-Webb said it also depends on how long people are able to wait for side effects to subside.

“Oftentimes, side effects are worse in the beginning and when titrating up on doses but then taper off,” she said.

“So if people are able to stick with it, they may find their symptoms decrease over time.”

However, sometimes the side effects are so severe that some people can’t tolerate them long enough to see them lessen, she said. It seems Schumer may have had that experience with Wegovy.

Coping with side effects of GLP-1 drugs

In addition to gradually titrating up, clinicians have suggested other strategies to help patients stick with their medication until they adjust to the side effects.

In a July 2021 article published in Postgraduate Medicine, the authors stated that smaller, more frequent meals can help ease digestive woes while taking GLP-1 medications.

The authors wrote that avoiding fatty or spicy foods could help combat nausea. They noted that sufficient water and fiber intake could help mitigate constipation.

The article further emphasized the importance of educating people about the potential for side effects, which could help manage expectations and make it easier to continue the medication until side effects begin to ease up.

What if a weight loss drug isn’t working for you?

Trista Best, MPH, RDN, LD, a registered dietitian with Balance One Supplements, said that if people are having difficulty with a particular weight loss drug, several options can be tried.

“If a medication isn’t effective, options include adjusting the dosage, switching to a different weight loss drug, or exploring alternative treatments such as metabolic testing, personalized nutrition plans, or behavioral therapy,” Best told Healthline.

Best noted that doctors could also recommend other GLP-1 drugs such as liraglutide (Victoza, Saxenda) or even explore weight loss drugs that work through different mechanisms like phentermine, bupropion, or naltrexone.

Garcia-Webb added, however, that these alternative medications may not be as effective as GLP-1s. “[But] for some people, especially those who can’t tolerate the GI side effects, they may be a better fit,” she said.

Garcia-Webb said it’s also important to define what people mean when they say that their medication isn’t working for them.

“If it’s a question of side effects, many times lowering the dose, titrating up very slowly, and adding medications to help with the side effects can help quite a lot,” she said.

What Schumer’s experience highlights about weight loss drugs

Schumer’s different experiences with Wegovy and Mounjaro highlight the individualized nature of weight loss medications.

While GLP-1 drugs can be effective, tolerance varies widely, and finding the right fit may require adjustments or alternative treatments.

For those struggling with side effects, strategies like gradual dose increases, dietary modifications, and patient education can help.

As the landscape of obesity treatment continues to evolve, Schumer’s candid discussion reminds us that weight loss journeys are personal and that keeping it real can help others navigate their own paths.

Learn more about how to get GLP-1 medications from vetted and trusted online sources here:

How to Get Zepbound: What We Know So Far

Where to Buy Zepbound Online

How to Get Mounjaro (Tirzepatide)

Where to Buy Mounjaro (Tirzepatide) Online

Where to Buy Ozempic Online

Where to Buy Ozempic Online

How to Get Wegovy for Weight Loss In Person and Online

How to Get a Wegovy Prescription Online