Wegovy then switched to a compounded formula of semaglutide

Posted by bhb30602 @bhb30602, Jun 9 12:36pm

A month ago, my PCP gave me a free sample of .25 Wegovy (month's supply) and I take the 4th jab tomorrow. Since my insurance won't cover Wegovy, he prescribed a compound formula of semaglutide with pyridoxine and glycine and increased the dose to .50mg. The pyridoxine (B6) for possible nausea and glycine to help maintain muscle. I've checked out the compound pharmacy on BeSafeRx and everything seems to check out as reputable.
Has anyone started on Wegovy then switched to a compounded formula of semaglutide and if so, what was the transition like and have you lost any weight?
Any info is appreciated.

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Lisa Lucier, Moderator | @lisalucier | Jun 10 9:34am

Hi, @bhb30602 - I moved your post into its own discussion so that members could talk about specifically what you mentioned, going from brand name semaglutide (Wegovy) to a compounded version.

I took brand name semaglutide (Wegovy) personally. I lost over 50 pounds, but I was plagued by pretty severe gastrointestinal issues. So I switched to tirzepatide (Zepbound). I'm having fewer gastrointestinal issues, but still issues. I've only lost about a pound and am still going up in dosage. Trying to remain patient, especially as a friend told my husband he did not think these shots were working at all till he got to the highest dose.

How has your time on the semaglutide samples gone? Are you planning to proceed with the compounded formula?

bhb30602 | @bhb30602 | Jun 10 10:55am

Thanks for moving my post, Lisa. I wasn't sure I had posted in the right location.
I've lost 5 pounds thus far (3 weeks in at .25mg). A consistent message I see on reviews is that the .25mg dose is to get your body ready for the higher dose and to be patient. Once on a higher dose such as .50 or higher, then noticeable changes will begin.
At this time, I plan on proceeding with the compounded formula and will see how it goes. Hopefully it will work and and I won't experience any major side effects.
I wish you success in your journey!

Lisa Lucier, Moderator | @lisalucier | Jun 11 3:10pm

Congratulations on your right loss, @bhb30602. Good luck on your journey, as well.

Tagging a few members who might have some thoughts on switching from semaglutide (Wegovy) to a compounded version @projfan @quinceykk @blynn9030 @dfcox3 @roch @joysmiley64 @ecmoandrrt @surftohealth88 @paulinegreen79.

projfan | @projfan | Jun 12 6:53am

In reply to @lisalucier "Congratulations on your right loss, @bhb30602. Good luck on your journey, as well. Tagging a few..." + (show)

Thank you for the tag! Mostly, I think the patient has agency and control, and if this is a direction you want to head, it really doesn't matter if it would or would not be my choice.

In general, I'm cautious about compounding -- for me, it's too unregulated, wild, wild west, especially for a drug with these kinds of potential impacts (https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-024-03412-w.epdf?sharing_token=4FgxVpDs3GxE5xnIx4EDrtRgN0jAjWel9jnR3ZoTv0PsuBzQ8kPgW4k_HGFyff8_RIMzBJYSWVcsLLb4QFC6rStOCl2maGnVrPCJJ5Bm_NExq4zHp3MOA1tbsiAS-bl1GlaZGhKlJLdJK9_Kh_pA2iONnq5ez6rW2Q-GF-VMD9k%3D). I think compounding pharmacies serve a very useful purpose, especially when drugs otherwise come in a form that is incompatible with the needs of a patient, but compounding for something like this makes me nervous. I have no idea how the patient determines what the compounded drug is actually made of, the train of custody/condition of those ingredients, and the ways in which it may be different from the branded product.

Having said that, I suppose I might feel differently if I had a history of trust with a particular compounding pharmacy, and a solid medical team who also trusts the pharmacy and is prepared to address whatever happens in regard to (perhaps unusual?) side effects.

My choice has been to manage the cost and availability of the drug through click-counting/microdosing using a branded multi-pen product. But again, that's just me.