Frequently asked questions
The questions people type into a search bar after seeing an ad. Short answers, with the guide to read for the full picture.
Is compounded semaglutide or tirzepatide legal?
Compounding by a state-licensed pharmacy on a valid prescription is legal. Whether a pharmacy may routinely compound a specific GLP-1 depends on federal shortage status and enforcement, which have changed several times, and on your state's rules. The product itself is not FDA-approved. Read guide B, then verify the current status before relying on any program's claim.
Can I get a GLP-1 online without seeing a doctor?
No legitimate program prescribes without a licensed clinician reviewing your health information. In some states that review can be asynchronous (written); in others a live video visit is required first. A site that skips the clinician is not a telehealth program. Guide A explains the steps.
What if the clinician says no?
Ask what the concern was and take it to an in-person doctor. Being declined by a careful program is the screening working. Do not shop for a program that says yes without addressing the concern. Guide E covers this.
Can I use insurance with an online program?
Usually not directly. Most direct-to-consumer programs are cash pay. Some prescribe the brand to a retail pharmacy where your insurance may apply, and some provide paperwork for reimbursement. Ask the program and your insurer before signing up. Guide C has the cost breakdown.
Why is the price higher than the ad said?
"Starting at" prices are typically the lowest dose, before medical fees, labs, and shipping. Find the price at your likely maintenance dose and add the separate fees. Guide C walks through the five-minute check.
Semaglutide or tirzepatide, which should I ask for?
That is a clinical decision, not a menu choice. Tirzepatide had a higher average weight loss in trials and usually costs more; which one fits you depends on your history, tolerance, cost, and availability. Let the clinician recommend and ask why. Guide D.
Are there pills instead of injections?
An oral semaglutide product has existed for diabetes for years, and oral options for weight management have been approved or are arriving. Availability through online programs varies. Ask the program, and check the FDA's approval information rather than a website's description. Guide D has a section on this.
What are the side effects?
Most commonly nausea, constipation, diarrhea, and reduced appetite, especially after dose increases. Serious warnings include thyroid C-cell tumors (rodent studies), pancreatitis, gallbladder disease, and others. Guide F lists them and tells you who should not take these medications at all.
Can I switch programs mid-treatment?
Yes. Get your records and current dose from the first program, cancel per its terms, and complete the new program's intake honestly, including that you are already on the medication. Avoid a gap in supply if you can; ask the new program about timing before you cancel.
What happens when I stop?
In trials, most people regained a substantial share of the weight after stopping. That is why the maintenance plan, whether a lower dose, a taper, or lifestyle-only, should be discussed from the start, not at the end.
Do I need to tell my regular doctor?
Yes. These medications interact with other treatments, slow stomach emptying (relevant for anesthesia), and change what your labs look like. Your primary care physician should know.
How does this site make money?
Affiliate commissions when you sign up with some programs through our links, disclosed on every page. It does not change what we write, and no program can pay for placement. Full details on the disclosure page.