The popularity of the latest group of weight loss drugs, led by Wegovy, is bringing a boutique niche of the pharmaceutical industry into the spotlight. Compounding pharmacies—long known to patients who need custom-made versions of brand name drugs, in different formulations, doses, or formulas—are becoming a new source for obtaining semaglutide, the main ingredient in Wegovy, Ozempic, and Rybelsus. Shortages in the branded versions of the drugs, made by Novo Nordisk, mean that compounded pharmacies can legally make and sell semaglutide. But not all versions are alike. Here’s what you need to know about compounding pharmacies and the drugs they make:
Doctors need to write a prescription specifically for a compounded version of semaglutide.The Food and Drug Administration has warned consumers about some versions of compounded semaglutide, which the agency says may not meet its criteria for properly compounded drugs.Patients should rely on referrals from their doctors or pharmacies listed by the Alliance for Compounding Pharmacy for legitimate pharmacies.
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