Compounded semaglutide vs Ozempic
Ozempic is FDA-approved semaglutide made by Novo Nordisk; compounded semaglutide is made by compounding pharmacies and is not FDA-approved. At the starting dose, the lowest self-pay prices are ≈ $213 per 30 days for Ozempic injection, $199/fill initially at NovoCare (Novo Nordisk); $149 per 30 days for Ozempic tablet, $149/30 days at NovoCare (Novo Nordisk). The lowest compounded semaglutide price that states its supply is ≈ $103 per 30 days: $96.05/28 days at Affinity Direct, on a 3-month plan paid upfront.
Ozempic
FDA-approved · Novo Nordisk
Injection
Lowest self-pay, starting dose
$199/fill initially≈ $213.21 per 30 days at this quoted rate
Offer through
Checked
Ozempic pen
NovoCare (Novo Nordisk) · Manufacturer direct
first two monthly fills at 0.25 or 0.5 mg for new patients, prescribed by Dec 31, 2026
Price conditions
first two monthly fills at 0.25 or 0.5 mg for new patients, prescribed by Dec 31, 2026
After the introductory offer: $349 per monthly fill for 0.25, 0.5, or 1 mg; $499 for 2 mg. NovoCare defines one injection fill as a 28-day supply. Eligibility and restrictions apply.
28-day supply
Tablet
Lowest self-pay, starting dose
$149/30 days$149 per 30 days at this quoted rate
Checked
Ozempic tablets
NovoCare (Novo Nordisk) · Manufacturer direct
self-pay, 1.5 mg starting dose
Price conditions
self-pay, 1.5 mg starting dose
A prescription is required. The 1.5 mg initiation dose costs $149 for 30 tablets. Self-pay purchases are processed outside insurance and do not count toward deductibles or out-of-pocket limits. Ozempic tablet prices are separate from Wegovy tablet prices.
30-day supply
Compounded semaglutide
Not FDA-approved · 32 sellers
Lowest with a stated supply
$96.05/28 days28-day supply · 3-month upfront payment required
≈ $102.91 per 30 days at this quoted rate
Checked
Compounded semaglutide via Affinity Direct
Affinity Direct · Sourced provider quote
3-month starter pack (0.25, then 0.5, then 1 mg weekly) on auto-refill, billed $288.15 every 12 weeks, the same price at each reorder; a single 4-week supply bought one time is $169 to $199 by dose; medication, provider review, injection supplies and cold shipping included; no membership fee
Price conditions
3-month starter pack (0.25, then 0.5, then 1 mg weekly) on auto-refill, billed $288.15 every 12 weeks, the same price at each reorder; a single 4-week supply bought one time is $169 to $199 by dose; medication, provider review, injection supplies and cold shipping included; no membership fee
Each weekly dose is priced separately: one-time 4-week supplies run $169 (0.25 mg) to $199 (2.4 mg), and auto-refill takes 15% off. Auto-refill is optional and can be cancelled at any time; a full refund is given if the provider does not prescribe. Ships to all 50 states. Compounded; not FDA-approved.
28-day supply · 3-month upfront payment required
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Ozempic and compounded semaglutide compared
The same active ingredient, two different products. Prices are the sellers' own; the full lists are on each price page.
| Compare | Ozempic | Compounded semaglutide |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | FDA-approved semaglutide made by Novo Nordisk. | Semaglutide made by compounding pharmacies. Not FDA-approved, and not a generic of Ozempic. |
| FDA review | Reviewed and approved by the FDA for the uses on its label. | Compounded drugs are not FDA-approved: the FDA does not review them for safety, effectiveness or quality before they are marketed. The FDA had received 990 reports of adverse events associated with compounded semaglutide as of May 31, 2026. |
| Approved for |
| No approved use. |
| Forms | Injection (Once weekly); Tablet (Once daily, on an empty stomach) | Injection and tablets, as each seller lists them |
| Sellers with a price | 5 | 32 |
| Lowest price, starting dose |
| ≈ $103 per 30 days at Affinity Direct ($96.05/28 days), the lowest of 8 quotes that state their supply |
| At the top published dose |
| $127.22/28 days at 2.4 mg, from Affinity Direct |
| Trial results | See its label | None that apply: a brand's trial results are for the brand. |
A lower price is not a like-for-like saving. Compounded drugs are not FDA-approved: the FDA does not review them for safety, effectiveness or quality before they are marketed. It has received reports of adverse events, some requiring hospitalization, that may be related to dosing errors with compounded injectable semaglutide, and says salt forms (such as semaglutide sodium) should not be used to compound it. FDA: concerns with unapproved GLP-1 drugs used for weight loss
Compounded semaglutide vs Ozempic: common questions
Is compounded semaglutide the same as Ozempic?
No. Both contain semaglutide, but Ozempic is an FDA-approved product made by Novo Nordisk, and compounded semaglutide is made by compounding pharmacies, is not FDA-approved and is not a generic of Ozempic. Compounded drugs are not FDA-approved: the FDA does not review them for safety, effectiveness or quality before they are marketed. It has received reports of adverse events, some requiring hospitalization, that may be related to dosing errors with compounded injectable semaglutide, and says salt forms (such as semaglutide sodium) should not be used to compound it. FDA: concerns with unapproved GLP-1 drugs used for weight loss
Is compounded semaglutide cheaper than Ozempic?
At the starting dose, the lowest self-pay prices are ≈ $213 per 30 days for Ozempic injection, $199/fill initially at NovoCare (Novo Nordisk); $149 per 30 days for Ozempic tablet, $149/30 days at NovoCare (Novo Nordisk). The lowest compounded semaglutide price that states its supply is ≈ $103 per 30 days: $96.05/28 days at Affinity Direct, on a 3-month plan paid upfront. At the top published dose, ≈ $535 per 30 days for Ozempic injection 2 mg, $499/28 days at NovoCare (Novo Nordisk); $299 per 30 days for Ozempic tablet 9 mg, $299/30 days at NovoCare (Novo Nordisk). The lowest compounded semaglutide top-dose price that states its supply is ≈ $136 per 30 days at 2.4 mg: $127.22/28 days at Affinity Direct, on a 3-month plan paid upfront. 32 sellers publish a price for compounded semaglutide and 5 publish one for Ozempic. They are different products, so a price gap does not make them interchangeable.
Is compounded semaglutide as effective as Ozempic?
Ozempic's approval rests on its own clinical trials. Those results are for Ozempic. The FDA does not review compounded drugs for effectiveness, so they do not carry over to a compounded product.
What is Ozempic approved for?
Injection: Adults with type 2 diabetes: glucose control; cardiovascular risk reduction with established cardiovascular disease; kidney and cardiovascular protection with chronic kidney disease. Tablet: Adults with type 2 diabetes: glucose control and cardiovascular risk reduction in those at high risk. The tablet label does not include the injection's kidney indication.
Can pharmacies still make compounded semaglutide?
The FDA declared the semaglutide shortage resolved in February 2025, which ended the exemption that let pharmacies make copies of the approved drug in bulk. Compounding is now generally limited to patient-specific prescriptions, and the FDA says compounded drugs should only be used for patients whose medical needs an FDA-approved drug cannot meet. No shortage is listed in the latest complete FDA check. The FDA does list discontinuation notices for specific presentations.