How We’re Getting Semaglutide, the Active Ingredient In Ozempic and Wegovy, For Our Patients

You may be aware that there is a shortage of availability of Ozempic and Wegovy, both brand names of semaglutide. The drug is FDA approved for treatment of Type 2 Diabetes and for weight loss and has gained a lot of popularity recently because of how well it works. ReVitalize prescribes semaglutide for our patients (tirzepatide too) but we do not run into the same supply issues.

What’s the secret?

Well, we’re ordering our semaglutide from a compounding pharmacy. Now, if you’ve never heard of a compounding pharmacy, don’t worry, you’re not alone. But chances are, you’ve actually used medications from one before.

Let me explain how a compounding pharmacy can be a game-changer for you and your family’s medication needs:

Customized Medications: Is your child or elderly parent having trouble swallowing pills? No worries! A compounding pharmacy can create liquid forms of medications, making it easier for them to take their prescribed drugs.
Allergies or Sensitivities: If you or your loved ones are allergic to certain ingredients in medications, compounding pharmacies can recreate those medicines without the allergens, making treatment safer and more manageable.
Specialized Preparations: Have you ever had numbing cream applied before an IV or procedure? The cream may have been prepared by a compounding pharmacy.
Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT): For those on BHRT, compounding pharmacies play a significant role in providing the necessary medications.
Medication Shortages: Even during times of scarcity, like during the COVID pandemic, compounding pharmacies can step in and produce vital medications that are in short supply.

Compounding pharmacies are not new, you've likely used them before

Now, let’s talk about why we can get semaglutide from a compounding pharmacy when it’s on the FDA’s shortage list.

When a drug is in short supply, the FDA allows compounding pharmacies to duplicate it, essentially creating an alternative version of the commercially sold drug that’s currently unavailable.

You might be curious about what will happen if semaglutide is taken off the shortage list. There are two schools of thought on this:

What happens if semaglutide is taken off the shortage list?

There are 2 schools of thought on this:

School of Thought 1: Some believe that if brand name medications are removed from the FDA shortage list, compounding pharmacies may no longer be allowed to manufacture semaglutide.

School of Thought 2: Others argue that since most compounding pharmacies combine B-12 or L-carnitine with their sterile compounded semaglutide, the resulting compound is materially different from the patented version made by NovoNordisk. Hence, they could continue producing this novel version of semaglutide with the additive.

As of now, the FDA has not given a definitive answer on which school of thought will prevail.

Generic vs. “Generic”:

Now, you may hear us use the term “generic” when referring to our compounding pharmacy’s version of semaglutide. We want to clarify that in the context of pharmaceuticals, “generic” typically means a drug manufactured after a previous name-brand drug has lost its patent protection. However, that’s not the case with Ozempic and Wegovy, as they still hold their patent protection.

We use the term “generic” simply because it is an alternative way of saying that the medication is not a name brand, which is easier to understand for most patients. Regardless of the term used, whether it’s “generic,” “replicated,” or “analogue,” it contains the same active ingredient, whether made at a compounding pharmacy or a large pharmaceutical company.

Quality Standards of Compounding Pharmacies:

Image of scientists in a lab looking through a microscope. Text reads "High Quality is of Utmost Importance"

We understand that the quality of medications is essential to you and your family’s health. That’s why the compounding pharmacies we work with are considered “outsourcing facilities” under The Drug Quality and Security Act of 2013. This means they are overseen and inspected by the FDA and state regulators, ensuring that they adhere to high standards and current good manufacturing practices.

We’ve had a fantastic experience with these pharmacies and do not anticipate any issues moving forward. We are currently ordering your medications in 3 month supplies in order to ensure that you continue to have your medication without treatment gaps.

So, if you’re part of our program, you’re in good hands. If not, and you’re interested in semaglutide, tirzepatide, or want to learn more about them, don’t hesitate to read more on our website or schedule a consultation online.

Remember, your health and well-being matter, and we’re here to support you every step of the way.