Myths, Misinformation, and Misconceptions Associated with Obesity Drugs
The GLP-1 weight-loss drugs (liraglutide, orforglipron, semaglutide, and tirzepatide) are a popular topic in conversations, news articles, and social media. Let’s sort out the fact versus fiction and learn more about getting and affording these medications that are used to promote weight loss.
My insurance doesn’t cover these medications for weight loss, should I buy them from an online pharmacy for less?
Without insurance, these drugs can cost around $1000 or more per month, so many people consider buying them at a lower price from an online pharmacy or other programs.
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has concerns about buying these medications from online pharmacies as they may be counterfeit, could contain the wrong ingredients or harmful ingredients, and could contain too little, too much or no active ingredient at all. Another concern is that your usual medical team is not involved in prescribing and monitoring your therapy and the online team may have limited, if any, oversight of your medication use. You should be careful with buying medications online and only purchase from online pharmacies that are licensed by a state in the US.
Could I consider getting one of the drugs from a compounding pharmacy?
Compounding pharmacies make the drugs in a small setting and do not get them from a manufacturer. The FDA and medical professional groups have many safety, quality, and effectiveness concerns about compounding these medications. Read about compounded GLP-1 products for more information.
What about getting my medication directly from the manufacturer?
Manufacturers of certain GLP-1 weight loss medications may offer sponsored programs to reduce the price of your prescription and ship it to you directly. If you are covered by government healthcare providers such as Medicare, Medicaid or other government insurance programs these costs are not considered towards deductibles or out-of-pocket maximums.
One thing to note – the initial price from the manufacturer may be for a certain period or only priced for specific doses or type of product (e.g, syringe, vial, pen).
I’m on Medicare – Is the bridge program an option?
Medicare bridge program is a short-term program (July 1, 2026 to December 31, 2027) to provide GLP-1 medications for people over 65 years of age with a Medicare Part D insurance or a Medicare plan with medication coverage. However, this program will not include drugs for approved indications for use that are eligible through their current prescription coverage or if you are currently receiving one of these medications through your Medicare plan. People meeting the eligibility criteria will only pay $50 per month for the medication.
I’ve seen ads for products that have a similar name to Ozempic or are called “natural Ozempic” – are these safe and effective to use?
Many people are looking for a cheaper product or easier to obtain version of these prescription medications. Many over the counter and herbal products appear to mimic the weight-loss drugs by name but do not contain the actual medication. Since the actual ingredient is unknown it is risky to use these medications.
One popular herbal supplement to promote weight loss is berberine which is derived from the berberis shrub. It has been investigated to manage glucose levels in people with diabetes but has not had an appropriate clinical study to evaluate the use for the management of weight loss. There is the potential for drug interaction with this product with other drugs that are metabolized in the liver. Since berberine is an herbal product, it is not regulated by the FDA for safety, effectiveness, or accuracy of the labeled product. Talk with your doctor or pharmacist before considering the use of this product.
Summary
These are only a few of the many questions associated with obtaining one of these popular drugs to manage obesity. If you find information or have questions it is always best to ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.