If you have been searching for semaglutide and immediately closed the tab after seeing the price, you are not alone. Brand-name Ozempic and Wegovy can run anywhere from $900 to $1,400 per month without insurance coverage. For most people, that number ends the conversation before it starts.

But the conversation does not have to end there.

What you are actually paying for with brand-name GLP-1s

When you fill a brand-name prescription, you are paying for the drug manufacturer's patent, their marketing spend, and their distribution infrastructure. The active compound, semaglutide, is the same whether it comes in a brand-name pen or a compounded vial. The difference is who made it and what you paid to get it.

What compounded semaglutide actually costs

Compounded semaglutide is the same active ingredient prepared by a licensed 503A compounding pharmacy. It requires a prescription from a licensed physician, just like the brand-name version. At Oak Longevity, compounded semaglutide starts at $180 per month, with all dosages priced the same. There are no upcharges as you titrate up. New patients currently receive $50 off their first month, bringing that first order to $130.

Tirzepatide, the active compound in Mounjaro and Zepbound and often considered more effective for weight loss, starts at $250 per month at Oak. The first month comes to $199 with the new patient discount.

Is compounded semaglutide safe?

The compounding pharmacies Oak works with are licensed, regulated facilities. Each compound ships with a certificate of analysis. Your prescription is reviewed by a board-certified physician who evaluates your intake, health history, and any contraindications before anything is approved or shipped to you.

Compounded medications are not a grey market workaround. They are a legitimate, legal, and widely used part of the US healthcare system.

What is included at that price

Your monthly cost at Oak covers your medication, free shipping, your physician consultation, and ongoing clinical support. There are no hidden fees for titration adjustments or check-in calls. The price you see is what you pay.

The bottom line

If you have been priced out of GLP-1 therapy by brand-name costs, compounded semaglutide at $180 per month changes the math entirely. The medication works. The physicians are real. The pharmacies are licensed. The only difference is the price.