Compound drugs are copies of FDA-approved products made by licensed pharmacists if there is a drug shortage; however, compound drugs are not FDA-approved. The FDA released a statement on March 17 expressing concerns with non-FDA approved GLP-1 weight loss drugs, including semaglutide and tirzepatide. These versions did not undergo FDA review for safety, effectiveness and quality. Patients should fill a doctor’s prescription at a state-licensed pharmacy to be sure they have an FDA-approved drug.

Some serious adverse effects as well as nausea and vomiting linked to dosage errors for semaglutide and tirzepatide, and some compound drugs have been reported. This may have been due to dosage errors when a patient takes an incorrect dose of the drug or when a healthcare provider miscalculates the dosage of a drug.

Compound drugs pose a higher risk to patients than FDA-approved drugs, but can be appropriate if certain drugs face a shortage.

For more information on how to safely buy prescription medications online, visit FDA’s BeSafeRx campaign for resources.

A high demand for GLP-1 drugs for weight loss and diabetes is expected; we are still learning if this will cause more shortages and a return of compounded versions of the drug in the future.