With a nationwide shortage of popular weight loss medications, patients are increasingly turning to compounded alternatives. However, these options come with both benefits and risks.
At Louisville Compounding Pharmacy, pharmacists are stepping in to meet the rising demand by providing customized versions of these medications for patients struggling to find brand-name drugs due to supply shortages.
“The demand is high, for sure,” said Erik Mayes, a pharmacist and part owner at the pharmacy.
Certain weight loss injections have become hard to find, with Kentucky’s Bowling Green even earning the nickname “Ozempictown, USA” due to the overwhelming demand for drugs like Ozempic.
In response, some pharmacies are turning to compounding. Compounding involves tailoring medications to meet a patient’s specific needs, such as converting pills to liquid form or providing drugs that are unavailable due to shortages.
However, compounded medications are not FDA-approved, as each formulation is unique to the patient. “There’s a battery of tests that we typically put on these injectable products to make sure they are what they say they are,” explained Mayes.
The FDA has raised concerns about compounded versions of these drugs. The agency has stated it is working with state regulators and compounders to address issues. In 2023, the FDA also warned against using counterfeit semaglutide.
“There are definitely some rogue players out there in this market,” Mayes said, adding that people can easily order medications online without even consulting a provider.
Pharmaceutical giants Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk, makers of Zepbound and Wegovy, have filed lawsuits against medical spas, weight loss clinics, and compounding pharmacies. They argue that some compounded drugs are not only ineffective but potentially dangerous.
Eli Lilly expressed concern that counterfeit or fraudulently claimed drugs could expose patients to serious health risks. Novo Nordisk similarly stated its lawsuits aim to protect consumers from deceptive marketing and harmful compounded drugs.
The FDA has received reports of at least seven deaths linked to compounded semaglutide, the active ingredient in these weight loss medications.
The Alliance for Pharmacy Compounding has pushed back against the manufacturers’ claims, arguing that legitimate compounding is distinct from illegal practices. In a statement, the group criticized recent letters from Novo and Lilly for blurring the lines between legal compounding and illicit substances.
Mayes pointed out that the large drug companies have invested significant resources into bringing these drugs to market. “It makes sense they’d want to hang on to every dollar they can,” he said.
To ensure safety, patients are advised to confirm that their pharmacy is licensed in their state and avoid purchasing weight-loss drugs online without a prescription.
“Generally, compounded medications are going to be safe if they’re from a state-regulated pharmacy,” Mayes said.
Until supply issues are resolved, Louisville Compounding Pharmacy will continue providing customized formulations to help patients manage their health.
