Tirzepatide compounded: Can you still buy it?

Key Points

• Compounded tirzepatide was temporarily allowed during supply shortages as an affordable alternative to brand-name versions
• FDA officially ended compounded tirzepatide sales after March 19, 2025, with courts upholding the decision in early May 2025
• FDA-approved Mounjaro and Zepbound remain the legitimate way to access tirzepatide

When tirzepatide came out in 2022, the weight loss results got everyone talking. The medication quickly became so in demand that, soon enough, there wasn’t enough supply. This created a global tirzepatide shortage, leaving many people scrambling for other solutions.

That’s when compounded versions became a lifeline for thousands of Americans, until everything changed in March 2025.

What exactly happened to compounded tirzepatide? Why was there a legal battle over it? And what are your alternatives without compounded tirzepatide? Here’s everything you need to know.

What is compounded tirzepatide?

Compounded tirzepatide is a customized version of tirzepatide made in individual pharmacies. But why does the FDA allow licensed pharmacists to make their own meds? The answer lies in balancing public health needs with the realities of medical practice.

FDA-approved drugs undergo rigorous testing and must be proven to work as intended in clinical trials.

But what happens when a few people are allergic to a dye in a medication?

What if a child or an elderly person cannot swallow pills, but they need a specific medicine?

How do people get their meds during a drug shortage?

That’s when compounded drugs come in. The US FDA allows pharmacies to sell customized versions of commercially available medications to help with these scenarios.

The case of compounded tirzepatide illustrates this process perfectly. When Mounjaro (tirzepatide) first hit the market, it triggered such an unprecedented demand that manufacturers simply couldn’t keep up.

Because of the impact on public health, the FDA permitted the sale of compounded tirzepatide. This stopgap measure ensured people wouldn't have their treatments interrupted while Eli Lilly (tirzepatide's manufacturer) ramped up production capacity.

The FDA’s approval for compounded tirzepatide was always intended to be temporary.

Why is compounded tirzepatide no longer available?

Towards the end of 2024, when Eli Lilly expanded manufacturing to match the demand for tirzepatide, the FDA officially declared the end of the tirzepatide shortage. Pharmacies were not allowed to sell compounded tirzepatide after March 19, 2025.

The agency offered pharmacies time to adjust to the news and provided an off-ramp period. However, the issue is not so straightforward and is steeped in litigation.

The controversy over compounded tirzepatide

Compounded tirzepatide was significantly cheaper than brand-name options. You could get compounded versions for $200-$400, while a Zepbound pen without insurance costs over $1,000. Plus, many online telehealth companies made it super easy for people to order compounded tirzepatide, turning it into a giant cash cow for these businesses.

And since tirzepatide worked well for weight loss and type 2 diabetes, people couldn't get enough of this more affordable version. So much so that even compounding pharmacies struggled to meet public demand during the drug shortage.

So, when the FDA announced the tirzepatide drug shortage was over, a group of compounded pharmacies contested the decision, insisting that it wasn’t. However, in early May 2025, court rulings upheld the FDA’s decision to end the sales of compounded tirzepatide.

Why can’t you get compounded tirzepatide in the long term?

The FDA doesn't let compounded drugs stay on the market indefinitely. The main reason is public safety.

Compounded drugs are not tightly regulated by the FDA. Because each pharmacy creates its own version, it's difficult to verify whether these medications contain potentially harmful additives or to identify counterfeit products in the market. Also, when someone orders a specific tirzepatide dosage, there's no reliable way to confirm they're receiving that exact amount in their prescription.

In fact, the FDA received complaints of over 300 adverse events linked to compounded tirzepatide. The actual number may be higher since many types of pharmacies are not required to notify the FDA about these events.

With compounded tirzepatide no longer readily available, getting a prescription for FDA-approved Mounjaro or Zepbound from a healthcare provider is now the only legitimate way to access this medication.

How to maximize weight loss on tirzepatide?

No matter which version of tirzepatide you're taking, compounded, Mounjaro, or Zepbound, research suggests that the medication works better with a healthy diet and regular exercise.

But, weight loss is highly personal and complex, involving many hormones and factors that vary from person to person. What works for you may not work for someone else.

Finding the best tirzepatide diet can be challenging.

Get personalized nutrition guidance from a registered dietitian who is covered by insurance.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Can you still get compounded tirzepatide?

Compounded tirzepatide is no longer available through regular pharmacies after March 19, 2025. This deadline followed a court ruling that upheld FDA restrictions. Please consult your healthcare provider about FDA-approved alternatives like Mounjaro for type 2 diabetes and Zepbound for weight loss.

2. Does compounded tirzepatide work as well as Mounjaro?

In clinical trials, Mounjaro helped people lose up to 22.5% of their weight in over a year. The medication also helped people lower their A1C levels below 7% and sustain them over time. Compounded tirzepatide, on the other hand, is a DIY version of Mounjaro. There's no reliable way to confirm if all compounded versions work as they should, provide the correct dose, and use safe ingredients.

3. What’s the difference between tirzepatide and semaglutide?

Tirzepatide and semaglutide are in the same class of diabetes weight loss drugs called GLP-1 agonists. A head-to-head comparison showed that tirzepatide (Zepbound) led to more weight loss than semaglutide (Wegovy). Tirzepatide users lost about 20% of their body weight, while semaglutide users averaged around 14%.

This difference could be due to the dual action method for tirzepatide, which mimics two hormones in the body, GLP-1 and GIP, versus semaglutide, which mimics GLP-1 alone.

4. What’s the best tirzepatide dose for weight loss?

The starting dose for Zepbound is 2.5 mg for four weeks to help your body adjust to the medication. After that, your doctor will incrementally increase the dose based on how your body responds. Typically, the maintenance dose for weight loss is 5 mg, 10 mg, or 15 mg a week. Please do not change your dose without consulting your healthcare provider.

5. What is the tirzepatide compound?

Tirzepatide is a medication that mimics two different hormones in the body that affect weight loss, blood sugar levels, and appetite: GLP-1 and GIP. When you eat, tirzepatide helps you feel full faster, reduces your appetite, and triggers the release of insulin to lower your blood sugar levels. It also signals the liver to make less glucose, which helps with overall blood glucose management.

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