Important safety information: Compounded semaglutide

This page provides safety information for semaglutide-based therapy. It is educational and does not replace your prescription label, the information provided by your pharmacy, or your clinician's instructions. Always read the materials that come with your medication.

Compounded status

Compounded semaglutide is not FDA-approved. The FDA does not review compounded medications for safety, effectiveness, or quality before they are marketed. A compounded medication is prepared by a pharmacy for an individual patient need based on a prescription from a licensed prescriber.

If you are prescribed a compounded formulation, your clinician should explain why, and you should understand that its regulatory status differs from an FDA-approved product.

Who it may be prescribed for

Semaglutide-based therapy may be prescribed for chronic weight management in appropriate patients, as part of a broader plan that includes nutrition and physical activity. Only a licensed clinician can determine whether it is appropriate for you.

Who should not use it

Semaglutide is not appropriate for everyone. It should not be used by people with a personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma, people with Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2, or anyone with a known hypersensitivity to semaglutide or any component of the formulation. It is not used during pregnancy or while breastfeeding.

Careful evaluation is needed for people with a history of pancreatitis, gallbladder disease, significant kidney impairment, certain gastrointestinal conditions including gastroparesis, diabetic retinopathy, or a history of an eating disorder. Tell your clinician about all of these.

Semaglutide belongs to a class carrying a boxed warning regarding thyroid C-cell tumors based on animal studies. Discuss this with your clinician.

Medication interactions

Disclose every medication and supplement you take. Particular care is needed with insulin or sulfonylureas, since combining them with semaglutide increases the risk of low blood sugar and may require dose changes to those medications.

Do not combine semaglutide with another GLP-1 or GLP-1/GIP medication unless a clinician has specifically directed it. Safety in combination with other weight-loss products is not established.

Symptoms that need prompt medical attention

Seek medical care promptly for severe or persistent vomiting, an inability to keep fluids down, or signs of dehydration such as dizziness, very dark urine, or reduced urination; severe or persistent abdominal pain, particularly pain radiating to the back, which can indicate pancreatitis; pain in the upper right abdomen, fever, or yellowing of the skin or eyes, which can indicate a gallbladder problem; signs of an allergic reaction such as rash, itching, swelling of the face or throat, or difficulty breathing; or new visual changes.

A new lump in the neck, persistent hoarseness, difficulty swallowing, or shortness of breath should be evaluated promptly.

For a severe reaction, difficulty breathing, or any symptom that feels like an emergency, call emergency services rather than waiting to reach your care team.

Dosing and measurement safety

If your medication is supplied in a vial and you draw doses yourself, measurement errors are a recognized risk. Syringe units measure volume, not milligrams, and the relationship between them depends on your specific concentration.

Your prescription and pharmacy label should state your dose in milligrams alongside the corresponding syringe units. If that mapping is not clear to you, do not estimate and do not inject. Contact your clinician or pharmacy first.

If you miss a dose, do not double up. Contact your care team for instructions. Never adjust your own dose.

How to get help

Contact your care team with any question about side effects, measurement, or missed doses. If you are unsure, ask before injecting.

Explore Luvo's Weight Loss Program.

This information is educational and does not replace your prescription label or your clinician's instructions. Compounded medications are not FDA-approved. Always consult a licensed healthcare provider, and seek prompt medical attention for the symptoms described above.