How to safely buy GLP‑1 weight‑loss drugs online and avoid risky compounded versions

Wed, 15 Apr 2026 20:52:00 +0200

Advertisements for GLP‑1 weight‑loss medications like Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, Zepbound and Foundayo have surged across the internet, spurred in part by high‑profile ads such as the 2026 Super Bowl commercial featuring Serena Williams. Rising demand has collided with high prices and limited insurance coverage, creating a booming online market for cheaper, often unregulated alternatives. Health services researchers warn that many of these offers are not for FDA‑approved brand‑name drugs but instead for “compounded” GLP‑1 products made by compounding pharmacies, which may alter ingredients, dosages or production conditions without the same rigorous testing and oversight.

The FDA has alerted patients and clinicians to several risks, including counterfeit Ozempic, use of non‑approved substances such as retatrutide or cagrilintide, and products labeled as “not for human consumption.” As of 2024, the agency had logged over 1,000 adverse‑event reports linked to compounded semaglutide and t