A Comprehensive Guide to Compounded Tirzepatide for Weight Loss

For many people, the path to their desired body weight is filled with obstacles: hormone issues, stress, perimenopausal symptoms, aging, busy schedules, diets that just don’t seem to work — the list goes on.

But what if there was something that really could make your journey a little easier? 

With the way it’s been taking the internet by storm lately, you might have already heard of Compounded Tirzepatide. It’s a type of injectable GLP-1 medication that is transforming how people approach weight management.

Considering Compounded Tirzepatide isn’t the first product to be regarded as the perfect weight-management solution, it’s only natural that you have a few questions. That’s why the experts at Henry Meds are here to give you the answers. In this blog post, we’ll cover everything you need to know about Compounded Tirzepatide to help you decide if it’s right for you.

A Closer Look at Tirzepatide

Tirzepatide is the active ingredient in the popular Mounjaro® injection. Mounjaro® is a U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved medication that’s primarily used to help people with Type 2 diabetes manage their blood sugar levels. It’s also a common and acceptable medical practice to prescribe Tirzepatide for weight loss, though it isn’t FDA-approved for that use yet.¹

To properly understand Tirzepatide, you need to know what GIP and GLP-1 are. GIP stands for glucose-dependent insulinotropic peptide, and GLP-1 stands for glucagon-like peptide-1. They’re both hormones produced in your gut that stimulate insulin release from the pancreas. 

Tirzepatide is a dual GIP/GLP-1 receptor agonist. In other words, it mimics these hormones by binding to your body's GIP and GLP-1 receptors. This stimulates the same response as your body’s natural GIP and GLP-1 hormones.²

What is Compounded Tirzepatide?

Compounded Tirzepatide is a specialized, injectable form of Tirzepatide. A compounding pharmacy prepares and mixes the medication based on your individual needs. They may create personalized dosages, add other medications, or create alternative forms of Tirzepatide.³ Henry Meds utilizes carefully screened FDA-regulated 503(a) and licensed 503(b) compounding pharmacies across the US.

Is It Legal?

So, is Compounded Tirzepatide legal? The short answer is yes. According to the FDA, compounded drugs are legal if there’s a shortage of brand-name medication. Since the Tirzepatide injection is on the FDA drug shortages list, it’s completely legal. 

It’s also legal if your doctor prescribes it if you’re unable to afford a name-brand version.⁴

How It Works

Tirzepatide works by binding to your body’s GLP-1 receptor, enhancing insulin secretion to help regulate blood sugar levels. It also slows down gastric emptying, which is when your stomach pushes your digested food (chyme) into the small intestine. In turn, it reduces your appetite by promoting a feeling of fullness. 

These functions help you keep your blood sugar at a healthy level, control your appetite, and reduce calorie intake.⁵

Like any other weight management medication, Tirzepatide may not be enough to help you lose weight on its own. Combining it with regular exercise and a healthy, balanced diet can help you increase your chances of success.

How to Take It

Compounded Tirzepatide dosages are administered as weekly subcutaneous injections into your upper arm, abdomen, or thigh. You or your healthcare provider will inject Tirzepatide underneath the top layer of your skin, rotating the injection site with each dose.⁵

Tirzepatide doses can vary per person based on their personal health history, current health condition, and the pharmacy that they receive their medications from. Therefore, your doctor will work with you to choose the best starting dose based on your personal health history and needs. 

Tirzepatide injections can be administered at any time of the day. However, it’s recommended to follow your clinician’s advice for dosing. 

Who Can Take It?

As mentioned, Compounded Tirzepatide was designed to treat high blood sugar and obesity in people with Type 2 diabetes. But since it has such strong weight loss properties, it’s often used off-label to treat obesity.

But remember, it’s not a one-size-fits-all solution. Your clinician will assess your situation to see if you’re a good candidate for Compounded Tirzepatide treatment.

Who Can’t Take It?

If you’re pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding, you may not be eligible for Compounded Tirzepatide.

You might also be ineligible if you have certain underlying health conditions, such as:

• Hypoglycemia

• Kidney impairments

• Gastrointestinal disease

• Gallbladder disease 

These conditions don’t rule you out completely; your healthcare provider will have to look at your unique situation to decide if you’re eligible and monitor you closely if you’re approved.⁵

Some conditions are a definite no-go for getting Compounded Tirzepatide injections. For example, you can’t receive injections if you have or have had thyroid cancer or thyroid tumors. You also don’t qualify if you have an allergy or hypersensitivity to Tirzepatide or any of the ingredients in your formula.⁵

Getting Compounded Tirzepatide With Henry Meds

If you’re eligible for Compounded Tirzepatide injections, you can only access it through a prescription from a healthcare provider. Your provider will send the prescription with the specific formula to a compounding pharmacy.

Here at Henry, we follow a smooth, easy process so you can get your prescription with no fuss:

• Register: Visit our website, pick the Tirzepatide Weight Management program, pick your location, and grab a telehealth appointment time that fits your schedule.

• Set Up: Create your account and add your payment information, then fill out some basics about your health and verify your email address.

• Confirmation: You’ll get an email with all the details — your appointment date, time, and a link to our secure video platform.

• Appointment: Attend your telehealth video appointment with our friendly expert clinicians. They’ll answer any questions and let you know what to expect.

• Prescription: If you’re eligible, you’ll get a prescription for Compounded Tirzepatide. We’ll send it off to the compounding pharmacy to make it for you.

• Delivery: Your medication will arrive at your doorstep, along with any needed supplies. The timing might vary depending on the medication and pharmacy. No lines, no fuss!

• Refill: When it’s time for a refill, you’ll get an email with a follow-up questionnaire. Our clinicians will review it and either approve the refill or request a follow-up appointment.

Our personalized approach ensures you get the right dosage and formulation for your unique needs. If you want to start your weight management journey with Tirzepatide, you can schedule an appointment with one of our experts today.

The Advantages and Disadvantages of Compounded Tirzepatide

Compounded Tirzepatide offers a unique approach to weight management. But, like all medications, it comes with its own set of advantages and disadvantages.

The Benefits of Compounded Tirzepatide

In addition to weight loss and blood sugar control, the benefits of Compounded Tirzepatide are numerous:

• Excellent for overall health: GLP-1 medications like Tirzepatide have been shown to lower total cholesterol and systolic and diastolic blood pressure. They also have been connected to improved heart, liver, and muscular health. They may even lower HbA1c levels, which measure long-term blood sugar control. This, in turn, means they also reduce the risk of common complications associated with diabetes.⁶

• Affordable: Tirzepatide is often the more affordable option than other brand-name medications. In fact, it may be hundreds of dollars cheaper, depending on where you get it from. With Henry’s Tirzepatide Weight Management Treatment, your $449 monthly membership fee covers visits with your clinician and the cost of your medication. No insurance is needed. While we know this isn’t affordable for many, it is less expensive than the name-brand options, which may be as much as $1,200 per month.

• Customized care: Compounded Tirzepatide is tailored to your individual needs, so you can be sure it’s the most effective formulation.

The Disadvantages of Compounded Tirzepatide

While Compounded Tirzepatide has many benefits, it has downsides. 

Like all GLP-1 medications, Compounded Tirzepatide has some potential adverse effects to consider, such as:

• Nausea/vomiting

• Decreased appetite

• Diarrhea

• Constipation

• Abdominal pain

• Dehydration

Some people also experience irritation at the injection site. In extremely rare cases, Tirzepatide may also lead to:

• Acute pancreatitis

• Acute kidney injury

• Hypoglycemia

• Acute gallbladder disease⁵

Since Tirzepatide stimulates gastric emptying, it can potentially keep other oral medications from absorbing fully. Therefore, you and your doctor may have to change your dosage of other oral medications when you start getting Compounded Tirzepatide injections. Notably, if you’re taking oral birth control, you may have to switch to a non-oral method or add barrier methods.⁵

Compounded Tirzepatide vs. Other Weight Management Treatments

There are many injectable weight management medications on the market, which, understandably, leaves many people unsure about which to choose. 

We’ve done the work for you and narrowed the list down to the top three GLP-1 injections available: Tirzepatide, Semaglutide, and Liraglutide. All three are FDA-approved injectable medications used to treat Type 2 diabetes and chronic obesity.⁷

While they all go through the same compounding process, these GLP-1 medications have some notable differences that are worth considering.

Tirzepatide vs. Semaglutide

Semaglutide is the active ingredient in Ozempic® and Wegovy®. It’s a great option for weight management and diabetes management. 

Clinical trials have also shown that Tirzepatide is more effective for weight loss.²

Tirzepatide is slightly more expensive than Semaglutide, too. Here at Henry, you can get Tirzepatide prescribed online for $449 per month, while Compounded Semaglutide is $297 per month. Telehealth appointments with your provider and medication management are both included in your monthly fee.

Tirzepatide vs. Liraglutide

Liraglutide is the active ingredient in Saxenda®. Like the other two options, it’s also an effective weight management treatment.

But according to clinical trials, Liraglutide isn’t as effective for weight management as Tirzepatide and semaglutide.⁸

Pricing and Plans for Compounded Tirzepatide

So, how much does Compounded Tirzepatide cost? The cost varies depending on the formulation, pharmacy, and insurance coverage.

Affordable Tirzepatide Weight Management Treatment With Henry

Here at Henry, we believe everyone should have access to the best care possible. That’s why we make getting Compounded Tirzepatide easy and affordable. With our Tirzepatide Weight Management program, you only pay $449 monthly without insurance! 

That price includes:

• Online appointments

• Prescription

• Compounding pharmacy service

• Medication shipment every 60 days.

There are no hidden fees and no contracts. You get your medication sent straight to your door.

Interested in trying Tirzepatide? Speak with a weight management expert from Henry today to see if it’s a good fit for you.

Answering Common Questions About Tirzepatide

Is Tirzepatide Available in Tablet Form?

Yes! Henry Meds is one of the first to offer Compound Tirzepatide in a daily dissolvable tablet form.

How Long Does It Take to See Results from Tirzepatide?

There’s no guaranteed timeline for weight loss with Tirzepatide — it varies from person to person. Some may start seeing results within a few weeks, while others may take up to several months. Your healthcare provider will monitor your progress and work with you to adjust your dosage as necessary.

Is Tirzepatide Harmful to the Kidneys?

Tirzepatide hasn’t been shown to be harmful to the kidneys in most people. However, in very rare cases, some people may develop acute kidney disease due to dehydration. People with preexisting kidney conditions may also be at higher risk.¹

In any case, your clinician will help you weigh the risks to see if Tirzepatide is right for you.

Do You Need Compounded Tirzepatide?

If you think you need Compounded Tirzepatide, Henry Meds is a platform that brings together patients, providers, and compounding pharmacists to give more people access to the treatment they need.

Start your online assessment today to schedule an appointment with one of our clinicians and see if our Tirzepatide Weight Management program is right for you. 

Judgment-free weight management care, no insurance needed.

Please note: Henry Meds does not offer Mounjaro® or Zepbound®, which are only available from the Eli Lilly company. Compounded Tirzepatide is a patient-specific medication created in a state Board of Pharmacy or FDA-licensed compounding facility per a prescription from a licensed healthcare professional. Compounded drugs are required to exclusively use ingredients from FDA-licensed facilities, and test sterile compounds for potency, sterility, and purity. While compounded drugs are legal they do not undergo pre-market approval from the FDA as they are not made in large batches for the public, compounds are made based on specific orders from a medical professional. Because of that the dose, route of administration, safety, and efficacy may differ from commercially available, brand-name, drugs. Henry Meds exclusively works with licensed sterile compounding pharmacies in the United States. 

Please note: Henry Meds does not offer Ozempic®, Rybelsus®, or Wegovy®, which are only available from the Novo Nordisk company. Compounded Semaglutide is a patient-specific medication created in a state Board of Pharmacy or FDA-licensed compounding facility per a prescription from a licensed healthcare professional. Compounded drugs are required to exclusively use ingredients from FDA-licensed facilities, and test sterile compounds for potency, sterility, and purity. While compounded drugs are legal they do not undergo pre-market approval from the FDA as they are not made in large batches for the public, compounds are made based on specific orders from a medical professional. Because of that the dose, route of administration, safety, and efficacy may differ from commercially available, brand-name, drugs. Henry Meds exclusively works with licensed sterile compounding pharmacies in the United States. 

To help you trust the information we provide, every article written by Henry relies on peer-reviewed studies and medically-reviewed facts. We ensure that data, ideas, and figures cited are reliable, current, and accurate. Our team of medical reviewers aim to help you cut through the noise with clear and authoritative primary and secondary sources.

Nothing in this article is intended to be prescriptive or medical advice. Talk to your doctor before starting a new diet and exercise plan. Information presented is about our medically supervised weight management programs and is not an advertisement for a specific drug.