⚠️ Important: About Your Medication
If you purchased the compounded GLP-1 medication, The medication you received from Bliv is a compounded GLP-1 prepared by a licensed compounding pharmacy. It is not a branded manufacturer product. It is not Ozempic®, Wegovy®, Mounjaro®, or Zepbound® — which are brand-name medications manufactured by Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly respectively. Compounded medications are not FDA-approved finished drug products, though they are prepared under federal standards by licensed pharmacies. If you have questions about this distinction, please speak with your Bliv provider.
What Does "Compounded" Mean?
A compounded medication is one that is prepared by a licensed compounding pharmacy specifically for an individual patient based on a valid prescription from a licensed provider. Rather than being manufactured in large batches by a pharmaceutical company and sold as a finished drug product, compounded medications are mixed to order — sometimes to achieve a specific dose, formulation, or combination of ingredients not available in a commercially manufactured product.
Compounding pharmacies operate under federal and state regulations, including oversight from state pharmacy boards and, in certain cases, the FDA. Bliv works exclusively with licensed compounding pharmacies that meet these standards.
How This Applies to Your GLP-1 Medication
The active pharmaceutical ingredient in your medication — Semaglutide or Tirzepatide — is the same ingredient found in branded GLP-1 products. However, your medication is not manufactured by Novo Nordisk or Eli Lilly, and it is not an FDA-approved finished drug product. It is a compounded preparation of that active ingredient, made by a pharmacy licensed to compound it.
This distinction matters for several reasons:
Regulatory status: Branded GLP-1 products like Ozempic® and Mounjaro® are FDA-approved finished drug products. Compounded GLP-1 medications are not FDA-approved, though the compounding pharmacies that prepare them are regulated under federal standards.
Insurance coverage: Most insurance plans do not cover compounded medications. Bliv's pricing is designed to make treatment accessible without insurance.
Availability: Compounded formulations became widely available during periods of shortage of branded GLP-1 products. The availability of compounded GLP-1 medications is subject to change based on FDA shortage designations and regulatory guidance.
Is Compounded GLP-1 Safe?
When prepared by a licensed compounding pharmacy using pharmaceutical-grade active ingredients and following current good compounding practices, compounded GLP-1 medications can be safe and effective. Bliv's pharmacy partners are vetted and licensed. Your medication undergoes testing for potency, sterility, and beyond-use stability before dispensing.
That said, as with any medication, risks exist. Your Bliv provider reviews your health history before prescribing and is available through the patient portal if concerns arise during your treatment.
Questions About Your Specific Medication?
Log into your patient portal at app.joinbliv.com/login to message your provider, or book a nurse call: