
| Medication | FDA status | Cash price | Medicare GLP-1 Bridge | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Medication Zepbound Eli Lilly · tirzepatide Weekly injectionVial or KwikPen | FDA status ✓ Weight loss; sleep apnea with obesity | Cash price $299–$449 /mo self-pay | Medicare GLP-1 Bridge $50/mo (KwikPen) | |
| Medication Wegovy Novo Nordisk · semaglutide Weekly injection | FDA status ✓ Weight loss; heart risk | Cash price $199–$349 /mo self-pay | Medicare GLP-1 Bridge $50/mo | |
| Medication Wegovy pill Novo Nordisk · semaglutide Daily pill | FDA status ✓ Weight loss | Cash price $149–$299 /mo self-pay | Medicare GLP-1 Bridge $50/mo | |
| Medication Foundayo Eli Lilly · orforglipron Daily pill | FDA status ✓ Weight loss | Cash price $149–$299 /mo self-pay | Medicare GLP-1 Bridge $50/mo | |
| Medication Compounded semaglutide Compounding pharmacies Weekly injection | FDA status ✕ Not FDA-approved | Cash price $79–$289 /mo via telehealth | Medicare GLP-1 Bridge Not covered | |
| Medication Compounded tirzepatide Compounding pharmacies Weekly injection | FDA status ✕ Not FDA-approved | Cash price $129–$359 /mo via telehealth | Medicare GLP-1 Bridge Not covered | |
| Medication Ozempic Novo Nordisk · semaglutide Weekly injectionAlso a pill | FDA status ✓ Type 2 diabetes (not weight loss) | Cash price $199–$499 /mo self-pay | Medicare GLP-1 Bridge Not covered | |
| Medication Mounjaro Eli Lilly · tirzepatide Weekly injection | FDA status ✓ Type 2 diabetes (not weight loss) | Cash price $499 /mo self-pay | Medicare GLP-1 Bridge Not covered |
Brand-name prices are the makers’ monthly self-pay prices; compounded prices are the month-to-month range we found across telehealth providers. Covered insurance can bring brand-name drugs down to $25, and eligible Medicare Part D members pay up to $50 through the Bridge. We recheck every price at least once a month.








GLP-1 medications are prescription drugs that act like GLP-1, a gut hormone that lowers appetite and slows digestion. Tirzepatide, the drug in Zepbound and Mounjaro, also acts on a second hormone, GIP. Depending on the brand, they are approved for type 2 diabetes or for weight management. How GLP-1 medications work.
Wegovy (injection and pill), Zepbound and Foundayo are approved for weight management, and so is Saxenda (liraglutide), an older daily injection. Ozempic, Mounjaro and Rybelsus are approved for type 2 diabetes, not weight loss. Compounded semaglutide and tirzepatide are not FDA-approved.
Among FDA-approved options for weight loss, the Wegovy pill and Foundayo start at $149 a month at their lowest doses, and Zepbound starts at $299. At maintenance doses, the Wegovy pill and Foundayo cost $299 a month, the Wegovy injection $349 and Zepbound $449. Compounded versions often cost less, but they aren’t FDA-approved. GLP-1 cost without insurance.
Through the Medicare GLP-1 Bridge, eligible Part D patients pay no more than $50 a month for Wegovy (injection or pill), the Zepbound KwikPen or Foundayo prescribed for weight management, from July 1, 2026 through December 31, 2027. Ozempic and Mounjaro aren’t part of the Bridge; Part D plans cover them for type 2 diabetes. Who qualifies for the Bridge.
Semaglutide, in Wegovy and Ozempic, acts on the GLP-1 receptor. Tirzepatide, in Zepbound and Mounjaro, acts on both the GIP and GLP-1 receptors. Each drug has a brand approved for weight management and a brand approved for type 2 diabetes, made by the same company.
Yes. The Wegovy pill and Foundayo are approved for weight management. You take the Wegovy pill on an empty stomach with a little water; Foundayo can be taken with or without food. Rybelsus and Ozempic tablets are approved for type 2 diabetes. GLP-1 pills compared.
Yes. Every GLP-1 medication, brand-name or compounded, needs a prescription from a licensed clinician. Your own doctor can write it, or a telehealth provider after an online visit. Skip any site that sells them without one.
No. The FDA doesn’t review compounded drugs for safety, effectiveness or quality before they’re sold, and the rules for compounded semaglutide and tirzepatide are tightening in 2026. What’s changing for compounded GLP-1s.
You need a prescription from a licensed clinician. A telehealth provider can write one after an online visit, then send it to the maker’s pharmacy (LillyDirect or NovoCare) or sell you the drug itself. Compare the provider’s fee plus the drug price, not the headline price. Each medication page above lists the providers that offer it.
The most common side effects across GLP-1 medications are nausea, diarrhea, vomiting and constipation, usually while the dose is going up. The labels also list rarer, serious risks. Our GLP-1 side effects guide covers what to expect and when to call a doctor.
We take brand-name prices from each maker’s own pages (LillyDirect and NovoCare), list prices from TrumpRx.gov, approvals from FDA labels on DailyMed, and Medicare rules from Medicare.gov and CMS. Compounded prices come from each telehealth provider’s own pricing pages. We last checked them between September 23 and October 1, 2026, and we recheck every month. We don’t buy the drugs or sign up for plans. If a price has changed, tell us.
Some providers named on the medication pages are affiliate partners, and we earn a commission when you sign up through our links. Commissions never change the order or what we write. How we make money and our editorial policy explain the rules we follow. We drafted this page with AI assistance and checked every number against its source.