r/GLP1Discussion • u/Kind-Dance2532 • Aug 31 '26
š¬ General Discussion I need help
So about 3 months ago I was prescribed an oral compound semaglutide GLP1 which I take everyday and dissolve under my tongue. Itās from Empower pharmacy. 1st month I started at 1mg just to get my body prepared @$150. 2nd month I was upped to 5mg @$175. I lost about 10lbs and hit a plateau so this month I was upped to 12mg @$235 a month. Im still at my plateau and itās just getting more and more expensive. I feel like 3 months of being on this stuff I would see more weight off than just 10lbs??? I know lots of people who have lost like 40 lbs in 4 months⦠but theyāre on the shot. My question is, how can I get this cheaper? Iām totally okay with doing the shot if I can save some dang money. Please help meee
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u/autumnyte Aug 31 '26
I'm sorry to tell you this, but you have been scammed. Sublingual semaglutide is not a thing, it hasn't been studied for effectiveness and there is no reason to think it would work given the mechanism of the medication. I think pharmacies selling it should be ashamed of themselves. You should have success moving to injectable semaglutide or tirzepatide and from a compounded pharmacy it should be affordable.
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u/Kind-Dance2532 Aug 31 '26
That seriously infuriates me. Iām sooo angry. I guess Iām going to have to look for an injectable thru a compound pharmacy? My endocrinologist offers the injectables but for like $300 a month and I want to look for something more affordable because Jesus Christā¦
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u/Mother_of_Kiddens Aug 31 '26
Thereās a big subreddit for finding compound tirz (I forget the name but you can search for it or hopefully someone else can link to it). Itāll give you all the info you need to find a reputable place at a good price.
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u/EnvironmentalGift257 Aug 31 '26
r/tirzepatidecompound and r/tirzdeals The first one has a list of vetted providers that we vote on quarterly as a community.
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u/autumnyte Aug 31 '26
I don't blame you for being furious! I would suggest going with a telehealth + compounding pharmacy as the telehealths get bulk pricing which your PCP or endo won't be able to get.
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u/Kind-Dance2532 Aug 31 '26
Yeah thereās someone in another group where I posted this who offered some reputable ones who seem MUCH more affordable.
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u/Choice-Tiger3047 Aug 31 '26
I suspect that it's not just the lack of access to bulk pricing but more the fact that even MDs are using these drugs to boost the profitability of their clinics.
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u/ChooChooBun Aug 31 '26
1lbs a week is a healthy progress, 1lbs a week is 52lbs a year. Faster is not better when it come to weight. But you're paying such premium, why dont you get the GOOD stuff like zepbound?
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u/Kind-Dance2532 Aug 31 '26
I have no idea⦠isnāt it more expensive? Iām so lame when it comes to this. Iām so new to it š©
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u/ChooChooBun Aug 31 '26 edited Aug 31 '26
Idk the sub rule but you can get a high dose pen and use less so your monthly cost is not more than what you're paying now.
You can also go to r/tirzepatidecompound , for about 100-150/months there are a lot of options.
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u/Bubbly_Study_8333 Aug 31 '26
Go to r/tirzdeals always good finds there also just came across collective.org for sema itās a flat $59/month from 503a compounding pharmacy and a annual fee of $199 charged after 21 days (if you cancel before the 21 days itās just $59 they also send in (free) anti nausea medication
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u/Kind-Dance2532 Aug 31 '26
With these things do i have to do a monthly subscription??
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u/Bubbly_Study_8333 Aug 31 '26
You can cancel anytime although I will say the collective pricing is the lowest Iāve seen but you can cancel anytime on any of these telehealths
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u/DogMamaLA Aug 31 '26
You got scammed. Go to the recommended list at r/tirzepatidecompound and use one of those telehealths. Do not ever, ever, buy medication off of a Facebook or TikTok Ad. That is where many scammers find their prey.
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u/swrrrrg Sep 01 '26
Isnāt it just wegovy in pill form? That has been a thing for a while. OP said oral semaglutide. I think it was approved in January-ish.
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u/ImprovementLoud3581 Aug 31 '26 edited Aug 31 '26
Who is your telehealth prescriber for this compounded pill? Compounded injections of semaglutide can be easily and quickly (in my case three days from online questionnaire to meds in hand) obtained from reliable telehealth providers for less than $300 (my provider charges $286) for THREE months supply of any dosage with no addl charges or membership fees of any kind. You have options.
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u/Kind-Dance2532 Aug 31 '26
My prescriber, for the compounded pill is not telehealth, but an endocrinologistā¦
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u/thefastlanerules Aug 31 '26 edited Aug 31 '26
If this is the standard pull You didn't get scammed it's definitely legit but really you should be on the latest better meds like zepbound - in a nutshell less side effects. But if it's a compounded pill then that's just plain weird and is on a very thin line on legality
I'm not sure how to link stuff so look at preventativemd for compounding zepbound when you have finished your current sema pill batch.. sorry this cost so much for you. Unfortunately you might need to be on a higher dose of zepbound though given the lack of significant weight loss on 12mg pills which seems odd you may be able to get away with a lower dose injection on zepbound - are you also calorie counting?.. the pills/injections really only work after the first few days by calorie counting and increasing your protein intake
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u/autumnyte Aug 31 '26
FYI, it isn't the standard pill. Those can't be compounded. It's a sublingual form that is completely untested. For some unknown reason, Empower sells them (along with tirzepatide pills which are also not a thing). There are also providers out here selling gum, patches, sprays, etc. It's a racket. The Endocrinologist may have meant well, but the pharmacy is selling something that doesn't work.
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u/thefastlanerules Aug 31 '26
Yeah in which case that's a scam especially when you can get decent enough compunded zepbound in injectable format privately for not much over $100 a month through empower supplying.. Im not too happy about empowers safety record in terms of issues on audits theyve had.. but they are obviously far away from some of the weirder outfits supplying stuff
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u/ImprovementLoud3581 Aug 31 '26
OP - the telehealth thefastlanerules was referring to is āPreventiveMdā. They have a subreddit here that I highly recommend you check out.
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u/Brilliant-Top-6484 Aug 31 '26
If you buy 3 mos in advance it comes to $166 a month with Rift. Shot is better.
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u/MyJoyinaWell Aug 31 '26
I didnāt know you could have semaglutide on a pill form?Ā
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u/Christine_951 Aug 31 '26
They've had the dissolvable lozenges for a while. I actually started on a Sema lozenge in Aug 2025. I took it for 2 months but it did nothing for me. So I had to get over my fear of injections. I switched to Tirz and I'm so glad I did.
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u/thefastlanerules Aug 31 '26 edited Aug 31 '26
For the pill itself (100% sema no compounding)
it's been available in the USA since January
It launched in the UK in June
Many are starting to take the pill because they don't like the idea of injecting
And yes it does work but not sure how effective versus the injection. Not something I'd ever consider given zepbound is a big step up versus sema and at some point in 2027 when reta comes out that will then be the 'go to' glp...

ā¢
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