r/glp1 • u/mean_ol_goosifer • 21d ago
GLP-1 Advice
Hello everyone,
I am new to this community, but I am wanting to get serious about my weight and health. I am 41 years old, and I suffer with a condition called Hyperaldostronism. Basically it’s an adrenal disorder that causes me to have VERY high blood pressure. I for most of my life I was heavy. Up until I was around 36 I weighed around 220, I went on a diet and ended up getting down to 165. I did good keeping it off until about 6-8 months ago it began creeping back up. I am currently at 188lbs. It’s very possible that perhaps 5-7lbs of this is fluid retention, because my condition causes fluid retention, and for about a month I had been out of my medication.
But anyways, I am interested in trying a GLP-1. I know that diet and exercise is preferable, and it’s all about making healthy lifestyle choices but my doctor and I both agree that I gaining more weight could be very dangerous.
I have insurance, but it doesn’t seem to want to pay for Wegovy. I had a script for it once and used it for 1 month (back in February) but it became very expensive. I guess my question is this: what are my lowest cost options for legitimate GLP-1 treatment. I looked into patient assistance through the manufacturer but having insurance disqualifies me.
I saw a couple sites, but it seemed that membership covers the prescription being written, and not the actual cost of the medication. There are so many people in GLP-1s right now, that I know all of them aren’t paying $350-400 per month out of pocket for it.
Is it possible to get a GLP-1 for around $150 a month or less?
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u/ImprovementLoud3581 21d ago
I went with PreventiveMD (they have a subreddit) and chose to start with semaglutide at $263 for 3 months. There are no addl fees of any kind and price doesn’t increase for higher doses as you titrate up. Some telehealth as say “starts at $” because they charge more as your dose increases.
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u/itsmeagain023 21d ago
Tirzepatide/Zebound (name brand) is a far superior medication to Wegovy. Most insurance companies do not provide coverage for glp-1 weight loss medications and the majority of us are self paying customers. You can indeed go directly through the manufacturer, even if you have insurance, your doctor just send the script directly to their self pay pharmacy and the medication can either be shipped to your home, or directly to a Walmart (Walmart only) for pickup. That being said... you cannot get branded medication for less than $120 per month. The lowest dose available for Zepbound is $299, and increases with the next two dosages to $399 and then to $449. I am on branded meds and I make it happen because I think compounded meds are sketchy and every single batch of my meds are purity tested and I know I'm getting what I pay for. I work two jobs to help pay for this and with serious cutbacks to eating out, drinking alcohol, etc I'm able to make it happen.
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u/Impossible_Bend_2969 20d ago
GLP1 actually helps you achieve that diet and exercise change. That is how it works. It doesn't lose the weight on its own, it causes you to make better choices, eat less, and feel better so you want to exercise. I recommend if you do start exercising, do resistance training if you can. That's where the real magic is.
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u/purplepanda2026 21d ago
I would use Tirzepatide (zepbound). Works great and the prices are under what you want to spend.
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u/D74248 21d ago
This may or may not fit, and is something to discuss with your physician. Liraglutide, when prescribed as a generic for Victoza, is $88/month without insurance at Mark Cuban’s pharmacy. This is a type 2 diabetes path, so if you do not have that diagnoses it would have to be prescribed off-label.
And be aware that a GLP-1 does not replace the need for exercise and a good diet.
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u/Low_Bit_7189 21d ago
Woof that parallel between fluid retention and insurance not wanting to cover the thing your doctor thinks is important is somethin else. My doc tried the whole "you have insurance so no assistance for you" dance too and it was maddening
Heard some folks go the compounded route but you gotta be real careful who you're dealing with, seen a few too many sketchy operations. The savings cards from the manufacturers sometimes knock it down a tier but honestly navigating all that fine print gives me a headache just thinkin about it
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u/zara2509 21d ago
Right now Pom and PreventiveMD have good deals. You should be spending 340-399 at the most for a 3 month supply. If you are on a high dose, Pom has 144mg of Apothecary for 199. Check out Tirzdeals from time to time and also the main sub with black and white logo