Which GLP-1 medications can be prescribed online?
Two GLP-1 medications can be prescribed through Peptides.build: compounded semaglutide, which acts on the GLP-1 receptor, and compounded tirzepatide, which acts on both the GIP and GLP-1 receptors. Both are once-weekly injections compounded by a licensed US 503A pharmacy. The molecules are FDA-approved as branded drugs; the compounded versions are not, and a licensed US provider decides whether either fits your history.
Weight Management protocols compared
What each protocol is, the type of evidence published so far, the form it is prescribed in, the lowest effective monthly price, and its regulatory status. Evidence is described by study type, not graded.
| Protocol | What it is | Evidence to date | Form | From | Regulatory |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Compounded Tirzepatide | Once-weekly dual GIP and GLP-1 receptor agonist. | Large randomized trials of the branded product in obesity and type 2 diabetes, including head-to-head trials against semaglutide; no trials of compounded versions. | Injection, arrives reconstituted | $118/mo | Prescription only. The compounded medication is not FDA-approved; tirzepatide is FDA-approved as the branded drugs Zepbound and Mounjaro. |
| Compounded Semaglutide | Once-weekly GLP-1 receptor agonist. | Large randomized trials of the branded product in obesity, type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular risk; no trials of compounded versions. | Injection, arrives reconstituted | $68/mo | Prescription only. The compounded medication is not FDA-approved; semaglutide is FDA-approved as the branded drugs Wegovy, Ozempic and Rybelsus. |
| Protocol | Human clinical trials | Other human studies | Animal and lab studies | Review articles | Breakdown |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Compounded Tirzepatide | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 cited sources: 3 human clinical trials |
| Compounded Semaglutide | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 cited sources: 4 human clinical trials |
| Protocol | Monthly | 3-month | 6-month | 12-month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Compounded Tirzepatide | $250/mo | $166/mo | $158/mo | $118/mo |
| Compounded Semaglutide | $145/mo | $95/mo | $94/mo | $68/mo |
Weight Management protocols
How do you choose a weight management protocol?
Semaglutide and tirzepatide work on the same appetite and blood-sugar signaling, the incretin system, but on a different number of receptors. Semaglutide acts on one, GLP-1. Tirzepatide adds a second, GIP. Both have large randomized trials behind them, all run on the FDA-approved branded products, and the two have been compared head to head in published trials in type 2 diabetes and in obesity.
Neither is a short course. Both are prescribed as a weekly injection whose strength the provider raises gradually over the first weeks to limit stomach side effects, then holds and reviews. Which medication, and how fast to step up, depends on your history, your other medications and how you respond, so it is decided at intake and revisited at each check-in.
A GLP-1 is not a substitute for training, protein and sleep, and stopping one is a conversation with the provider rather than a date on a calendar. Both medications ship already in solution with the concentration on the pharmacy label.
Who weight management protocols are considered for
- Adults working with a provider on weight management and body composition.
- People who want GLP-1 care with a prescriber they can message and regular check-ins.
- Former athletes rebuilding a sustainable training base.
Who should not start one
- Anyone with a personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma, or with MEN 2.
- Anyone pregnant, trying to conceive, or breastfeeding.
- People with a history of pancreatitis, unless their own physician has cleared it.
- Anyone a licensed provider determines is not an appropriate candidate.
Eligibility is always determined by a licensed provider during intake.
Prescribed weight management peptides vs research peptides: what is different?
Prescribed weight management peptides are not research chemicals. They are prescription medications: a licensed US provider reviews your intake first, and a licensed 503A pharmacy compounds each one for you by name. Vials sold online as “research use only” skip both steps. What you pay for here is that review, a pharmacy you can name, and a label that says what is in the vial.
A research seller’s certificate of analysis is a document the seller controls: it chooses the lab and the sample, and a PDF can be reused, edited or re-dated. No regulator checks it.
| Point | Prescribed through Peptides.build | Research use only |
|---|---|---|
| Access | Online intake reviewed by a licensed US provider; prescribed only when appropriate. | No prescription and no clinical review of whether it suits you. |
| How it's labeled | A prescription medication compounded for you by name. | Commonly sold labeled “research use only, not for human consumption.” |
| Who prepares it | A licensed 503A US compounding pharmacy under state and federal oversight. | Unregulated suppliers, often with no verifiable chain of custody. |
| Testing | Third-party tested. | Certificates of analysis are self-reported when provided at all. |
| Purity and identity | Prepared to a prescription for a specific patient. | Purity, strength, and even identity are unverified by any independent party. |
This compares two care models, not two products. Compounded medications are not FDA-approved, and we do not claim otherwise. What a prescription adds is a licensed provider deciding whether a protocol is appropriate for you and a licensed pharmacy preparing it. Read the full guide to research vs prescription peptides.
Weight Management guides and tools
- ComparisonSemaglutide vs tirzepatide: what is the difference?
Semaglutide and tirzepatide compared: one receptor or two, the head-to-head trials, side effects, cost and the FDA status of compounded versions.
- GuideWhat is compounded semaglutide?
Compounded semaglutide explained: how it differs from Wegovy and Ozempic, what the trials covered, whether it is safe, its FDA status and how it is prescribed.
- GuideWhat is compounded tirzepatide?
Compounded tirzepatide explained: the dual GIP and GLP-1 agonist, how it differs from Zepbound and Mounjaro, what the trials covered, safety and FDA status.
Weight Management protocol FAQ
Are compounded semaglutide and tirzepatide FDA-approved?
No. Semaglutide is FDA-approved as the branded drugs Wegovy, Ozempic and Rybelsus, and tirzepatide as Zepbound and Mounjaro. The compounded versions prescribed here are prepared by a licensed 503A pharmacy for an individual patient; they are not those branded products, and compounded medications are not FDA-approved.
What is the difference between semaglutide and tirzepatide?
Semaglutide is a GLP-1 receptor agonist. Tirzepatide is a dual agonist of the GIP and GLP-1 receptors. Both are once-weekly injections; the comparison guide linked on this page covers the head-to-head trials.
Are these the same as research peptides sold online?
No. Vials labeled research use only are sold as laboratory chemicals with no prescriber or pharmacy. The medications here are prescribed by a licensed US provider and compounded for you by a licensed 503A pharmacy, labeled with your name and the concentration.
Do I have to inject it every day?
No. Both are prescribed as once-weekly subcutaneous injections. Your provider sets the schedule and the strength.
How much do weight management protocols cost?
Weight Management protocols are $145 to $250 billed monthly, with 3-, 6- and 12-month plans that bring the effective price down to $68 to $118 per month. Every price includes the provider review, compounding by a licensed US 503A pharmacy and cold-chain shipping; there is no separate membership fee.
Build your weight management protocol
A licensed US provider reviews a short online intake and decides what, if anything, is appropriate. A US 503A pharmacy prepares it, labels the concentration and ships it cold-chain, ready to draw.
Protocols on this page are compounded medications and are not FDA-approved. This page is provided for education and is not medical advice. No results are implied or guaranteed. Prescriptions are issued only when a licensed US provider determines treatment is clinically appropriate. Research referenced describes preclinical, review or limited clinical findings, not expected outcomes.