If you are looking for an effective way to meet your weight loss goals but have safety concerns, you are in the right place! With copycat drugs and adverse event reports on the rise, it is understandable that you would be cautious about starting a medical weight loss program. We are proud to offer the VIVA Weight Loss Protocol, a program designed specifically for those eligible for medical weight loss and diabetes management with compounded semaglutide or compounded tirzepatide. Our holistic programs support the whole person going through the weight loss journey, meaning it’s customized to your individual health history, goals, and experience.
Many weight loss effects need to be addressed as your body adjusts to a healthier life. Under our Nurse Practitioner’s care and experience, we can mitigate safety concerns and provide critical oversight during your weight loss journey. The way we source our compounded semaglutide medication, in most cases, is through a compounding pharmacy. This allows us to provide dosages that are custom-made for each client. We can have close control over how much medication you receive in each injection and make changes as needed. Many of our patients understandably have concerns about using a compounded drug, so here we address some common questions about the safety of compounded semaglutide.
According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), drug compounding is the process of combining or altering medication to cater to the needs of individual patients. It can include combining multiple drugs and is often necessary when the standard version is unavailable or for those requiring a different dosage.
While compounding is essential in many cases, some compounders engage in practices that endanger patients and undermine the drug approval process. The FDA has received adverse event reports after instances of false advertising with popular drugs like semaglutide. This is why our team at VIVA Wellness is so stringent about where we source our medications and always work closely with each client throughout their entire weight loss program.
The shortage is not related to a lack of the medication itself but due to a shortage of syringes used in the pens that administer those branded medications. Semaglutide is the active ingredient in brand names Ozempic and Wegovy. Novo Nordisk, the manufacturer of Ozempic, said that 1 and 2 milligram (mg) doses of Ozempic should be available. Still, intermittent supply disruptions have affected the availability of 0.25 mg and 0.5 mg Ozempic “pens.”
Those shortages are “due to the combination of incredible demand coupled with overall global supply constraints,” the statement said. “While product continues to be manufactured and shipped, patients in some areas of the country will experience delays with these doses.”
The dosage of semaglutide to treat obesity is different than the dosage used to treat diabetes—typically 2.4 mg for Wegovy and 2 mg for Ozempic.
At VIVA Wellness, our nurses administer the compounded version of semaglutide with a traditional needle injection. This method of delivering the compounded medication has been well-received by our clients.
While semaglutide is an approved drug, compounded drugs in general are not eligible for FDA approval. The FDA works diligently with compounding pharmacies and state regulators to ensure that quality compounded drugs are available to patients. Through active oversight, the FDA oversees thousands of pharmacies nationwide and enforces strict quality standards for outsourcing facilities. The FDA takes swift and decisive action when compounding pharmacies or outsourcing facilities sell potentially unsafe products that jeopardize patient safety.
While there are many FDA-approved semaglutide products, because of the nature of their approval process, compounded semaglutide is not considered FDA-approved. However, that doesn’t mean that compounded semaglutide is unsafe. The pharmacies we use at VIVA Wellness are large, verified, follow all regulatory guidelines, and are sourced from FDA-registered suppliers.
Read more about the state-licensed pharmacy we use and trust.
According to the American Pharmacists Association, compounded medications, including compounded semaglutide, are extremely common and used by thousands of pharmacies nationwide. State pharmacy boards regulate compounding, and federal and state authorities oversee all pharmacists and pharmacies that compound semaglutide.
However, you need to be sure that you are getting your compounded semaglutide from a trusted source with the close medical oversight we provide at VIVA Wellness. Poorly compounded drugs may contain excessive amounts of active ingredients, leading to serious health problems. Some compounding pharmacies have used salt formulations of semaglutide, but these salt forms have not been approved by the FDA or found to be safe or effective. Because VIVA Wellness takes patient health and safety extremely seriously, we only use a highly trusted compounding pharmaceutical company to provide our medications.
Compounded semaglutide allows us to provide the medication tailored specifically to you and your body. With our protocol, our staff will personally guide you weekly and adjust your dosing based on real-time feedback from your body and your mental, emotional, and lifestyle experience. Your plan is completely customized to your individual needs.
While obtaining a cheaper and modified version of weight loss drugs online may be tempting, these online pharmacies may not be transparent about their drug sources. An online pharmacy may distribute semaglutide sodium, an unapproved medication intended only for research use. Unlicensed sources may also dilute semaglutide or mix it with other drug ingredients, decreasing its efficacy and posing safety concerns. With weight loss companies like Weight Watchers now offering semaglutide-based drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy via telehealth, many may find the convenience appealing.
When it comes to purchasing medicine online, the NIH emphasizes that it’s crucial to be cautious. Many websites sell products that aren’t approved by the FDA, which means they haven’t been tested for safety or effectiveness. Some sites also skip important steps that are meant to protect you, such as requiring only a questionnaire instead of a face-to-face consultation with a healthcare professional.
Taking these medications leaves you more vulnerable to adverse events. You could end up with medicine that doesn’t interact well with other products you use, or you might receive something that is contaminated, fake, or expired.
When you choose VIVA Wellness Signature Weight Loss & Detox Protocols, we assign a qualified healthcare provider to work closely with you to monitor your quality of life and safety concerns during the course of your program. Our program fully supports your body as it adapts to the drug’s effects through all stages of your weight loss program. Most other weight loss clinics are not this attentive. In fact, we spend considerable time helping clients who have misused these medications to either discontinue or safely continue compounded semaglutide within our weight loss protocol.
After discussing your overall health and family history, we will work together to create a plan tailored specifically to you to help you reach your optimal body weight. Our compounded semaglutide protocol uses a weekly injection and may be complemented with other injections and supplements to support weight loss and ease side effects. At VIVA Wellness, your dedicated NP will proactively mitigate side effects and adjust your program based on real-time feedback. We believe in supporting whole-body health to make the drug more easily tolerated and amplify the effects of your weight loss program.
When it comes to offering compounded versions of medication to our clients, the VIVA Wellness Weight & Detox Protocol is one of the safest you will find. Because you are under the care of a team of Nurse Practitioners, we are carefully vetting your health history before deciding whether these GLP-1 medications are safe. Once usage begins, we continuously check in to ensure your health, safety, and results.
The VIVA Wellness Medical Weight Loss Protocol was created alongside our clients who were taking compounded semaglutide medications to lose weight. After monitoring their experiences and challenges, VIVA Wellness Nurse Practitioners discovered an entire set of complementary add-ons that pair with the drug to support the body through the weight loss process.
We customize an individual program for each patient and adjust medications as needed. We know that optimizing kidney and liver functions is important in losing weight and remaining healthy. We can offer clients IV vitamins and hydration to make weight loss easier and minimize side effects like nausea, constipation, bloating, and fatigue. This is why our regular check-ins are so important.
We highly suggest that those considering a weight management program take a look at our compounded semaglutide FAQs, this further discussion of its safety, and why it’s important to work with a medical professional for a weight loss program. We detail an example of a client who had an unfortunate and dangerous experience with a less supportive protocol.
If you are struggling with excess weight, visit our Brookfield, WI clinic and get to know the VIVA Wellness team. We understand that weight loss is not a one-size-fits-all approach, and that’s why we provide a variety of weight loss medications and nutritional counseling to fit your individual needs. Our focus is on your overall wellness, not just losing weight quickly at the expense of your health. Reach out for a consultation today to see if compounded semaglutide is the solution you need to live your best life.
