# Compounded Tirzepatide > Compounded tirzepatide is a once-weekly injection that acts on both GLP-1 and GIP receptors, prescribed for weight management. You take it at home on the same day each week, on a monthly dose plan your provider adjusts as you go, with medication shipped cold to your door. - Category: Weight management - Generic name: tirzepatide - Prescription required: Yes, after review by a licensed clinician - Last updated: 2026-10-08 - Canonical URL: https://increase.health/treatments/compounded-tirzepatide - Start an assessment: https://start.increase.health/weight-loss/questionnaire ## Key facts - **Drug class:** Dual GIP and GLP-1 receptor agonist - **How it's taken:** Once-weekly subcutaneous injection - **Price:** $669 one-time for a 3-month supply (about $223/month) - **Prescription:** Required, after clinician review - **FDA status:** Compounded; not FDA-approved Tirzepatide acts on two incretin pathways, GLP-1 and GIP. Both hormones are released by your gut after you eat and are involved in appetite and blood sugar regulation. It takes one injection a week on a consistent day, rotating sites. You start at a low dose and move up month by month, at a pace your provider sets. Note anything you notice in your care thread, and your provider uses it to adjust your plan. Each order is compounded to your prescription and shipped in temperature-controlled packaging to your door. ## Frequently asked questions ### What does the price include? One payment covers a 3-month plan: a licensed provider's review, the medication, injection supplies, cold-packed shipping, dose adjustments during the plan, and messaging with your care team. There's no subscription and nothing renews automatically. Your card is only charged if a provider approves a prescription; if you're not approved, you pay nothing. You can also split the payment into 4 interest-free instalments with Klarna. ### Does the price go up when my dose goes up? Not during a plan. Your dose may step up over the 3 months and the price stays the same. If you and your care team decide to continue afterwards, the next plan has its own price, shown in the plans above. ### What should I do if my package arrives warm? Don't use it. FDA "recommends patients not use any injectable GLP-1 drug that arrives warm or with insufficient refrigeration, as this can affect the drug's quality." Put it in the fridge, keep the packaging, and message your care team so they can arrange what happens next. ### How long can I use a vial after opening it? Follow the date on your label. For compounded GLP-1 multi-dose vials, FDA also recommends throwing the vial away 28 days after you first use it, even if medicine is left. Write the date on the box the first time you use a vial. ### Can I use it if I'm pregnant, breastfeeding or planning a pregnancy? No. This medicine isn't for use in pregnancy or while breastfeeding, and you should stop if you become pregnant. If you're planning a pregnancy, tell your care team before you start. Tirzepatide can make birth control pills less effective. The FDA-approved label advises switching to a non-pill method, or adding a barrier method such as condoms, for 4 weeks after starting and for 4 weeks after each dose increase. Ask your care team which option suits you. ### Do I need to tell anyone I'm taking it before surgery or a procedure? Yes. Tell the doctor or dentist before any surgery or procedure that needs anaesthesia or sedation, even something routine. These medicines slow how quickly your stomach empties, and the FDA-approved labels warn this can raise the risk of food or liquid getting into the lungs during anaesthesia. ### I don't notice anything yet. Is my medicine working? Responses vary from person to person, and the early weeks of a plan often use the lowest dose while your body adjusts. Keep taking it exactly as your label says, and don't change your dose on your own. If you have questions about how it's going, message your care team; its licensed providers will review your progress at each check-in. ### Important safety information Compounded medications are not FDA-approved. They are prepared by state-licensed compounding pharmacies and may be prescribed when a licensed provider determines the formulation is clinically appropriate for you. Only use medication prescribed to you, at the dose and schedule your provider sets, and tell your provider about every medicine, supplement and medical condition before you start, including if you are pregnant, planning pregnancy or breastfeeding. Stop treatment and seek medical care right away for signs of a serious allergic reaction such as rash, hives, swelling of the face, lips or throat, or trouble breathing. Report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch. For emergencies call 911. ## Important safety information Gastrointestinal effects are the most common: nausea, reflux, diarrhoea or constipation. Seek urgent care for severe or persistent abdominal pain, and contact your provider before any dose change. ## References 1. [FDA's Concerns with Unapproved GLP-1 Drugs Used for Weight Loss](https://www.fda.gov/drugs/postmarket-drug-safety-information-patients-and-providers/fdas-concerns-unapproved-glp-1-drugs-used-weight-loss), U.S. Food and Drug Administration 2. [ZEPBOUND (tirzepatide) Prescribing Information](https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=487cd7e7-434c-4925-99fa-aa80b1cc776b), Eli Lilly, DailyMed --- Increase Health connects patients with independent, US-licensed clinicians. Compounded medications are not FDA-approved. This content is informational and not a substitute for medical advice.