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Whatever your stance is on using the diabetes drug Ozempic to assist with weight loss, there’s no denying that its popularity is at an all-time high. In fact, a survey by independent information organization KFF found that one in eight adults in the US has taken a GLP-1 at least once in their life. Makes sense that we had a GLP-1 shortage last year—intertwining with a new means of getting the drug for those who previously may not have been prescribed: KFF also reported that 11% of people are getting their GLP-1 drug from an online provider or website. Experts say that lower costs and easy access seem to be the driving factors.
Holly Lofton, MD, director of the medical weight management program at NYU Langone Health, explains that GLP-1s and other similar medications can cost well over $1,000 per month without insurance. Dr. Lofton adds that many prescribers may not feel comfortable prescribing these medications (“They have not been properly trained or don’t understand the complexity of overweight and obesity as chronic medical conditions,” she says), making it difficult for patients to get the drug from their primary care physicians.
These online platforms make it convenient for consumers looking to avoid having to go back and forth with their insurance and doctors, with a catch: They can be unregulated. “This convergence of unmet demand and commercial supply has driven individuals toward alternative channels,” says Peter Goulden, MD, FRCP, division chief of the division of endocrinology, diabetes, and bone diseases at Mount Sinai. “Often without full appreciation of the clinical risks involved.”
The Risks
Dr. Goulden says unregulated sources and the absence of clinical screenings of these drugs may lead to incorrect dosages, counterfeit products, or ineffective or contaminated products that can cause serious adverse effects such as dehydration, hypoglycemia, and infection. You also risk not having access to regular monitoring with a licensed professional. Without a doctor or medical professional coaching you through long-term treatment, he says you risk possible negative interactions with medications you’re already taking or worsening renal function, gallbladder disease, or pancreatitis. “Circumventing the standard medical framework in favor of online acquisition undermines the safeguards designed to ensure appropriate, evidence-based use of these potent agents,” he says.
The Compound Issue
Compounded options also continue to grow in popularity online—causing great concern. Compounded medication, as Dr. Goulden explains it, is a drug that has been custom-made by a pharmacy onsite. It typically involves combining, mixing, or altering ingredients to meet the specific needs of a patient. It is only permitted when there is a genuine shortage of a commercial drug or when a patient has a specific need for it (e.g., an allergy to a preservative in the original medication) that the standard drug cannot provide.
When it comes to compounded Ozempic and other semaglutides, Dr. Goulden adds that they are not identical to their FDA-approved counterparts and are not subjected to the same rigorous testing or quality control. The FDA recently reported its concerns on fraudulent compounded GLP-1s in the market, where some don’t even contain semaglutide at all.
“In short, compounded semaglutide is not equivalent to the FDA-approved version in terms of quality assurance, clinical data, or regulatory,” Dr. Goulden says. To make matters worse, he adds that some compounding pharmacies are taking advantage of the Ozempic shortage.
“When I see a patient come to my office who was started on a compounded version of medication through an online platform, they are often unaware of what the medication actually is, what dose they are taking, and sometimes they are taking it multiple times a week or at unapproved intervals so this can create some confusion,” adds Dr. Lofton. “This is also very dangerous when someone has a side effect and has to present to a hospital because we can’t tell what they are taking exactly.”
Is Any Online Ozempic Option Safe?
While there are horror stories of people getting sick from semaglutides they’ve bought off of TikTok, there are other online platforms that offer somewhat of a happy—and safer—medium. Telehealth company Hims Hers, for instance, provides consumers with easy access to GLP-1 medications through licensed professionals without much wait time. “GLP-1s have emerged as one of the most promising tools in obesity medicine, offering hope to those who haven’t found success with traditional approaches,” says Jessica Shepherd, MD, board-certified OB/GYN and Hers Chief Medical Officer. “That’s why we expanded our program to integrate the power of GLP-1s into a model designed not just for prescriptions, but for long-term success.”
The process of obtaining Ozempic and other similar drugs through Hers is pretty straightforward. Dr. Shepherd explains that patients will fill out an in-depth online questionnaire about their medical history, weight journey, goals, and lifestyle. A licensed provider will review it (this can take as little as a few hours), and if the patient is the right candidate for the drug, the practitioner will write a prescription for the recommended weight loss medication and come up with a personalized health plan to support them. This includes check-ins, 24/7 access to a care team for any questions, and educational resources and support with their nutrition, mental health, and physical well-being through the app. Because everything is done virtually, Dr. Shepherd says care is flexible to “meet people where they are and [be] responsive enough to evolve in real time.”
Hims Hers offers Ozempic, Wegovy, and other FDA-approved medications that are known to help with weight management. Until recently, they also offered compounded options to offset the nationwide Ozempic shortage and offer a cheaper option (it was reported by Quartz that it used to cost $199 a month) for those who may not be able to afford the brand label. But as of May 23, 2025, no new compounded semaglutide is legally permitted to be produced or sold. The FDA states that there are exceptions, such as an allergy to an inactive ingredient found in GLP-1s, and patients may still use compounded medication that was made before the cutoff date.
While Hers no longer offers access to these compounded versions, Dr. Shepherd says that they will still be available for those who fit those exceptions in compliance with the new law. Anyone still on a compounded semaglutide through Hers will also receive continued support and check-ins until they run out or the medication expires. And though Hers’s compounded semaglutide is not FDA-approved, she says that every compounded GLP-1 available through the online platform is “made with active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) sourced exclusively from FDA-registered facilities” and is manufactured in accordance with Good Manufacturing Practices and USP standards. Consumers can also expect that each batch is rigorously tested and comes with a Certificate of Analysis (CoA) for full transparency.
Dr. Lofton errs on the side of caution and recommends avoiding compounded versions altogether. Patients who are using any form of compounded semaglutide should consult with their healthcare provider about transitioning to FDA-approved options now that the compounded options are being phased out, she says.
But if you’re still keen on getting any GLP-1 medication online, there are a few things you can do to limit any potential downsides. Dr. Goulden says to look for online platforms that have licensed physicians or nurse practitioners with expertise in obesity, endocrinology, or metabolic care. You’ll also want to look for platforms that take your full medical history into account and require lab testing before offering any sort of treatment. He advises that you make sure medication is being dispensed through a licensed US pharmacy and that you are getting an FDA-approved formulation. Going through reputable platforms that are regulated and abide by DEA guidelines is also best, and be sure they offer follow-up cases, as safe prescribing involves monitoring and periodic reassessment. If it doesn’t feel thorough, be wary. “If the process feels more like online shopping than medical care, it likely lacks the safeguards necessary to ensure safe prescribing,” he says.
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