It depends on where you get it. GLP-1 treatment usually starts at a low dose that a provider increases over time, and some programs and some brand-name self-pay prices cost more as the dose goes up. At Forva, compounded semaglutide and compounded tirzepatide plans cost the same at every dose your provider prescribes: $199 every 4 weeks for semaglutide and $299 every 4 weeks for tirzepatide on the month-to-month plan, with lower rates on prepaid plans. Compounded medications are not FDA-approved.
Why would a GLP-1 cost more at a higher dose?
Because a higher dose means more medication. The prescribing information for brand-name semaglutide and tirzepatide describes starting at a low dose and increasing it in steps over several weeks, and providers adjust doses for each patient.
When a program prices by dose, the price you see in your first month may not be the price you pay a few months later, once your dose has gone up. That's worth knowing before you compare advertised prices, because most advertised prices are for the starting dose.
How do brand-name self-pay prices change with dose?
Some manufacturer self-pay prices rise with dose. These figures are current as of September 2026 and are set by Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly, who can change them:
| Medication | Lower doses | Higher doses |
|---|---|---|
| Wegovy pill | $149 a month at 1.5 mg, $199 at 4 mg | $299 at 9 mg and 25 mg |
| Wegovy pen | $199 a month for the first 2 fills on starting doses (through December 31, 2026), then $349 | $399 at the 7.2 mg dose |
| Zepbound (Lilly self-pay) | $299 at 2.5 mg, $399 at 5 mg | $449 at higher doses |
Lilly's self-pay prices for Zepbound require each refill within 45 days of the previous delivery. Outside that window, Lilly's regular prices of $499 at 7.5 mg and $699 at 10 mg and above apply. Brand-name self-pay medication is paid separately at the manufacturer's price, and current prices are on NovoCare and LillyDirect.
How does Forva price compounded GLP-1 plans?
One price at every dose your provider prescribes. The plan price depends only on the medication and the plan length:
| Plan | Charged at checkout | Every 4 weeks |
|---|---|---|
| Compounded semaglutide, month to month | $199 | $199 |
| Compounded semaglutide, 12 weeks | $537 | $179 |
| Compounded semaglutide, 24 weeks | $1,014 | $169 |
| Compounded semaglutide, 48 weeks | $1,668 | $139 |
| Compounded tirzepatide, month to month | $299 | $299 |
| Compounded tirzepatide, 12 weeks | $807 | $269 |
| Compounded tirzepatide, 24 weeks | $1,554 | $259 |
| Compounded tirzepatide, 48 weeks | $2,868 | $239 |
The price includes the provider review, medication if prescribed, supplies, shipping and ongoing support, with no separate membership fee. Plans renew automatically every 4 weeks at the same rate until you cancel, and the first renewal is charged 3 days early, counted from checkout.
You pay at checkout. A licensed provider then reviews your intake and decides whether treatment is appropriate. If treatment isn't appropriate, no medication is sent and you're refunded in full.
Every plan, the total charged at checkout, and the renewal and cancellation terms are on the compounded semaglutide and compounded tirzepatide pages.
What should you check when you compare GLP-1 prices?
Compare the total you'd pay over the same length of time, at the doses you're likely to reach. A few questions make that easy:
- Does the price change with dose? Ask for the price at higher doses, not just the starting dose.
- Is there a separate membership or provider fee? Some programs charge it on top of the medication.
- What does the plan renew at, and when? Look for the renewal price and the date of the first renewal.
- What's included? Provider visits, supplies, shipping and follow-up care can be billed separately.
- What happens if the provider doesn't prescribe? Know what you get back before you pay.
- How do you cancel? The process should be written down before you sign up.
Does a dose change affect your Forva plan?
No. Dose changes are clinical decisions your provider makes based on how you respond, and they don't change your plan price. Your care team sends dosing instructions as a message in your patient portal, and a short check-in every 3 months keeps your prescription active.
Is compounded semaglutide or tirzepatide FDA-approved?
No. Compounded medications are not FDA-approved. The FDA does not review compounded drugs for safety, effectiveness, or quality before they are marketed. A state-licensed 503A pharmacy prepares them for an individual patient when a licensed provider decides they are appropriate.
Compounded semaglutide is not Wegovy, and compounded tirzepatide is not Zepbound. They are not generic versions of those medications, and clinical trial results for a brand-name medication describe that medication only.
GLP-1 medications can cause side effects, most commonly nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and constipation, and carry serious risks. Labeling for FDA-approved semaglutide and tirzepatide products includes a boxed warning about thyroid C-cell tumors. Your provider reviews these risks before prescribing. The FDA's information on unapproved GLP-1 drugs is worth reading before you choose any provider.
Wegovy is a registered trademark of Novo Nordisk A/S. Zepbound is a registered trademark of Eli Lilly and Company. Forva Health is not affiliated with or endorsed by Novo Nordisk or Eli Lilly.
This article is for general information and is not medical advice. Eligibility and treatment decisions are made by a licensed provider.