Don’t be Fooled by GLP-1-Like Claims

When popular glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) injectable medications were taken off the FDA’s drug shortage list in early 2025, it appeared to signal good news for those patients who had been struggling to get prescriptions filled.

However, the change in designation means that compounded versions of those medications are no longer allowed in most circumstances. Compounded versions were often less expensive than the name-brand GLP-1 medications. Now a slew of products have popped up, promising GLP-1-like effects at a fraction of the price. Most of these are available directly from a retailer, not a physician. The FDA, and many healthcare professionals, are raising concerns about these products.

Some of these products include ingredients that are familiar or may have other medical uses. They include berberine, probiotics, curcumin, chromium, green tea, acetyl L-carnitine and polyphenols.

“There's a long list out there (of supplements),” says Johanna Finkle, MD, gynecologist at the health system who is also board-certified in obesity medicine. “I caution against them because the problem is that there's no research behind their effectiveness. There's no authority looking at the actual components of these supplements.”

What’s worse – they may not only be ineffective for weight loss, but they could also cause serious damage. These are oral supplements, usually pills, chewable tablets or gels, that go through the digestive system. This is distinctly different from GLP-1s that are injected and bypass digestion.

“(Oral supplements) are being processed by the liver and cleared by the kidneys,” says Dr. Finkle. “We're seeing a lot more of liver toxicity and liver problems in patients who are taking these supplements.”

What does liver toxicity look like? Dr. Finkle says symptoms often don’t appear until the patient is very sick. An early sign may be right upper-quadrant pain, indicating some inflammation in the liver. More often, they have yellow eyes and yellow skin, also called jaundice, and are already in liver failure.

Further confusion may be caused by the fact that major pharmaceutical companies are testing oral GLP-1 medications. Dr. Finkle says that FDA-approved oral weight-loss medications may be available in 2026 but are not now. Consumers should avoid any oral medications claiming to be GLP-1s for the time being.

"Patients are being deceived by marketing companies that are advertising compounded GLP-1s," says Dr. Finkle. "Patients may have started branded GLP-1s with good success but without adequate insurance coverage those medications may be too expensive. Patients don't have all the information about the alternatives and instead turn to cheaper compounded formulations."

Here’s all the information you need when it comes to getting safe, affordable GLP-1 medications.

Many people were paying out of pocket for compounded GLP-1 medications because they weren’t covered by insurance, but the compounded version was affordable for them. Now, they must get a name-brand medication, but it still isn’t covered by insurance.

Dr. Finkle says that is the time to go directly to the manufacturer. She says oftentimes the manufacturer price will be comparable to what they were paying for compounded versions. Savings cards are also available from some manufacturers.

While purchasing GLP-1 medications with an HSA or FSA account doesn’t directly decrease the price, it is tax-advantaged and will net a little bit of savings.

Dr. Finkle provides weight-management care specifically for female patients through the OB-GYN specialty at The University of Kansas Health System. There are also providers in weight management and internal medicine who are similarly specialized. These care providers are the most knowledgeable about insurance plans and formularies, which often change once or twice a year. A plan that previously didn’t cover a certain medication might now.

Additionally, these clinicians are knowledgeable about the prior authorization process and may have more success than someone who submits them infrequently.

They can also provide counseling beyond GLP-1 medications. That could include dietary changes, referrals to other specialties for related conditions and more.

Dr. Finkle says several non-GLP-1 medications can be paired with others to produce weight-loss effects. These are not as effective as GLP-1s but can be a good option when it comes to cost and continuing to get the safest medication. Some options are naltrexone/bupropion HCl, phentermine HCl/topiramate and phentermine.

“Where you're getting 15% to 20% with the GLP-1 for weight loss, you're seeing maybe a range of 5% to 10% with the oral medications,” says Dr. Finkle.

The bottom line is to talk with a trusted healthcare provider about any supplements or medications before taking them. There is a real public safety risk of fraudulent GLP-1s and a personal health risk of mixing too many supplements at once. Don’t assume something will be safe to take based solely on its marketing. Make sure to review it with your own clinician.