The drugs, one guide each
What each drug is, the dose its label or trials use, what it costs a month online and who prescribes it.
Compounded semaglutide
Compounded semaglutide is a version of semaglutide prepared by a compounding pharmacy for an individual patient under applicable compounding requirements, rather than manufactured by Novo Nordisk as Ozempic or Wegovy. It is not FDA-approved.
Not FDA-approved; may be compounded by a licensed pharmacy
Compounded tirzepatide
Compounded tirzepatide is a version of tirzepatide, the GIP and GLP-1 receptor agonist in Zepbound and Mounjaro, prepared by a compounding pharmacy for an individual prescription instead of by Eli Lilly. It is not FDA-approved.
Not FDA-approved; may be compounded by a licensed pharmacy
Liraglutide
Liraglutide is a once-daily GLP-1 receptor agonist injection. It's FDA-approved as Victoza for type 2 diabetes (January 25, 2010) and as Saxenda for chronic weight management (December 23, 2014), and FDA-approved generics now reference both.
FDA-approved
Metformin
Metformin is a generic biguanide tablet, FDA-approved as an adjunct to diet and exercise to improve blood sugar control in type 2 diabetes. It has no FDA approval for weight loss, aging or longevity.
FDA-approved for a different use
Mounjaro
Mounjaro is a once-weekly tirzepatide injection made by Eli Lilly. FDA approved it on May 13, 2022 to improve blood sugar control in adults with type 2 diabetes; the label now also covers children 10 and older and reducing major cardiovascular events in high-risk adults with type 2 diabetes. In the US it is not approved for weight loss.
FDA-approved
Oral semaglutide
Oral semaglutide is a once-daily semaglutide tablet, combined with an absorption enhancer called SNAC (salcaprozate sodium), so the peptide can be absorbed through the stomach.
FDA-approved
Orforglipron
Foundayo (orforglipron) is a once-daily GLP-1 receptor agonist tablet made by Eli Lilly. FDA approved it on April 1, 2026 to reduce excess body weight and keep it off in adults with obesity, or with overweight and at least one weight-related condition. It isn't semaglutide or tirzepatide.
FDA-approved
Ozempic
Ozempic is a once-weekly semaglutide injection made by Novo Nordisk. FDA approved it in 2017 for adults with type 2 diabetes. It is not approved for weight loss; the weight-loss version of semaglutide is Wegovy.
FDA-approved
Rapamycin
Rapamycin (sirolimus) is an mTOR-inhibiting immunosuppressant, produced by the bacterium Streptomyces hygroscopicus, that the FDA approved in 1999 to prevent kidney-transplant rejection.
FDA-approved for a different use
Retatrutide
Retatrutide is an investigational once-weekly injection from Eli Lilly, also called LY3437943, that activates three hormone receptors: GIP, GLP-1 and glucagon. It has no FDA-approved use.
Not FDA-approved
Semaglutide
Semaglutide is a GLP-1 receptor agonist used as the active ingredient in Novo Nordisk’s approved formulations. It is the active ingredient in Ozempic and in the Rybelsus and Ozempic tablets (type 2 diabetes), and in Wegovy injection and Wegovy tablets (weight management and heart-risk reduction).
FDA-approved
Tirzepatide
Tirzepatide is a once-weekly injectable that activates two gut-hormone receptors, GIP and GLP-1. Eli Lilly sells it as Mounjaro (type 2 diabetes, approved May 13, 2022) and Zepbound (weight management, approved November 8, 2023; sleep apnea, December 20, 2024).
FDA-approved
Wegovy
Wegovy is a brand of semaglutide made by Novo Nordisk for chronic weight management. FDA approved the weekly injection on June 4, 2021 and the daily Wegovy tablets on December 22, 2025. It is also approved to cut cardiovascular risk in adults with heart disease and overweight, and (accelerated approval) for MASH with F2 to F3 liver fibrosis.
FDA-approved
Zepbound
Zepbound is a once-weekly tirzepatide injection made by Eli Lilly. FDA approved it on November 8, 2023 for chronic weight management and on December 20, 2024 for moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea in adults with obesity. Mounjaro contains the same drug, with a type 2 diabetes indication from age 10 and a separate cardiovascular indication for certain high-risk adults with type 2 diabetes.
FDA-approved