- Compounded drugs are drugs that have been specifically mixed and prepared, typically by a pharmacy, for an individual patient. Compounded semaglutide is a medication that has specifically been made for a patient usually by a compounding pharmacy — it contains the active ingredient semaglutide.
- Some patients may need compounded drugs as their medication may not be available commercially, they are allergic to certain ingredients, the dosage form or dose is not available, or the medication is discontinued or on backorder.
- Felix does not compound semaglutide. We only prescribe and dispense semaglutide medications, Ozempic and Wegovy, that have been authorized for sale by Health Canada.
Compounded drugs are drugs that have been specifically mixed and prepared for an individual patient, typically by a pharmacy. Compounded semaglutide is a medication that’s custom-made for you usually by a compounding pharmacy (it contains the active ingredient semaglutide) — we do not prescribe or compound semaglutide at Felix. Read on to find out more about why some patients need compounded drugs, their safety, and what to do if you experience side effects.
Why do some patients need compounded drugs?
There are a variety of reasons why a patient may need compounded drugs. Here are a few reasons:
The medication is not commercially made
Most medications that have been authorized for sale by Health Canada are commercially manufactured in a facility that’s registered with Health Canada. These are medications that you would usually pick up with a prescription at your local pharmacy. However, some medications aren’t available from a commercial manufacturer. This may be because:
- They can’t be made in advance since they’re only stable for a short period of time
- The medication is made from a combination of ingredients that are not cost-effective or practical to submit to Health Canada for approval, the way most prescription medications are.
You’re allergic to an ingredient in the commercial form of the medication
For example, progesterone is placed in oil when prepared as an injection. Commercially, it is made with sesame oil. If you’re allergic to sesame, your healthcare practitioner can prescribe a compounded version that’s made with olive oil instead.
The dosage form or dose you need isn’t available
If a medication only comes in tablets, your pharmacist may be able to compound a liquid version. Or if a medication is only available in 10mg doses but you need a 1mg dose, this may be available by compounding. This type of compounding is common with medications for children or animals.
The commercial medication is on backorder or discontinued
In most cases, it’s not legal to compound a medication that’s commercially available unless there is a medical need for it. However if a medication becomes unavailable due to a shortage or if it’s discontinued, a compounded version may be allowed. This helps to make sure people can still access their medication.
Is compounded semaglutide safe?
Compounded semaglutide is a medication that’s custom-made for you usually by a compounding pharmacy. It contains the active ingredient semaglutide, which is found in the medications Ozempic and Wegovy. Both of these medications have been authorized for sale by Health Canada.
Does this mean that compounded semaglutide is the same as Ozempic or Wegovy? The short answer is no. Compounded semaglutide medications are not authorized for sale by Health Canada. There have not been any studies done on compounded semaglutide, so their safety and effectiveness haven’t been established. Felix does not compound semaglutide. We only prescribe and dispense semaglutide medications, Ozempic and Wegovy, that have been authorized for sale by Health Canada and produced in the manufacturer’s facility.
What are the risks associated with compounded drugs?
The safety of compounded drugs and compounded semaglutide are unknown since they have not been tested. There may be ingredients that have been added to the compounded drug that have not been authorized by Health Canada and there is risk for potential contamination, as well as unknown storage conditions.
What should I do if I experience side effects from compounded semaglutide?
Stop taking the medication immediately and speak to a healthcare practitioner about your symptoms. For severe side effects, please seek in-person medical attention at your local emergency department or urgent care centre.
At Felix, we do not compound semaglutide. We only prescribe and dispense the Health Canada-approved semaglutide medications Ozempic and Wegovy, which are manufactured by Novo Nordisk. If you have any further questions about the medications prescribed at Felix, please do not hesitate to reach out to us using the chat bubble at the bottom right of your screen.
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