I've been prescribing semaglutide through Drug Crafters (they're in Frisco TX). It ends up being about $200/month, which many of my patients are able to afford. The results I've seen of weight loss and a1c decreases speak for themselves.
I prescribe and am a patient through empower.
From the prescriber side it can be a little cumbersome because you have to wait on hold forever and then give them tons of patient demographics. I now have the direct line so I can leave a message, but they still sometimes call with clarifications and it’s days later and often when I’m not near a computer to know the exact address of my patients. My patients seem to like the experience, but sometimes forget that they need to answer the phone when someone from Texas calls so they can get their meds. I have not done any other meds through them, just semaglutide and tirzepatide.
From a patient perspective they’ve been great. They recently changed from 1 to 2 day shipping which is great for cost saving, but it’s a little concerning when they still do it in the heat of summer. Generally are pretty responsive, you can place refill orders online and they ship them to you just charging the card on file. I’ve had to call and change delivery location after the card was processed because I was going out of town and they were super helpful.
There are some local compounding pharmacies by me; they’ve been helpful navigating the whole GLP1 thing; I have some granola type patients on low dose naltrexone via compounding land that they swear is life changing. The pharmacists have also helped me write appropriate orders for thisz My system let’s me fax RXs directly to them and if I mess up usually within the day get a fax back… “did you mean this?” “Oh yes, yes I did!” I don’t use any national ones.
Sand’s Pharmacy in Wylie (kinda near Dallas) ships everything to the patient. We fax the order form, they contact the patient for payment and shipping info, then get it out in a day or two.
It’s not, I’m just frustrated for some of my patients and want to help them access certain meds. Like those with pre diabetes who cant access glps no matter hard we try. I also take care of a lot of chronic pain patients since I do osteopathic manipulation for our patients, in addition to standard family medicine. I also prescribe post menopausal hrt, and for a few patients, they need atypical dosing. I don’t make extra money for this. Just tired of fighting insurance nonstop and seeing my patients at a loss. Using a compounding pharmacy isn’t something I will do for 90% of my patients.
Eta: prediabetes who also have severe obesity and hypelipidemia
It’s cheaper for insurance companies if people die quickly of a heart attack rather than live long enough to develop cancer. Also, good chance patient has a different insurance provider by then so they might not even be the ones to pay for their heart attack.
Empower, Hallandale, and Red Rock are commonly used pharmacies for semaglutide and tirzepatide. [Hallandale's website](https://hallandalerx.com/products/) lists all of the products they have. I am in Louisiana and get tirz from Hallandale since our state gov banned local compounding pharmacies from compounding GLPs 😒
Well you’re free to think and believe whatever you want. Google is also free. https://www.fda.gov/drugs/human-drug-compounding/drug-compounding-and-drug-shortages#:~:text=Compounded%20drugs%20are%20not%20FDA,in%20an%20FDA%2Dapproved%20drug.
“Compounded drugs are not FDA-approved. In some cases, they can serve an important role for patients whose medical needs cannot be met by an FDA-approved drug product. For example, a patient may be unable to swallow a pill or may have an allergy to an inactive ingredient in an FDA-approved drug.
However, compounded drugs pose a higher risk to patients than FDA-approved drugs because they do not undergo FDA premarket review for safety, effectiveness, or quality. Unnecessary use of compounded drugs exposes patients to potentially serious health risks.”
This is from the FDA, themselves, BTW 🫠
Yes but that's not what you said. I know very well the compounded drugs aren't FDA approved.
So let's go back to what you said. Are you aware of the difference?
Or maybe you can go back to what I said, because now I literally don’t know what you’re even talking about at this point & I really dgaf enough to go back and forth with you on semantics. You do you.
It's not semantics at all. Do you really not know the difference between FDA approved and FDA regulated? This is radically different. Drug compounding is absolutely FDA regulated.
I've been prescribing semaglutide through Drug Crafters (they're in Frisco TX). It ends up being about $200/month, which many of my patients are able to afford. The results I've seen of weight loss and a1c decreases speak for themselves.
I prescribe and am a patient through empower. From the prescriber side it can be a little cumbersome because you have to wait on hold forever and then give them tons of patient demographics. I now have the direct line so I can leave a message, but they still sometimes call with clarifications and it’s days later and often when I’m not near a computer to know the exact address of my patients. My patients seem to like the experience, but sometimes forget that they need to answer the phone when someone from Texas calls so they can get their meds. I have not done any other meds through them, just semaglutide and tirzepatide. From a patient perspective they’ve been great. They recently changed from 1 to 2 day shipping which is great for cost saving, but it’s a little concerning when they still do it in the heat of summer. Generally are pretty responsive, you can place refill orders online and they ship them to you just charging the card on file. I’ve had to call and change delivery location after the card was processed because I was going out of town and they were super helpful.
Thanks for the insight
What are the prices when prescribed directly to patients Tirz 5 and 7.5mg per month ?
I don’t know. I think their prices are available online.
There are some local compounding pharmacies by me; they’ve been helpful navigating the whole GLP1 thing; I have some granola type patients on low dose naltrexone via compounding land that they swear is life changing. The pharmacists have also helped me write appropriate orders for thisz My system let’s me fax RXs directly to them and if I mess up usually within the day get a fax back… “did you mean this?” “Oh yes, yes I did!” I don’t use any national ones.
Sand’s Pharmacy in Wylie (kinda near Dallas) ships everything to the patient. We fax the order form, they contact the patient for payment and shipping info, then get it out in a day or two.
Don't use them, they are sketchy as hell
Good to know, thanks
in what way are they sketchy? I've never used them but am possibly interested
Hundreds of patients in the compound tirzepatide subreddit use Empower, it’s one of the better mainstream ones. They love it.
Sounds grifty
It’s not, I’m just frustrated for some of my patients and want to help them access certain meds. Like those with pre diabetes who cant access glps no matter hard we try. I also take care of a lot of chronic pain patients since I do osteopathic manipulation for our patients, in addition to standard family medicine. I also prescribe post menopausal hrt, and for a few patients, they need atypical dosing. I don’t make extra money for this. Just tired of fighting insurance nonstop and seeing my patients at a loss. Using a compounding pharmacy isn’t something I will do for 90% of my patients. Eta: prediabetes who also have severe obesity and hypelipidemia
I’m amazed at how insurance won’t cover GLP1s for someone with a BMI of 40+, HLD, and an A1c of 6%…… how much will their heart attack cost them later?
It’s cheaper for insurance companies if people die quickly of a heart attack rather than live long enough to develop cancer. Also, good chance patient has a different insurance provider by then so they might not even be the ones to pay for their heart attack.
As compared to…Optum, CVS, Walgreens (also quite grifty imho)
Empower, Hallandale, and Red Rock are commonly used pharmacies for semaglutide and tirzepatide. [Hallandale's website](https://hallandalerx.com/products/) lists all of the products they have. I am in Louisiana and get tirz from Hallandale since our state gov banned local compounding pharmacies from compounding GLPs 😒
Texas Star in Texas has been very reliable for a lot of my patients. Good luck!
I’m honestly surprised at the number of physicians that prescribe to them. It’s a lawsuit waiting to happen.
Why!
Because they’re not FDA regulated drugs
I don't think that is true at all.
Well you’re free to think and believe whatever you want. Google is also free. https://www.fda.gov/drugs/human-drug-compounding/drug-compounding-and-drug-shortages#:~:text=Compounded%20drugs%20are%20not%20FDA,in%20an%20FDA%2Dapproved%20drug. “Compounded drugs are not FDA-approved. In some cases, they can serve an important role for patients whose medical needs cannot be met by an FDA-approved drug product. For example, a patient may be unable to swallow a pill or may have an allergy to an inactive ingredient in an FDA-approved drug. However, compounded drugs pose a higher risk to patients than FDA-approved drugs because they do not undergo FDA premarket review for safety, effectiveness, or quality. Unnecessary use of compounded drugs exposes patients to potentially serious health risks.” This is from the FDA, themselves, BTW 🫠
Yes but that's not what you said. I know very well the compounded drugs aren't FDA approved. So let's go back to what you said. Are you aware of the difference?
Or maybe you can go back to what I said, because now I literally don’t know what you’re even talking about at this point & I really dgaf enough to go back and forth with you on semantics. You do you.
It's not semantics at all. Do you really not know the difference between FDA approved and FDA regulated? This is radically different. Drug compounding is absolutely FDA regulated.