Generic, compounded, or brand name? A guide to weight loss drugs

Generic, compounded, or brand name? A guide to weight loss drugs

Generic, compounded, or brand name? A guide to weight loss drugs

Does it matter if your weight loss medication is a compounded drug, brand name, or generic? Here are the differences between them.

Lisa Baker, RN, BSN
Last updated:
January 14, 2025
August 12, 2024
5 min read
Medically reviewed by:
Christine Marshall, MD
Table of Contents
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Medications for weight loss are more available than ever. With choices including brand-name GLP-1s, non-GLP-1 oral medications (branded and generic forms), and compounded semaglutide, there’s bound to be a medication out there to support your goals. 

With so many possibilities, choosing can be overwhelming. However, knowing what medications are available for weight loss and working with a health care provider specializing in weight care can help.

So, what are the available categories of medication-assisted weight loss, and how do they differ? Which ones might be covered by your insurance, and which ones will cost you out of pocket? 

Get the knowledge you need to make informed weight-care decisions by learning about the differences between branded and generic forms of non-GLP-1 obesity medications, brand-name GLP-1 injections and pills, and compounded drugs. 

Brand-name obesity medications 

A brand-name drug is a medication sold under a specific name by a particular company. Brand-name drugs contain an active ingredient that may also be the active ingredient of generic or compounded drugs. The U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) approves brand-name drugs, and only the company that holds the patent for the brand-name drug can sell them for a period of time. New medications are nearly always sold first as a brand-name drug and not available as generics. 

New brand-name medications for weight loss have been stealing the limelight over the past few years. In 2021, a Dr. Oz show touted Ozempic® (semaglutide) for its weight loss potential, leading to social media mentions and a viral TikTok moment. The media (and social media) buzz helped launch the popularity of several brand-name GLP-1 medications, which have been demonstrated to be highly effective for weight loss. GLP-1 receptor agonists help reduce cravings and hunger, and slow digestion so people taking them tend to feel full for longer. 

By 2021, Ozempic—approved by the FDA in 2017 as a brand-name drug to treat type 2 diabetes—was also being prescribed off-label for weight loss. (Off-label use of a drug is when a provider prescribes a medication for a purpose that it was not initially FDA-approved for.)

While studying Ozempic as a diabetes treatment, researchers noticed that weight loss was a common side effect. As a result, they began to study the effectiveness of Ozempic for weight loss. 

Are there brand-name drugs FDA-approved for weight loss? 

In June 2021, the FDA approved Wegovy® as a weight loss medication. Wegovy contains semaglutide, the same active ingredient as Ozempic; and the same company, Novo Nordisk, manufactures both drugs. Wegovy and Ozempic contain different dosages of semaglutide. 

Wegovy isn’t the only FDA-approved brand-name GLP-1 medication for weight loss. Saxenda®, which Novo Nordisk also manufactures, was approved in December 2014 as a weight loss drug. Saxenda is also a GLP-1 receptor agonist but its active ingredient is liraglutide, which works similarly to semaglutide. 

In November 2023, another type of receptor agonist, the GLP-1/GIP receptor agonist tirzepatide, was approved for weight loss under the brand name Zepbound®. Tirzepatide is highly effective for weight loss: In clinical trials, it helped people with obesity or excess weight achieve an average weight loss of more than 20% over 72 weeks. 

However, GLP-1 medications aren’t the only FDA-approved weight loss drugs. Other brand-name medications for weight loss include: 

  • Contrave®, which contains the active ingredients bupropion and naltrexone 
  • Xenical® and Alli®, which both contain the active ingredient orlistat 
  • Qsymia®, which contains two active ingredients, phentermine and topiramate 

Generic weight loss medications 

Generic drugs are medications that share the same active ingredients as brand-name drugs. According to the FDA, a generic works in the same way and has the same therapeutic effects as the brand-name drug, but is sold under a generic name. Generic medicines must undergo an extensive FDA approval process and meet the same strict safety standards as brand-name products. Generic equivalents must meet a standard of “bioequivalence,” which means they contain the same active ingredient in the same dosage as the brand-name version and have the same clinical effect. However, they may contain slightly different inactive ingredients, preservatives, or fillers. 

The FDA approves generic drugs after the exclusivity patent for the brand-name drug has expired. Patents for new prescription drugs are granted for a limited time, enabling the pharmaceutical company that developed the drug to sell the brand-name medication for a higher price. Generic drugs typically cost less than the brand name. They may be sold by multiple drug companies, which can make the generic products more accessible and affordable for consumers.

Are any GLP-1s available as generics? 

Liraglutide became the first FDA-approved generic GLP-1 medication in June 2024, when Teva Pharmaceuticals received approval to manufacture a generic version of Victoza®. In studies, liraglutide helped people lose an average of 6% of their body weight while also improving cardiovascular health. 

Some non-GLP-1 weight care medications are also available as generics. Orlistat, the active ingredient in Xenical and Alli, is available in a generic form. Orlistat helps with weight loss by reducing the fat absorption during digestion, so people taking it may absorb fewer calories when they eat high-fat foods. 

What are off-label medicines for weight loss?  

Providers can also prescribe some generic medications off-label for weight loss. Generic medications prescribed off-label for treating excess weight and obesity include active ingredients found in brand-name weight loss medications. For example, Qsymia, which suppresses appetite and increases metabolism, is only available as a brand name, but its active ingredients, phentermine, and topiramate extended-release, are each separately available as generics. 

Metformin is another medication widely available in both brand name and generic forms. While  approved as a diabetes treatment, metformin can be prescribed off-label to support weight loss by improving insulin and blood sugar levels and tamping down appetite. 

Compounded weight loss drugs 

Currently, some GLP-1 medications are also available as compounded drugs. Compounding pharmacies make compounded medications, and while these drugs are not subject to FDA approval for safety, efficacy, or quality the FDA and state pharmacy boards regulate compounding pharmacies. 

How do compounding pharmacies work? 

Usually, compounded drugs are manufactured for individual patients’ specific medical needs, such as for a person who’s allergic to an inactive ingredient in an FDA-approved drug. The FDA usually doesn’t allow pharmacies to compound a medication that is identical to a brand-name drug. 

However, there’s an exception when a drug is in short supply. When Ozempic and Wegovy landed on the FDA’s drug shortages list in March 2022, compounding pharmacies in some states were allowed to make compounded semaglutide with the same active ingredient as the brand-name medication. (As of January 2025, both drugs remained on the FDA’s drug shortage list but the FDA listed all doses of Ozempic and Wegovy as available.)

At Found, our affiliated clinicians can prescribe compounded injectable semaglutide and compounded oral semaglutide dissolving tablets. Found partners with FDA- and state pharmacy board-regulated compounding pharmacies that provide the compounded semaglutide products Found clinicians prescribe. These regulations help ensure drug quality by requiring the compounding pharmacies to adequately control manufacturing operations. These controls include everything from overseeing production processes to handling documentation and confirming the integrity of the manufacturing environment.

Do weight-loss medications have side effects? 

Many weight-loss medications have known potential side effects and are not advised for those with certain conditions or risk factors.

For GLP-1 and GLP-1/GIP medications, the most common side effects are nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and acid reflux. More serious but less common side effects include pancreatitis, gallbladder disease, and worsening of diabetic eye disease. And those with a personal or family history of medullary thyroid cancer or multiple endocrine neoplasias should not use them. Read details about side effects and risks for specific medications by name on our dedicated medication page

Side effects and risks differ by brand and formulation. And compounded medications, which lack pre-market clinical study and FDA approval and may include different non-active ingredients, may pose additional risks and side effects.

Non-GLP-1 medications prescribed for weight loss also have some known potential side effects and risks.

  • Serious risks of taking Contrave® (bupropion and naltrexone) include suicidality and other psychiatric disorders or increased risk of overdose if taken with opioids or opiates. Read details about side effects and risks on our dedicated Contrave® page.

  • For topiramate, some of the most common side effects are anorexia, dizziness, fatigue, difficulty concentrating, psychomotor slowing, speech difficulty, nervousness, abnormal vision, and fever. Topiramate may cause some people to sweat less, so it’s important to avoid alcohol and stay hydrated. Don’t drive or operate heavy machinery until you know how topiramate affects you. Do not take topiramate if you are planning to become pregnant or if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. Read details about side effects and risks on our dedicated topiramate page.

  • Common side effects of phentermine include increased heart rate, dry mouth, sleeplessness, nervousness, constipation, and tingling or prickling sensations in hands or feet. People with heart disease, coronary artery disease, hyperthyroidism, glaucoma, uncontrolled high blood pressure, or who are pregnant or nursing shouldn’t take phentermine. Also, people who have a history of substance abuse and those currently taking other weight loss medications or supplements shouldn’t take phentermine. Find detailed information about phentermine here.

  • For Xenical and Alli (orlistat), common side effects include gastrointestinal symptoms and changes in bowel movements. Side effects and risks vary by brand, but orlistat can decrease fat-soluble vitamin absorption and interact with other medications, including transplant anti-rejection medications. Serious risks include liver, kidney, and gallbladder problems. Those who are pregnant and those who have food absorption or gallbladder problems should not take orlistat, and those who have had an organ transplant should not take Alli. Find more detailed side effect and risk information for Xenical here and for Alli here, or by searching the drug name at Drugs@FDA

Can Found help me with weight loss medication? 

Finding the right medication for your unique body, medical needs, and financial concerns can be a complicated balancing act. It requires navigating your health history and metabolic profile and considering your insurance coverage, co-pays, and budget. At Found, you will meet with a health care professional who is specially trained in obesity medicine and understands the landscape of medication-assisted weight care. By assessing the root causes of excess weight and exploring your individual needs, your prescribing provider can help you find the right path to meet your health goals.

While GLP-1s, tirzepatide, and other medicines mentioned in this article may be effective for weight loss, they are not clinically appropriate for everyone. Eligibility for these drugs is based on a provider’s evaluation of your medical history, MetabolicPrint™, and lab work. If tirzepatide or a GLP-1 is not appropriate for you, our providers will work with you to determine an effective medication for your health profile. Prescriptions are written at a medical provider’s discretion. This content does not provide medical advice and does not substitute for a consultation with a doctor or healthcare provider. Found is not affiliated with Novo Nordisk A/S, the owner of the registered trademarks Rybelsus, Ozempic and Wegovy.

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Published date:
August 12, 2024
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Meet the author
Lisa Baker, RN, BSN
Freelance health journalist
Lisa C. Baker, RN is a freelance health writer and registered nurse in Atlanta, Georgia. She practices as an emergency nurse when she’s not reading the latest health research and writing about medicine.
Medically reviewed by:
Christine Marshall, MD
Fact checked by:
Lisa Greissinger
Edited by:
Shaun Chavis
Last updated on:
January 14, 2025
August 12, 2024

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