# GLP-1 and compounding glossary Canonical page: https://bodienvi.com/glossary Published September 22, 2026. Updated September 22, 2026. By Bodi Envi Clinical Content Team. Plain definitions of the terms you meet when reading about compounded semaglutide and tirzepatide, from 503A and boxed warning to titration, USP and Zepbound®. ## Quick reference The six terms that come up on almost every page of this site, in one place. Each has a fuller entry below. | Term | In one line | | --- | --- | | Personalized Compounded semaglutide | Semaglutide prepared by a licensed compounding pharmacy for an individual prescription. Not FDA-approved and not equivalent to Wegovy® or Ozempic®. | | Personalized Compounded tirzepatide | Tirzepatide prepared by a licensed compounding pharmacy for an individual prescription. Not FDA-approved and not equivalent to Zepbound® or Mounjaro®. | | Wegovy® and Ozempic® | The FDA-approved semaglutide products, for weight management and for type 2 diabetes respectively. Trademarks of their owner. | | Zepbound® and Mounjaro® | The FDA-approved tirzepatide products, for weight management and obstructive sleep apnea, and for type 2 diabetes respectively. Trademarks of their owner. | | Licensed provider | The healthcare professional who evaluates you and decides whether treatment is appropriate. For applicable Bodi Envi programs, through Wasef Health, PC. | | Pharmacy partner | The third party U.S. 503A licensed compounding pharmacy that dispenses a prescription. VialsRx is the current partner for applicable GLP-1 prescriptions. | Brand names throughout this glossary are trademarks of their respective owners, and Bodi Envi is not affiliated with, endorsed by or sponsored by those trademark holders. ## Numbers ### 503A pharmacy A state-licensed pharmacy that compounds medications for individual patients on the basis of a prescription and is not registered with the FDA as an outsourcing facility. According to the FDA's compounding questions and answers, state boards of pharmacy have primary responsibility for the day to day oversight of these pharmacies. Bodi Envi's prescriptions are dispensed by third party U.S. 503A licensed compounding pharmacies. The name comes from section 503A of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. ### 503B outsourcing facility A compounding facility that registers with the FDA under section 503B. The FDA's compounding questions and answers explain that these facilities are primarily overseen and inspected by the FDA on a risk-based schedule, and that drugs compounded there are subject to current good manufacturing practice requirements, which drugs from a 503A pharmacy are not. They can compound in larger quantities than a 503A pharmacy, without a prescription for each patient. ## A ### Adverse event Any unwanted medical occurrence associated with a medication, whether or not it was caused by it. The FDA collects reports of adverse events through MedWatch, and its statement on unapproved GLP-1 drugs counted 990 reports associated with personalized compounded semaglutide and more than 730 associated with personalized compounded tirzepatide as of May 31, 2026. Adverse reactions listed on a prescribing information document are the ones observed in that product's clinical trials. ### Appetite regulation The body's control of hunger and fullness, which is where these medications act. The Wegovy® prescribing information describes GLP-1 as a physiological regulator of appetite and caloric intake and notes that the GLP-1 receptor is present in areas of the brain involved in appetite regulation. The Zepbound® label says the same of both the GLP-1 and GIP receptors. ## B ### BMI Body mass index, a screening number calculated from height and weight. The CDC defines it as weight in kilograms divided by the square of height in meters, and publishes adult categories: underweight below 18.5, healthy weight 18.5 to less than 25, overweight 25 to less than 30, and obesity 30 or greater, with obesity divided into class 1 (30 to less than 35), class 2 (35 to less than 40) and class 3 (40 or greater). Both STEP 1 and SURMOUNT-1 enrolled adults with a BMI of 30 or more, or 27 or more with a weight-related condition. BMI is a screening measure, not a diagnosis, and it is not on its own what decides whether treatment is appropriate. ### Boxed warning The most prominent warning the FDA requires on a prescribing information document, printed in a box at the top. The Wegovy®, Ozempic®, Zepbound® and Mounjaro® labels each open with a boxed warning that the medication caused thyroid C-cell tumours in rodents and that it is unknown whether it does so in humans, and each is contraindicated in people with a personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma or Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2. ## C ### Compounded medication A medication prepared for an individual patient by combining, mixing or altering ingredients, which is the FDA's definition of compounding. The FDA states that compounded drugs are not FDA approved, meaning the agency does not review their safety, effectiveness or quality before they are marketed. Compounded personalized semaglutide and tirzepatide are not FDA-approved and are not equivalent to FDA-approved products. ### Compounding pharmacy A pharmacy that prepares compounded medications. In the United States it is either a state-licensed 503A pharmacy, overseen by its state board of pharmacy, or a 503B outsourcing facility registered with and inspected by the FDA. See both entries above. ### Contraindication A condition in which a medication must not be used. The contraindications on the Wegovy® and Zepbound® labels are a personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma or Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2, and a known serious hypersensitivity to the medication or any of its ingredients. Contraindications are stronger than warnings, which describe risks a prescriber weighs rather than absolute bars. ## D ### DailyMed The National Library of Medicine's public database of FDA-approved prescribing information. Every label cited on this site is linked to its DailyMed page, which shows the current version of the label and its revision date. It is the place to read the official document rather than a summary of it. ### Direct to patient price A manufacturer's cash price for patients buying without insurance. Lilly's pricing page describes its direct to patient price as the price at which it sells directly to cash paying patients, distinct from the list price, and as of September 2026 published Zepbound® vials and KwikPen® at $299 to $699 per month depending on dose. ### Dose escalation The stepwise increase from a starting dose to a maintenance dose. The Wegovy® label escalates from 0.25 mg in four week steps and says the schedule exists to reduce the risk of gastrointestinal adverse reactions. The Zepbound® label starts at 2.5 mg and allows increases in 2.5 mg steps after at least four weeks at each dose. With a compounded prescription, your provider sets the schedule. ### Dual agonist A medication that activates two receptors. The Zepbound® prescribing information describes tirzepatide as a GIP receptor and GLP-1 receptor agonist that selectively binds to and activates both, which is why tirzepatide is called a dual agonist and semaglutide, which acts on the GLP-1 receptor alone, is not. ## F ### FDA approval The FDA's determination, after reviewing a manufacturer's clinical trial data and manufacturing, that a specific product is safe and effective for a specific use. Wegovy®, Ozempic®, Zepbound® and Mounjaro® are FDA-approved. Compounded medications are not, which the FDA describes as meaning it does not review them for safety, effectiveness or quality before they are marketed. ## G ### Gastric emptying The rate at which the stomach passes food to the intestine. The Wegovy®, Ozempic® and Zepbound® labels each state that the medication delays gastric emptying and may affect the absorption of oral medications taken at the same time, which is why your provider needs to know everything else you take. ### GIP Glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide, one of the two hormone signals tirzepatide acts on. The Zepbound® label describes GIP receptors as found in areas of the brain involved in appetite regulation and says nonclinical studies suggest the addition of GIP may further contribute to the regulation of food intake. ### GLP-1 Glucagon-like peptide-1, a hormone the body releases and the target of all the medications on this site. The Ozempic® label describes it as a physiological hormone with multiple actions on glucose, and the Wegovy® label as a physiological regulator of appetite and caloric intake. ### GLP-1 receptor agonist A medication that binds to and activates the GLP-1 receptor, the way the body's own GLP-1 does. The Wegovy® and Ozempic® labels describe semaglutide as a GLP-1 receptor agonist, and both note it is a GLP-1 analogue with 94 percent sequence homology to human GLP-1. Tirzepatide is also a GLP-1 receptor agonist, and in addition a GIP receptor agonist. ## H ### Half-life The time it takes for the amount of a medication in the body to fall by half, which determines how often it is taken. The Wegovy® label gives semaglutide an elimination half-life of approximately one week, and the Zepbound® label gives tirzepatide approximately five to six days in patients with overweight or obesity. Both are dosed once weekly. ### Hypoglycaemia Low blood sugar. The Wegovy® and Zepbound® labels warn that the risk of hypoglycaemia is increased when the medication is used together with insulin or an insulin secretagogue such as a sulfonylurea, which is why your assessment asks about diabetes medications. ## I ### Incretin The group name for the hormones GLP-1 and GIP. The labels for the medications on this site do not use the word; they describe GLP-1 as a physiological hormone with multiple actions on glucose (Ozempic®) and as a regulator of appetite and caloric intake (Wegovy®), and GIP and GLP-1 together as the targets of tirzepatide (Zepbound®). ## L ### LegitScript A certification company whose healthcare certification sets standards for online healthcare merchants, including telehealth platforms. Its certification page lists the standards a certified merchant must meet, among them adequate licensure for the services offered and jurisdictions served, compliance with applicable law, disclosure of disciplinary history, dispensing prescription drugs only on a valid prescription, privacy compliance, and transparent, accurate advertising. Bodi Envi is LegitScript certified. Certification is not FDA approval of any medication. ### Licensed provider A healthcare professional licensed to evaluate patients and prescribe. Clinical services for applicable Bodi Envi programs are provided by Wasef Health, PC, whose licensed providers independently evaluate patients and determine whether treatment is medically appropriate. Bodi Envi itself is not a medical practice and does not prescribe. ### List price The price a manufacturer charges wholesalers, also called the wholesale acquisition cost. Both Lilly's and NovoCare's pricing pages say what a patient pays largely depends on their insurance. As of September 2026, NovoCare listed Wegovy® at $1,349.02 per package and Lilly listed Zepbound® at $499 to $1,086.37 per fill. ## M ### Maintenance dose The dose a course settles on once escalation is complete. The Wegovy® label lists 1.7 mg and 2.4 mg as maintenance doses for weight reduction in adults, and the Zepbound® label lists 5 mg, 10 mg and 15 mg, describing 2.5 mg as a starting dose only. Bodi Envi's pricing does not increase based solely on dosage strength, so reaching a maintenance dose does not change the monthly price. ### Medical director The physician responsible for the clinical programs of a provider organization. Bodi Envi publishes that its Medical Director serves for applicable clinical programs through Wasef Health, PC, which is a separate legal entity from Bodi Envi. ### Medullary thyroid carcinoma A cancer of the thyroid's C cells, abbreviated MTC. Both branded labels' boxed warnings say it is unknown whether the medication causes thyroid C-cell tumours, including medullary thyroid carcinoma, in humans, and a personal or family history of MTC is a contraindication for all four branded products. ### MEN 2 Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2, an inherited condition. The Wegovy®, Ozempic®, Zepbound® and Mounjaro® labels each list MEN 2 as a contraindication alongside a personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma. ### MedWatch The FDA's safety information and adverse event reporting program for health professionals, patients and consumers. Its page describes it as receiving reports from the public and publishing safety alerts for FDA-regulated products. The FDA asks that problems with any medical product, including compounded drugs, be reported there. ### Micro dose A lower dose program. Bodi Envi publishes its micro dose semaglutide and micro dose tirzepatide programs as provider-guided lower-dose personalized compounded programs for eligible patients, based on individual clinical evaluation. The dose is set by a licensed provider. ### Mounjaro® The FDA-approved tirzepatide product for type 2 diabetes. Its prescribing information indicates it as an adjunct to diet and exercise to improve glycemic control in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus. A trademark of its owner. Personalized Compounded tirzepatide is not equivalent to Mounjaro®. ## N ### NAD+ Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide. Bodi Envi publishes information about provider-guided NAD+ injection therapy as a separate program, and states that a licensed healthcare provider determines whether treatment is appropriate and that the GLP-1 pharmacy and provider relationships should not be assumed to apply to it. ## O ### Ondansetron A medication Bodi Envi publishes as provider-guided compounded ondansetron support for eligible patients, offered alongside its weight management programs. A licensed provider determines whether it is appropriate, and Bodi Envi states that compounded ondansetron should not be described as equivalent to a branded medication. ### Ozempic® The FDA-approved semaglutide product for type 2 diabetes. Its prescribing information indicates it to improve glycemic control in adults with type 2 diabetes and to reduce certain cardiovascular and kidney risks in that population. A trademark of its owner. Personalized Compounded semaglutide is not equivalent to Ozempic®. ## P ### Pancreatitis Inflammation of the pancreas. The Wegovy® and Zepbound® labels both warn that acute pancreatitis has been reported with these medications and direct that treatment be discontinued if pancreatitis is suspected. ### Patient specific prescription A prescription written for an identified individual patient by a licensed prescriber. It is the legal basis on which a 503A pharmacy compounds, and it is why a compounded GLP-1 medication cannot be obtained legitimately without an evaluation by a provider. ### Pharmacy partner The pharmacy that dispenses a prescription for a Bodi Envi program. Bodi Envi publishes that third party U.S. 503A licensed compounding pharmacies dispense and fulfil prescriptions, that VialsRx is the current partner for applicable GLP-1 prescriptions, and that pharmacy availability may vary by program and patient location. ### Prescribing information The FDA-approved document, sometimes called the label, that describes a medication's indications, dosing, contraindications, warnings, adverse reactions and storage. Published on DailyMed. Compounded medications have no FDA-approved prescribing information, which is why this site cites the branded labels as the closest published description of the active ingredient. ### Prior authorization A health plan's requirement that a prescriber obtain the plan's approval before it will pay for a medication. It is common for GLP-1 medications for weight management. Bodi Envi's programs are self pay, and insurance is not required for applicable self-pay programs. ## S ### Semaglutide A GLP-1 receptor agonist and the active ingredient in Wegovy® and Ozempic®. The Wegovy® label describes it as a GLP-1 analogue with 94 percent sequence homology to human GLP-1. Personalized Compounded semaglutide contains the same molecule prepared by a compounding pharmacy and is not FDA-approved. ### Starting dose The low dose a course begins on. The Wegovy® label sets 0.25 mg once weekly for four weeks; the Zepbound® label sets 2.5 mg once weekly for four weeks and says 2.5 mg is not a maintenance dose. Both labels say the low start exists to reduce gastrointestinal side effects. ### State board of pharmacy The state agency that licenses pharmacies and pharmacists and, per the FDA's compounding questions and answers, has primary day to day oversight of 503A compounding pharmacies. Bodi Envi publishes that applicable state boards of pharmacy regulate and inspect 503A compounding pharmacies. Many of the state pages on this site link to the board for that state. ### STEP trials The clinical trial program for semaglutide in weight management. STEP 1, published in the New England Journal of Medicine in 2021, enrolled 1,961 adults and reported a mean body weight change of 14.9 percent with semaglutide 2.4 mg against 2.4 percent with placebo at 68 weeks. It studied Wegovy®, not a compounded product. ### Subcutaneous injection An injection into the fatty tissue just under the skin. All four branded products are given this way once a week, and their labels direct injection in the abdomen, thigh or upper arm with sites rotated. Personalized Compounded semaglutide and tirzepatide are given the same way, using the instructions from the pharmacy. ### SURMOUNT trials The clinical trial program for tirzepatide in weight management. SURMOUNT-1, published in the New England Journal of Medicine in 2022, enrolled 2,539 adults and reported mean weight changes of 15.0 percent, 19.5 percent and 20.9 percent at 5 mg, 10 mg and 15 mg against 3.1 percent with placebo at 72 weeks. It studied Zepbound®, not a compounded product. Personalized compounded medications differ from commercially available brand-name products in formulation, concentration, excipients, preparation methods, and other characteristics. Accordingly, clinical data from studies involving brand-name products should not be assumed to apply to personalized compounded formulations. At this time, the studies referenced above have not evaluated the specific personalized compounded formulations being provided. Therefore, no claims of equivalence in safety, efficacy, quality, or clinical outcomes should be inferred from these studies. ## T ### Telehealth Healthcare delivered remotely, through an online assessment, messaging and video rather than an in person visit. Bodi Envi is a LegitScript-certified U.S. telehealth platform that connects eligible adults with licensed healthcare providers; it is not itself a medical practice, pharmacy or manufacturer. ### Tirzepatide A GIP receptor and GLP-1 receptor agonist and the active ingredient in Zepbound® and Mounjaro®. The Zepbound® label describes it as selectively binding to and activating both receptors. Personalized Compounded tirzepatide contains the same molecule prepared by a compounding pharmacy and is not FDA-approved. ### Titration Adjusting a dose in steps to reach the intended level while watching how a patient tolerates it. The Wegovy® label uses the word for its four week escalation steps. With a compounded prescription, titration is directed by your provider, and Bodi Envi's price does not change with the dose. ## U ### USP The United States Pharmacopeia, which publishes standards for medication quality and for compounding practice. Bodi Envi publishes that pharmacy operations and sterile compounding practices at its 503A pharmacy partners are subject to applicable U.S. Pharmacopeia standards. ## W ### Wegovy® The FDA-approved semaglutide product for weight management. Its prescribing information indicates it, with a reduced calorie diet and increased physical activity, to reduce excess body weight in adults and adolescents with obesity and in adults with overweight who have at least one weight-related condition, among other indications. A trademark of its owner. Personalized Compounded semaglutide is not equivalent to Wegovy®. Personalized compounded medications differ from commercially available brand-name products in formulation, concentration, excipients, preparation methods, and other characteristics. Accordingly, clinical data from studies involving brand-name products should not be assumed to apply to personalized compounded formulations. At this time, the studies referenced above have not evaluated the specific personalized compounded formulations being provided. Therefore, no claims of equivalence in safety, efficacy, quality, or clinical outcomes should be inferred from these studies. ### Weight-related comorbid condition A health condition linked to excess weight that the labels use to define eligibility for adults with overweight rather than obesity. Both the Wegovy® and Zepbound® indications include adults with overweight in the presence of at least one weight-related comorbid condition. Which conditions count is a clinical judgment for the provider. ### Wholesale acquisition cost The formal name for a list price. Lilly's pricing page defines it as the price at which Lilly sells its products to wholesalers and says the price patients pay may be different. See list price. ## Z ### Zepbound® The FDA-approved tirzepatide product for weight management. Its prescribing information indicates it, with a reduced calorie diet and increased physical activity, to reduce excess body weight in adults with obesity or overweight with a weight-related condition, and to treat moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea in adults with obesity. A trademark of its owner. Personalized Compounded tirzepatide is not equivalent to Zepbound®. Personalized compounded medications differ from commercially available brand-name products in formulation, concentration, excipients, preparation methods, and other characteristics. Accordingly, clinical data from studies involving brand-name products should not be assumed to apply to personalized compounded formulations. At this time, the studies referenced above have not evaluated the specific personalized compounded formulations being provided. Therefore, no claims of equivalence in safety, efficacy, quality, or clinical outcomes should be inferred from these studies. ## Frequently asked questions ### What is the difference between a 503A pharmacy and a 503B outsourcing facility? Per the FDA, a 503A pharmacy is a state-licensed pharmacy overseen day to day by its state board of pharmacy that compounds for individual patients on a prescription. A 503B outsourcing facility registers with the FDA, is inspected by the FDA, and must follow current good manufacturing practice requirements. Bodi Envi's prescriptions are dispensed by third party U.S. 503A licensed compounding pharmacies. ### What does "GLP-1 receptor agonist" mean in plain terms? A medication that binds to and switches on the receptor for GLP-1, a hormone the body uses to regulate appetite and blood sugar. The Wegovy® and Ozempic® labels describe semaglutide this way. Tirzepatide activates the GLP-1 receptor and the GIP receptor, so its labels call it a GIP receptor and GLP-1 receptor agonist. ### Is "not FDA-approved" the same as "illegal"? No. Compounding is a legal, regulated practice. Not FDA-approved means the FDA has not reviewed that product for safety, effectiveness or quality before it is marketed, which is the FDA's own description of every compounded drug. It is a statement about what assurance the product carries, not about whether it may lawfully be prescribed and dispensed. ### What is a boxed warning? The most prominent warning the FDA requires on a prescribing information document, set in a box at the top. The Wegovy®, Ozempic®, Zepbound® and Mounjaro® labels each carry one about thyroid C-cell tumours observed in rodents. ### What is the difference between a starting dose and a maintenance dose? A starting dose is the low dose a course begins on, and a maintenance dose is the dose the labels intend a patient to stay on once escalation is complete. The Wegovy® label starts at 0.25 mg and lists 1.7 mg and 2.4 mg as maintenance doses; the Zepbound® label starts at 2.5 mg and lists 5 mg, 10 mg and 15 mg as maintenance doses. Personalized compounded medications differ from commercially available brand-name products in formulation, concentration, excipients, preparation methods, and other characteristics. Accordingly, clinical data from studies involving brand-name products should not be assumed to apply to personalized compounded formulations. At this time, the studies referenced above have not evaluated the specific personalized compounded formulations being provided. Therefore, no claims of equivalence in safety, efficacy, quality, or clinical outcomes should be inferred from these studies. ### Where do these definitions come from? Where a term is clinical or regulatory, from the FDA's compounding pages, the FDA-approved prescribing information on DailyMed, the published trials, LegitScript or the CDC, each listed in the sources. Where a term is about Bodi Envi, from what Bodi Envi itself publishes. ## Sources - FDA, Human Drug Compounding: https://www.fda.gov/drugs/guidance-compliance-regulatory-information/human-drug-compounding (checked September 2026) - FDA, Compounding and the FDA, Questions and Answers: https://www.fda.gov/drugs/human-drug-compounding/compounding-and-fda-questions-and-answers (checked September 2026) - FDA, FDA's Concerns with Unapproved GLP-1 Drugs Used for Weight Loss, dated September 1, 2026: https://www.fda.gov/drugs/drug-alerts-and-statements/fdas-concerns-unapproved-glp-1-drugs-used-weight-loss (checked September 2026) - FDA, MedWatch, the FDA Safety Information and Adverse Event Reporting Program: https://www.fda.gov/safety/medwatch-fda-safety-information-and-adverse-event-reporting-program (checked September 2026) - Wegovy® (semaglutide) injection prescribing information, DailyMed, revised June 2026: https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=ee06186f-2aa3-4990-a760-757579d8f77b (checked September 2026) - Ozempic® (semaglutide) injection prescribing information, DailyMed, revised May 2026: https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=adec4fd2-6858-4c99-91d4-531f5f2a2d79 (checked September 2026) - Zepbound® (tirzepatide) injection prescribing information, DailyMed, revised August 2026: https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=487cd7e7-434c-4925-99fa-aa80b1cc776b (checked September 2026) - Mounjaro® (tirzepatide) injection prescribing information, DailyMed, revised August 2026: https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=d2d7da5d-ad07-4228-955f-cf7e355c8cc0 (checked September 2026) - Wilding et al., Once-Weekly Semaglutide in Adults with Overweight or Obesity (STEP 1), New England Journal of Medicine, 2021, PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33567185/ (checked September 2026) - Jastreboff et al., Tirzepatide Once Weekly for the Treatment of Obesity (SURMOUNT-1), New England Journal of Medicine, 2022, PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35658024/ (checked September 2026) - LegitScript, Healthcare Certification: https://www.legitscript.com/certification/healthcare-certification/ (checked September 2026) - CDC, Adult BMI Categories: https://www.cdc.gov/bmi/adult-calculator/bmi-categories.html (checked September 2026) - Lilly, Zepbound® cost information: https://pricinginfo.lilly.com/zepbound (checked September 2026) - NovoCare, Explaining Wegovy® list price: https://www.novocare.com/obesity/products/wegovy/let-us-help/explaining-list-price.html (checked September 2026)