Zepbound
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@afkar7 My 2 cents — if you only want GLP-T you are better off going with a telehealth and a compounding pharmacy.
You will get pep from a certified sterile compounding facility. Nexaph only tests net content, purity, and ID. No endotoxin and sterility. Plus you have to get supplies yourself, H BAC water, noodles, wipes etc and recon yourself. Add those costs to your math. Telehealth GLP-T is usually $3-3.5 per mg all inclusive.
RUOs are best for stuff that's hard to access due to the Eff Dee Aa shenanigans or costs.
If tomorrow Eff Dee Aa shuts down all compounded T and pushes you to $500 pm L Direct, by all means go with Nexaph or other vendors.
Just an advice from someone who did in depth cost analysis for GLP-T during the journey.
This is not untrue.
However, there are certain caveats to consider. You have to make sure you know how to work the system. You won't get the $3-3.50 per mg right away. Unless you have a current prescription and are already taking higher doses, you will get started on the lowest doses and have to work your way up. Those $3-$3.50 amounts are usually for those already taking higher doses. Though it's not impossible to get those prices on lower doses, it is a little trickier. If you don't choose the right telehealth, you could be stuck paying $8 (or more) per mg. Ask me how I know
? Also, if you are able to get vials for the higher doses, but currently take lower doses, you have to be comfortable going beyond the 28 day rule and Beyond Use Date (aka BUD, which is kinda like an expiration date). Most of the big 503B pharmacies are out of the game and the ones left have BUD's only up to 6 months. 503A pharmacies are at 90 day BUD's. NOTE: 503B pharmacies are not necessarily better than 503A pharmacies, they just follow different regulations.
If you look into the telehealths look at Pomegranate Health for some of the best prices. However, their system can be clunky. They won't hold your hand through the process. If you are willing to pay a little more for better service, check out Rift, Trillium, or Big Easy Weight Loss.Hope this helps.
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@afkar7 @nuncles
nuncles is absolutely right about the caveats, but if you can get good connections listed above, it might pay off. I hate the cyanocobalamin and glycine they put in it though. Unmethylated B12 is pretty much worthless and sometimes they'll leave the glycine out of it if you ask them. Been there, done that. -
Gimme Care too. My friend used them and was dirt cheap and got high dose 3 months without much trouble although he was not on high dose before.
@afkar7 While Gimme Care is cheap, you often have to take 2 injections to get the full dose. I still have some Tirz left from Gimme. For a 12.5mg, their pharmacies reconstitute for a pull of 125mg AND they add the B12 & glycine.
If it really is a cost incentive, get the Nexaph or whatever, buy some syringes; 100's for about $50, buy a $1 bottle of isopropyl alcohol at Walmart and some regular swabs (also $1) and go to town! It's not that expensive.
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@Nuncles Yeah the BUD thing is what I didn't include. BUD for lyophilized is YEARS and YEARS
unless you put water in them. But I assumed that OP wants to use them right away so compounded short BUDs are okay.Actually telehealth prices are indeed way down and it hasn't remained that hard to get $3-3.5mg without paying the higher price for starter doses. There's a very active sub on Reddit which does these price and service and BUD comparison. If @afkar7 is interested and if it's allowed I can link it here.
I had created all the backup options if insurance gave any trouble (thankfully they didn't).
@pep_researcher Truth. Always good to have backup. The lyophilized is my backup. Currently working through the compounded stuff as it will go bad way before the lypho.
I hadn't used Gimme but heard they were kinda the go-to for awhile. They seem to be falling out of grace lately in the Reddit subs. The telehealth companies seem to be like some of the RUO vendors. They are good until they are not. I know there are some telehealths that don't require a previous RX. You just tell them what you dose is (or whatever you say it is) and they go from that. I don't know which ones they are though.
All of this to say that I personally believe that both RUO and Telehealth compounding pharmacies have their place. I'm just starting the RUO journey so I'm basically utilizing both methods. It seems to boil down to two comfort levels. "What are you comfortable paying?" And "What is you risk comfort?"
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@afkar7 @nuncles
nuncles is absolutely right about the caveats, but if you can get good connections listed above, it might pay off. I hate the cyanocobalamin and glycine they put in it though. Unmethylated B12 is pretty much worthless and sometimes they'll leave the glycine out of it if you ask them. Been there, done that.@Eleanor Excellent point in mentioning the additives. Some people don't like them. I've only tried B6. I didn't notice any difference in efficacy but it definitely is messing with my sleep. It's partially what led me down the research path. Going to research DSIP and Sermorelin for the first time tonight.
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@Eleanor Excellent point in mentioning the additives. Some people don't like them. I've only tried B6. I didn't notice any difference in efficacy but it definitely is messing with my sleep. It's partially what led me down the research path. Going to research DSIP and Sermorelin for the first time tonight.
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@eleanor @nuncles OrderlyMeds changing compounding pharmacies and adding B12, and not giving me a choice, is specifically why I stopped using them. Their prices were coming down a lot, and I might have used them longer if they hadn’t done that. Then the snafu with my first shipment from CasaPharma was the tipping point.
Honestly, people trust these companies but we really have no idea what they’re sending us. I’m not trying to be conspiracy theory guy, but my trust in the medical industry is highly compromised.
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@eleanor @nuncles OrderlyMeds changing compounding pharmacies and adding B12, and not giving me a choice, is specifically why I stopped using them. Their prices were coming down a lot, and I might have used them longer if they hadn’t done that. Then the snafu with my first shipment from CasaPharma was the tipping point.
Honestly, people trust these companies but we really have no idea what they’re sending us. I’m not trying to be conspiracy theory guy, but my trust in the medical industry is highly compromised.
@ResearchCat They refused to eliminate the B12 in mine too. And snafu, took 2 weeks to get my supply (which they didn't charge me for), but I didn't like any of it and found lyophils. If the Medicare Plan goes forward, I'll take the Lilly doses, for sure.
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@pep_researcher Truth. Always good to have backup. The lyophilized is my backup. Currently working through the compounded stuff as it will go bad way before the lypho.
I hadn't used Gimme but heard they were kinda the go-to for awhile. They seem to be falling out of grace lately in the Reddit subs. The telehealth companies seem to be like some of the RUO vendors. They are good until they are not. I know there are some telehealths that don't require a previous RX. You just tell them what you dose is (or whatever you say it is) and they go from that. I don't know which ones they are though.
All of this to say that I personally believe that both RUO and Telehealth compounding pharmacies have their place. I'm just starting the RUO journey so I'm basically utilizing both methods. It seems to boil down to two comfort levels. "What are you comfortable paying?" And "What is you risk comfort?"
@pep_researcher Truth. Always good to have backup. The lyophilized is my backup. Currently working through the compounded stuff as it will go bad way before the lypho.
I hadn't used Gimme but heard they were kinda the go-to for awhile. They seem to be falling out of grace lately in the Reddit subs. The telehealth companies seem to be like some of the RUO vendors. They are good until they are not. I know there are some telehealths that don't require a previous RX. You just tell them what you dose is (or whatever you say it is) and they go from that. I don't know which ones they are though.
All of this to say that I personally believe that both RUO and Telehealth compounding pharmacies have their place. I'm just starting the RUO journey so I'm basically utilizing both methods. It seems to boil down to two comfort levels. "What are you comfortable paying?" And "What is you risk comfort?"
Everything you said
Especially the part "telehealths or RUO vendors are the same, they only good until they are not". I think that extends to pretty much any businesses, including big pharma. L is riding popularity wave due to their back to back success with 2 products. Maybe in another few years some other star will come on the scene.
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@pep_researcher Truth. Always good to have backup. The lyophilized is my backup. Currently working through the compounded stuff as it will go bad way before the lypho.
I hadn't used Gimme but heard they were kinda the go-to for awhile. They seem to be falling out of grace lately in the Reddit subs. The telehealth companies seem to be like some of the RUO vendors. They are good until they are not. I know there are some telehealths that don't require a previous RX. You just tell them what you dose is (or whatever you say it is) and they go from that. I don't know which ones they are though.
All of this to say that I personally believe that both RUO and Telehealth compounding pharmacies have their place. I'm just starting the RUO journey so I'm basically utilizing both methods. It seems to boil down to two comfort levels. "What are you comfortable paying?" And "What is you risk comfort?"
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Yeah because they know if they try to create a lot of trouble, people now have DIY options so they will just lose business to RUO.
God I love free markets.
It's a miraculous blessing we've been gifted and we could easily lose it if not VERY diligent in keeping it.
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From my perspective, I go through a Telehealth company to get compounded Tirzepatide from a 503a pharmacy. The only reason is not only is my PCP okay with it due to insurance not covering it, but I also pretty much have 24/7 access to my Telehealth provider and a Nutritionist. And for that kind of access, I'm paying $278 a month. That's $79/month membership and $199/month for the medicine. But I know for a fact my PCP would crap a brick if he knew I was getting Tirzepatide from some website off the internet.
@mrjoshua44 I would say who cares what the PCP thinks. Maybe they could say i wont see you as my patient anymore (probably not) if they give you grief find another care provider. You could easily save a lot of money finding a less expensive source. Many of us on here get 2 years supply for the same cost you pay for just one month.
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So the wife has been on Zepbound paying $400 a month. I'm trying to push her away from that by doing her own research. Other than cost, what advice would anyone give to convince her that just might be a better option. I've researched Reta with success but that somehow doesn't move the needle for her. I think she is afraid that it won't work. I just hate that she is going thru them. Anyway any suggestions, advice or help would be greatly appreciated.
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@mrjoshua44 I would say who cares what the PCP thinks. Maybe they could say i wont see you as my patient anymore (probably not) if they give you grief find another care provider. You could easily save a lot of money finding a less expensive source. Many of us on here get 2 years supply for the same cost you pay for just one month.
@TheHazmatGuy I'm not disagreeing with you however, if you are buying on the grey market how much are you spending for third party testing? Or lab work? Sure, I've purchased backup vials of both Tirzepatide and Reta, and have purchased many kits from Nexaph. But like I said in my post, I like having the ability to message my Telehealth provider and Nutritionist whenever I have a question or concern. I'm doing things by the book as much as I can. I value the relationship I have with my PCP. I'm not going to go out Doc shopping just to find one that doesn't care what I put in my body.
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