Semaglutide is a popular medication often used to help manage diabetes and, more recently, for weight loss. It comes in both oral and injectable forms, but if using compounded versions of the injectable form—those made by pharmacies rather than coming straight from the manufacturer—there are some important things to consider.

      The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has received reports of people accidentally taking too much injectable semaglutide, leading to serious health problems that sometimes-required hospitalization. These overdoses are often due to mistakes in measuring and giving the correct dose.

      Many of the people who experienced these issues weren’t familiar with giving themselves injections. Compounded injectable semaglutide often comes in vials that need to be measured with a syringe, unlike the pre-filled pens that are usually easier to use. Confusion can happen when trying to figure out the right amount to draw into the syringe, especially since different measurements are used, like milliliters, milligrams, and units.

      In some cases, patients were given syringes that were much larger than what they needed for their dose. This made it easy to accidentally take too much, sometimes 5 to 20 times the intended dose!

      If using compounded injectable semaglutide, the FDA recommends that you:

      It’s important to know that compounded injectable semaglutide products don’t go through the same FDA review process as approved drugs, which means they haven’t been checked for safety, effectiveness, or quality. Because of this, they should only be used if no FDA-approved option can meet your medical needs.

      While semaglutide can be an effective treatment, compounded injectable versions carry extra risks, especially when it comes to getting the dose right. Make sure you’re fully informed and careful when using these medications to avoid serious health issues.