GLP-1
Semaglutide vs Tirzepatide: Which GLP-1 Should Your Clinic Offer?
Published May 20, 2026 · 8 min read
Both work. Both sell. But they're not interchangeable, and the clinics getting this right offer both and route patients based on goals, tolerance, and budget. Here's the framework.
Efficacy
In head-to-head data, tirzepatide produces greater average weight loss (~20% TBW at 72 weeks) than semaglutide (~15%). Tirzepatide is dual-agonist (GLP-1 + GIP), which appears to drive the difference.
Side effects & tolerability
Both cause GI side effects on titration. Patients sensitive to nausea sometimes do better on semaglutide at slower titration. Tirzepatide can hit harder going up doses but plateau more comfortably.
Cost & supply
Compounded semaglutide is cheaper at scale; compounded tirzepatide costs more but commands higher patient pricing. Brand supply (Wegovy, Zepbound) fluctuates, your wholesale pharmacy access matters.
How to position both
Offer a 'standard' GLP-1 track (semaglutide) and a 'premium' track (tirzepatide) at different price points. Patients self-select; you capture both segments without losing margin.
FAQs
- Can clinics still get compounded GLP-1s?
- Yes, when sourced from licensed 503A/503B pharmacies and prescribed for an individual patient. Compounding rules tightened in 2024–25; work with a supplier who keeps up.
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