Wegovy vs. Compounded Semaglutide in Florida
A Florida nurse practitioner explains the differences in cost, safety, and FDA status.
Have questions about your own care? Book your free consult with Amanda by video, available to adults anywhere in Florida.
Considering semaglutide? Nuvo offers compounded semaglutide in Stuart, FL and by telehealth across Florida, $400 per vial with a free consult.See semaglutide →If you're searching for Wegovy in Stuart or anywhere in Florida, you've probably also seen compounded semaglutide offered at a much lower price. They are not the same product. Here is a plain-language comparison from Amanda Walrath, APRN, FNP-BC, a board-certified nurse practitioner with 17 years of clinical experience.
What is Wegovy?
Wegovy is Novo Nordisk's FDA-approved brand of semaglutide for chronic weight management. It acts like GLP-1, a natural hormone that slows stomach emptying and signals fullness to the brain. In the STEP 1 clinical trial, adults taking Wegovy 2.4 mg along with lifestyle changes lost an average of about 15% of their body weight over 68 weeks. Wegovy is also approved to reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke in certain adults with heart disease.
What is compounded semaglutide?
Compounded semaglutide is prepared by a compounding pharmacy for an individual patient's prescription. It is not FDA-approved. That means the FDA has not reviewed its safety, effectiveness, or quality. The clinical trial results above come from studies of Wegovy, not compounded versions. FDA rules on compounded semaglutide have tightened since the national shortage ended in 2025. Any provider offering it should be able to explain where it comes from and why it's being prescribed.
Side-by-side comparison
Who may be a candidate?
Wegovy is FDA-approved for adults with a BMI of 30 or higher, or 27 or higher with a weight-related condition such as high blood pressure or type 2 diabetes. Whether any GLP-1 medication is right for you depends on your full medical history. That decision should come from a licensed provider after an evaluation, not from an online form alone.
Safety: what you need to know
How to choose a safe provider in Florida
How Nuvo Wellness and Health works
Why I started Nuvo Wellness & Health
Before medication, I tried meal-replacement protein shakes and intermittent fasting. I'm not a morning person, but I went to a 5:30 a.m. class at Burn Boot Camp in Stuart every morning for an hour before 12-hour shifts in urgent care. Over six months, I lost maybe 3 pounds. I wasn't overeating. I was going to the gym, I had a new baby and a full-time job, and I still couldn't lose the weight. My clothes felt tighter, and I was disappointed. That's when I realized this is the reality for so many people, and I knew it couldn't be my future.
I first tried Saxenda, a daily injection, but I didn't tolerate it and stopped. Then I found semaglutide, and it helped me feel like my old self again. I reached my goal of losing 30 pounds over about a year. Individual results vary. Because I've taken the same medication I prescribe, I understand the first weeks, the side effects, and the questions that come up along the way. As a nurse practitioner, I wanted to create a place where people feel heard, supported, and comfortable talking about their weight without judgment.
If you're worried that medication is "cheating," I felt the same way. If you're eating well, exercising, and being pulled in 20 different directions with nothing changing, it's OK to get help. You don't owe anyone an explanation. Do it for yourself. You don't have to do this alone.
Frequently asked questions
This article is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Compounded medications are not FDA-approved. Individual results vary.
