Home / Guides / Foundayo vs. Wegovy pill
Two pills. Different rules.
Foundayo vs Wegovy pill: which GLP-1 pill fits you?
By the NexLife Medical Team · Medically reviewed by Adam Kennah, MD · Updated
Both are FDA-approved
- Foundayo: once a day, any time, with or without food
- Wegovy pill: empty stomach, then a 30-minute wait
- Self-pay: $149 to $299 a month for either
$139/mo on a 12-month plan, all-inclusive, same price at every dose
Or $169/mo month to month
Compounded tirzepatide, a weekly shot, not a brand-name pill. Brand-name Zepbound: $299 to $449 a month; $449, from 7.5 mg, needs a refill within 45 days, or it’s $499 to $699.
About 3 minutes of health questions · No insurance needed · Not prescribed? No charge for medication
See all 4 plans and what a year costs
| Plan | Per month | 12 months at this rate |
|---|---|---|
| 12-month Lowest monthly price | $139 | $1,668 |
| 6-month | $149 | $1,788 |
| 3-month | $159 | $1,908 |
| Month to month | $169 | $2,028 |
Month to month costs $360 more over 12 months than the 12-month plan. Plans renew until you cancel. Longer plans bill the way you choose at checkout.
Price Match Guarantee†. Paying less elsewhere? We match your regular monthly price. How it works
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Prefer semaglutide? $119/mo on 12 months
Compounded, not FDA-approved. A licensed provider prescribes it only when it offers a significant difference for you. The vial shown is an illustration. Always use the strength on your pharmacy’s label.
- Licensed U.S. providers
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- Filled by Absolute Pharmacy (Lutz, FL) or Boudreaux’s New Drug Store (Lake Charles, LA)
Compounded tirzepatide and semaglutide aren’t FDA-approved, aren’t Foundayo or the Wegovy pill, and weren’t studied in their trials. A licensed provider prescribes them only when they offer a significant difference for you.
At a glance
Foundayo vs Wegovy pill at a glance: how do they differ?
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| How do you take it? | Foundayo: once a day, any time, with or without food. Wegovy pill: each morning on an empty stomach, with up to 4 ounces of plain water, then a 30-minute wait |
| What does each cost? | $149 to $299 a month self-pay for either. Foundayo’s 2.5 and 5.5 mg are reduced to $149 and $199 through December 31, 2026 (regular $199 and $299) |
| Which works better? | No trial has compared them. Separately, counting everyone who started: 13.6% average loss on the 25 mg Wegovy pill (64 weeks), 11.1% on Foundayo 17.2 mg (72 weeks) |
| Other approved uses? | Only the Wegovy pill: lowering the risk of heart attack, stroke and heart death in adults with heart disease |
| With Medicare? | $50 a month for either on the |
| Does NexLife offer them? | No. Its compounded weekly shots aren’t FDA-approved: $119 a month (semaglutide) or $139 (tirzepatide) on the 12-month plan |
From the Foundayo label (July 2026), the Wegovy label (June 2026), LillyDirect, NovoCare and Medicare.gov, checked November 1, 2026. Foundayo’s 14.5 and 17.2 mg keep $299 with a refill within 45 days.
- Tell us about you About 3 minutes of health questions
- A licensed provider decides You’re prescribed only if it’s right for you
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Key takeaways
- Both are FDA-approved daily
GLP-1 pills, $149 to $299 a month self-pay (checked November 1, 2026). - Foundayo fits any time of day, with or without food. The Wegovy pill needs an empty stomach and a 30-minute wait.
- No trial has compared them. Separately, average loss was 13.6% on the 25 mg Wegovy pill, 11.1% on Foundayo 17.2 mg.
- Only the Wegovy pill is also approved to lower the risk of heart attack, stroke and heart death with heart disease.
- Foundayo costs less at two steps through December 31, 2026: reduced to $149 at 2.5 mg and $199 at 5.5 mg.
- NexLife offers neither brand-name pill. Its compounded weekly shots, not FDA-approved, are $119 (semaglutide) or $139 (tirzepatide) a month on the 12-month plan.
Side by side
How do Foundayo and the Wegovy pill compare?
Both are daily
| Foundayo | Wegovy pill | |
|---|---|---|
| Maker and medicine | Eli Lilly · orforglipron | Novo Nordisk · semaglutide |
| FDA-approved foradults | Weight loss and keeping it off, with obesity, or overweight and a weight-related condition. Approved April 1, 2026 | The same weight-loss use, plus lowering the risk of heart attack, stroke and heart death with heart disease. Approved December 22, 2025 |
| How you take it | One tablet a day, with or without food (any time of day, Lilly says); swallowed whole | One tablet a day in the morning, on an empty stomach, with up to 4 ounces of plain water; then 30 minutes before food, drinks or other pills |
| Dose stepsFoundayo: at least 30 days each; Wegovy pill: 30 days each | 0.8 mg, then 2.5 and 5.5 mg; then 9, 14.5 or 17.2 mg if needed | 1.5 mg, then 4 and 9 mg; 25 mg from day 91 |
| Main trialcounting everyone who started | ATTAIN-1 (2025), 72 weeks: 11.1% average weight loss on 17.2 mg vs 2.1% on placebo | OASIS 4 (2025), 64 weeks: 13.6% average weight loss on 25 mg vs 2.4% on placebo |
| Most common side effectlabel | Nausea: 35% on 17.2 mg (10% on placebo) | Similar to the Wegovy shot’s, its label says (nausea 44% on 2.4 mg, 16% on placebo) |
| Stopped because of side effects | 10% on 17.2 mg (3% on placebo) | 6.9% on 25 mg (5.9% on placebo) |
| Self-pay, a monthchecked November 1, 2026 | $149 at 0.8 or 2.5 mg and $199 at 5.5 mg (2.5 and 5.5 mg reduced through December 31, 2026), $299 from 9 mg; 14.5 and 17.2 mg need a refill within 45 days (LillyDirect) | $149 at 1.5 mg, $199 at 4 mg, $299 at 9 or 25 mg (NovoCare) |
| With commercial insuranceif your plan covers it | Savings card: as low as $25 a month | Savings card: as little as $25, up to $100 off a month |
| Medicare, 2026–2027if you qualify | ||
| How long it lastshalf-life | About 29 to 49 hours | About 1 week; stop 2 months before a planned pregnancy |
Swipe the table sideways to see every column.
From the Foundayo label (revised July 2026), the Wegovy label (revised June 2026), LillyDirect, NovoCare Pharmacy and Medicare.gov, checked November 1, 2026. Separate trials, not head to head: ATTAIN-1 is the Foundayo label’s Trial 1, and OASIS 4 the Wegovy label’s Study 7. These trials studied FDA-approved Foundayo and Wegovy; compounded semaglutide and tirzepatide weren’t studied.
Which fits you
Foundayo or the Wegovy pill: which fits your day?
Mostly your routine, your other medicines and your coverage. Here’s what the labels and prices point to.
If your mornings are rushed
Foundayo has no food or water rule, so it fits any time of day. The Wegovy pill asks for an empty stomach and a 30-minute wait every morning.
If you take other pills
The Wegovy pill needs 30 minutes before other oral medicines. Foundayo slows stomach emptying, which can affect pills taken with it; its label caps it at 9 mg with strong CYP3A4 inhibitors and limits simvastatin to 20 mg.
If you have heart disease
The Wegovy pill is also approved to lower the risk of heart attack, stroke and heart death in adults with heart disease and excess weight. Foundayo’s approval covers weight only.
If you use birth control pills
Foundayo can make them work less well. Its label says to switch to a non-pill method, or add a barrier method, for 30 days after starting and after each dose increase.
If cost decides it
Both start at $149 a month self-pay and top out at $299. Through December 31, 2026, Foundayo costs less at its next two steps: $149 at 2.5 mg and $199 at 5.5 mg, vs $199 and $299 for the Wegovy pill’s 4 and 9 mg.
If you have Medicare
Medicare’s
GLP-1 Bridge covers either pill for $50 a month through December 31, 2027, if you qualify by BMI and health conditions, and not if you have type 2 diabetes.
“You’ll pay a $50 copayment to the pharmacy for a one-month supply (either 28 or 30 days, depending on drug).”
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Weight loss drugs (Medicare.gov)
Your provider decides which medicine fits you, after reviewing your health history and your other medicines.
Step by step
How do you choose between Foundayo and the Wegovy pill?
Your routine, your other medicines and your coverage usually decide it. Here’s the order to check them in, ending with your provider.
- Start with your routine. Foundayo is once a day, any time, with or without food. The Wegovy pill needs an empty stomach each morning, up to 4 ounces of plain water, then a 30-minute wait before food, drinks or other pills.
- List your other medicines. Tell your provider every pill you take. The Wegovy pill needs 30 minutes before other oral medicines; Foundayo slows stomach emptying, can affect pills taken with it, and can make birth control pills work less well.
- Check what each is approved for. Both are FDA-approved for weight loss in adults, and Foundayo’s approval covers weight only. The Wegovy pill is also approved to lower the risk of heart attack, stroke and heart death in adults with heart disease.
- Compare the trial results. No trial has compared them. Counting everyone who started, the 25 mg Wegovy pill averaged 13.6% at 64 weeks (OASIS 4) and Foundayo 17.2 mg 11.1% at 72 weeks (ATTAIN-1), against 2.4% and 2.1% on placebo. Averages aren’t promises.
- Compare price and coverage. Both are $149 to $299 a month self-pay. Through December 31, 2026, Foundayo’s 2.5 and 5.5 mg cost $149 and $199, below the Wegovy pill’s next two steps. Medicare’s Bridge covers either for $50 a month if you qualify.
- Let your provider decide. Both carry a boxed warning about thyroid C-cell tumors, and your provider decides which fits after reviewing your history and other medicines. Switching is a new prescription; don’t take the two together.
Prices were checked November 1, 2026; NexLife offers neither brand-name pill, and your provider decides which one fits you.
How to take
How do you take Foundayo and the Wegovy pill?
The labels differ most on food, water and timing, because the two medicines are absorbed very differently.
| Foundayo | Wegovy pill | |
|---|---|---|
| When | Any time of day, Lilly says (the label sets no time) | In the morning |
| Food | With or without food. The label found no clinically relevant food effect | On an empty stomach; wait at least 30 minutes before eating |
| Water | No water rule in the label | Up to 4 ounces of plain water, and no other drinks with it |
| Other pills | It slows stomach emptying, which may change how other pills absorb | Wait at least 30 minutes before other oral medicines |
| Swallowing | Whole; don’t break, crush or chew it | Whole; don’t split, crush, chew or dissolve it |
| A missed dose | Take it as soon as you can, but don’t double up. After 7 or more missed days, the label restarts at a lower dose | Skip it and take the next one the following day |
| How much reaches the blood | About 77% (at 0.8 mg) | About 1% to 2% |
Swipe the table sideways to see every column.
The labels’ instructions (Foundayo, July 2026; Wegovy, June 2026), not a personal plan. Follow your prescriber’s directions and your pharmacy label.
Why the Wegovy pill has rules. Very little swallowed semaglutide is absorbed, about 1% to 2%, and the label says absorption was higher after a longer fast and with less water. Foundayo’s label found no clinically relevant food effect.
“…a GLP-1 receptor partial agonist pill which does not need to be taken on an empty stomach”
Tracy Beth Høeg, M.D., Ph.D., acting director of the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, FDA Approves First New Molecular Entity Under National Priority Voucher Program
Neither goes with another
Results
Which works better, Foundayo or the Wegovy pill?
No trial has compared them. In their own trials, people lost more weight on average on the 25 mg Wegovy pill, but the trials differed in length and people, so they can’t settle it for you.
| Foundayo (ATTAIN-1, 2025) | Wegovy pill (OASIS 4, 2025) | |
|---|---|---|
| Reported in | Foundayo label, Trial 1 (July 2026); Lilly, April 1, 2026 | Wegovy label, Study 7 (June 2026); Novo Nordisk |
| Who took part | 3,127 adults with obesity, or overweight with a weight-related condition, without type 2 diabetes; average BMI 37 | 307 adults with obesity, or overweight with a weight-related condition, without type 2 diabetes |
| Length | 72 weeks | 64 weeks |
| Daily dose | 5.5, 9 or 17.2 mg | 25 mg |
| Average weight losscounting everyone who started | 11.1% on 17.2 mg 8.3% on 9 mg, 7.4% on 5.5 mg; placebo 2.1% | 13.6% on 25 mg placebo 2.4% |
| Lost 5% or more | 71.5% on 17.2 mg (26.8% on placebo) | 76% on 25 mg (31% on placebo) |
Swipe the table sideways to see every column.
Not head to head: different trials, lengths (72 vs. 64 weeks) and people. Foundayo from its label (Trial 1) and Lilly’s April 1, 2026 release; Wegovy pill from its label (Study 7) and Novo’s patient site, which rounds the average to 14% vs. 2.4%. These trials studied FDA-approved Foundayo and Wegovy; compounded semaglutide and tirzepatide weren’t studied.
Lilly’s headline 12.4% for Foundayo assumes everyone stayed on treatment. Counting everyone who started, it’s 11.1%: the like-for-like figure to set beside the Wegovy pill’s 13.6%.
With type 2 diabetes, Foundayo’s July 2026 label reports its second trial, ATTAIN-2 (Lilly, 2025; Trial 2: 1,613 adults, 72 weeks): 9.6% average loss on 17.2 mg, vs 2.5% on placebo.
The closest to head to head: ACHIEVE-3
Lilly’s 52-week, open-label trial (results released September 17, 2025) compared orforglipron with oral semaglutide in 1,698 adults with type 2 diabetes on metformin. Counting everyone, the top doses lowered HbA1c by 1.9 points vs 1.5, and weight by 8.2% vs 5.3%. Stopping for side effects was more common on orforglipron: 9.7% vs 4.9%.
Read it carefully. The comparator doses, 7 and 14 mg, are Rybelsus doses for diabetes, not the 25 mg Wegovy pill. And the trial’s orforglipron doses (12 and 36 mg) aren’t Foundayo’s tablet strengths, so they don’t match a pharmacy bottle. This trial studied orforglipron and oral semaglutide at doses unlike Foundayo’s or the Wegovy pill’s; compounded semaglutide and tirzepatide weren’t studied.
Side effects
How do the side effects of Foundayo and the Wegovy pill compare?
Both mostly cause stomach side effects. Foundayo’s label has its own table; the Wegovy label says the pill’s were similar to the shot’s.
| Side effect | Foundayo 17.2 mg (label) | Wegovy 2.4 mg shot (label; the pill’s were similar) |
|---|---|---|
| Nausea | 35% (10%) | 44% (16%) |
| Diarrhea | 25% (11%) | 30% (16%) |
| Vomiting | 24% (4%) | 24% (6%) |
| Constipation | 24% (9%) | 24% (11%) |
| Belly painabdominal pain | 14% (7%) | 20% (10%) |
| Indigestiondyspepsia | 13% (4%) | 9% (3%) |
| Headache | 9% (7%) | 14% (10%) |
| Tirednessfatigue | 9% (4%) | 11% (5%) |
| Hair loss | 5% (2%) | 3% (1%) |
| Stopped because of side effects | 10% (3%) | Pill: 6.9% (5.9%) |
Swipe the table sideways to see every column.
Placebo in parentheses. Foundayo: its label’s two pooled trials, up to 72 weeks. Wegovy: its label’s Table 3, from trials of the 2.4 mg shot; the label says the 25 mg pill’s common side effects were similar in type and frequency, and gives the pill’s own stop rate. Not head to head. These trials studied FDA-approved Foundayo and Wegovy; compounded semaglutide and tirzepatide weren’t studied.
Foundayo’s own findings. A fast heart rate was reported by 3% on Foundayo vs 0.9% on placebo, and hair loss by 7% of women (3% on placebo), which the label links to weight loss.
Both carry a boxed warning about thyroid C-cell tumors. Don’t take either if you or a family member has had medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC), or if you have multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2). Foundayo’s label adds that orforglipron isn’t active in rats or mice and didn’t cause tumors in them.
“The labeling for Foundayo includes a boxed warning for thyroid C-cell tumors.”
U.S. Food and Drug Administration, FDA Approves First New Molecular Entity Under National Priority Voucher Program
- Serious risks on both labels: pancreatitis, gallbladder disease, low blood sugar with diabetes medicines, kidney injury from dehydration, severe stomach reactions, serious allergic reactions, worse eye disease in type 2 diabetes, and breathing in stomach contents under anesthesia. The Wegovy label adds a raised heart rate.
- Pregnancy: stop the Wegovy pill at least 2 months before a planned pregnancy; stop Foundayo when a pregnancy is found. Foundayo’s label advises against breastfeeding while you take it.
- Call your provider right away for severe stomach pain that won’t go away, which can mean pancreatitis, or for vomiting or diarrhea that won’t stop. Get emergency help for swelling of your face or throat, or trouble breathing.
- Report a side effect to your provider, or to the FDA at
1-800-FDA-1088 .
Cost
What do Foundayo and the Wegovy pill cost?
$149 to $299 a month each, self-pay, checked November 1, 2026. Here’s every way to pay, with a year at each price.
| How you pay | A month | A year at that price | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Foundayo, LillyDirect0.8 mg or 2.5 mg | $149 | Starting steps, at least 30 days each: not a year | The 2.5 mg price is reduced through December 31, 2026; its regular price is $199 |
| Foundayo, LillyDirect5.5 mg | $199 | $3,588 a year at its regular $299, once the reduced price ends | Reduced through December 31, 2026; its regular price is $299 |
| Foundayo, LillyDirect9, 14.5 or 17.2 mg | $299 | $3,588 | 14.5 and 17.2 mg keep this price with a refill within 45 days |
| Wegovy pill, NovoCare Pharmacy1.5 mg | $149 | Days 1-30 only | A month is one 30-tablet bottle |
| Wegovy pill, NovoCare Pharmacy4 mg | $199 | Days 31-60 only | |
| Wegovy pill, NovoCare Pharmacy9 mg or 25 mg | $299 | $3,588 | 9 mg is days 61-90; 25 mg, from day 91, is the maintenance dose |
| Either pill, TrumpRx.govself-pay | The makers’ prices | As above | Wegovy pill: a coupon at retail pharmacies, starting at $149. Foundayo: orders through LillyDirect |
| Either pill, with commercial insurancesavings cards | As little as $25 | Varies | Only if your plan covers it; Wegovy’s card saves up to $100 a month; not for Medicare, Medicaid or other government plans |
| Either pill, Medicare | $50 | $600 | July 1, 2026 to December 31, 2027, with prior authorization; not with type 2 diabetes |
| NexLife, compounded tirzepatidea weekly shot, 12-month plan | $139 | $1,668 | $169 month to month. Same price at every dose; compounded tirzepatide isn’t FDA-approved |
| NexLife, compounded semaglutidea weekly shot, 12-month plan | $119 | $1,428 | $139 month to month. Same price at every dose; compounded semaglutide isn’t FDA-approved |
NexLife Price Match Guarantee†. Already on compounded semaglutide with another licensed provider, and paying less? We match your regular monthly price. How it works
Swipe the table sideways to see every column.
Self-pay prices from LillyDirect and NovoCare Pharmacy, checked November 1, 2026 (a month is 30 days of tablets); TrumpRx.gov and Medicare.gov the same day. A year is 12 months at that price. Starting steps (Foundayo’s 0.8 and 2.5 mg, at least 30 days each; the Wegovy pill’s 1.5, 4 and 9 mg, 30 days each) don’t run a full year. The NexLife rows are compounded weekly shots, not pills; they aren’t FDA-approved, and they aren’t Foundayo or the Wegovy pill.
The arithmetic. At their top doses, a year of either pill is $3,588 self-pay (Foundayo’s 14.5 and 17.2 mg need a refill within 45 days). Against the 25 mg Wegovy pill’s $3,588, a year of compounded semaglutide at NexLife is $1,428 on the 12-month plan, or $1,668 month to month: a different product, a weekly shot that isn’t FDA-approved.
Dates to know. Foundayo’s reduced 2.5 mg and 5.5 mg prices end December 31, 2026; TrumpRx lists their regular prices as $199 and $299. Novo’s list price for the 25 mg Wegovy pill, $1,349.02 on TrumpRx today, falls to $675 on January 1, 2027; Novo says the cut doesn’t affect self-pay prices, and NovoCare’s Wegovy page says, under self-pay, “Pricing to be updated after December 31, 2026.”
More: Foundayo’s price by dose, every Wegovy price in 2027 and who qualifies for Medicare’s Bridge.
Pill or shot
Should you take a GLP-1 pill or a weekly shot?
In their own trials, the shots led to more weight loss than the pills, and they cost more self-pay. None of these trials were head to head.
| Average loss in its main trial | Self-pay, a month | How often | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zepboundtirzepatide, Lilly | 20.9% on 15 mg vs 3.1%, 72 weeks (SURMOUNT-1, 2022) | $299 to $449 at LillyDirect, by dose; $449, from 7.5 mg, needs a refill within 45 days, or it’s $499 to $699 | A weekly shot |
| Wegovy pensemaglutide, Novo Nordisk | 14.9% on 2.4 mg vs 2.4%, 68 weeks (STEP 1, 2021) | $349; $399 for Wegovy HD | A weekly shot |
| Wegovy pillsemaglutide, Novo Nordisk | 13.6% on 25 mg vs 2.4%, 64 weeks (OASIS 4, 2025) | $149 to $299 | A daily pill |
| Foundayoorforglipron, Lilly | 11.1% on 17.2 mg vs 2.1%, 72 weeks (ATTAIN-1, 2025) | $149 to $299 | A daily pill |
Swipe the table sideways to see every column.
Separate trials, not head to head, each as its label reports it (Zepbound, August 2026; Wegovy, June 2026; Foundayo, July 2026). Zepbound’s $449, from 7.5 mg, needs a refill within 45 days. Prices from LillyDirect and NovoCare, checked November 1, 2026. These trials studied FDA-approved Zepbound, Wegovy and Foundayo; compounded tirzepatide and semaglutide weren’t studied.
Foundayo vs. Zepbound. Lilly makes both, but Foundayo isn’t tirzepatide: it’s orforglipron, a daily pill. No trial has compared them. Zepbound’s label reports the larger average loss; Foundayo costs less at its first doses, $149 vs $299, and needs no needle.
Switching between a pill and a shot is a new prescription. Your provider decides the medicine and the starting dose; don’t take a pill and a shot together.
Every pill and shot, priced:
Compounded tablets
How are compounded tablets different from Foundayo and the Wegovy pill?
Compounded tablets that dissolve under the tongue aren’t FDA-approved, and they aren’t Foundayo or the Wegovy pill.
| What they are | Compounded semaglutide or tirzepatide tablets, often dissolved under the tongue, prepared by a pharmacy for one patient’s prescription. Some online programs, NexLife among them, offer them. |
|---|---|
| What they aren’t | FDA-approved, or Foundayo, or the Wegovy pill. They weren’t tested in ATTAIN-1, OASIS 4 or any trial on this page. |
| What’s unknown | How well they’re absorbed: there’s little published research on semaglutide or tirzepatide under the tongue, and even the FDA-approved semaglutide tablets need an absorption helper. |
| Whose rules apply | Your prescription and your pharmacy label. The Wegovy pill’s empty-stomach rule comes from its own label. |
These trials studied FDA-approved Foundayo and Wegovy; compounded semaglutide and tirzepatide weren’t studied. More on the compounded tablets: sublingual semaglutide and sublingual tirzepatide.
At NexLife
Prefer a weekly shot at one price? Compounded options at NexLife
NexLife doesn’t offer Foundayo or the Wegovy pill. If you’d consider a weekly shot, here’s what compounded tirzepatide and semaglutide cost through NexLife.
| Compounded tirzepatide | $139 a month on the 12-month plan, $149 on 6 months, $159 on 3 months or $169 month to month |
|---|---|
| Compounded semaglutide | $119 a month on the 12-month plan, $125 on 6 months, $132 on 3 months or $139 month to month |
| Same at every dose | No membership fee, and nothing extra when your dose goes up. Brand-name prices climb with the dose: Zepbound from $299 to $449 a month ($449, from 7.5 mg, needs a refill within 45 days, or it’s $499 to $699), and the Wegovy pill from $149 to $299. |
| Included | A licensed provider who follows your dose, the medication, a nutrition plan, a 1:1 coaching call, free expedited shipping and real people 24/7. |
| Who fills it | Absolute Pharmacy (Lutz, FL) or Boudreaux’s New Drug Store (Lake Charles, LA), state-licensed 503A partner pharmacies. Questions come to us, not the pharmacy. |
| What happens next | A 3-minute online assessment. A licensed provider reviews it online. If you’re prescribed, the pharmacy usually ships within 1 to 2 business days. |
| Ways to pay | An HSA or FSA card (NexLife provides a letter of medical necessity), or Affirm, Klarna or Afterpay at checkout. With Medicare, you can pay yourself. |
| Price Match Guarantee† | Paying less for compounded tirzepatide or semaglutide with another licensed provider? We match your regular monthly price, with a receipt from the last 60 days. |
| Not prescribed? | No charge for medication. |
Against the market: month to month, $169 for tirzepatide is $68 under the $237 median of the 14 tirzepatide programs in our
Who’s behind it: NexLife’s medical director is Adam Kennah, MD. NexLife is LegitScript-certified and rated 4.8 out of 5 on Trustpilot, from 407 reviews (read November 1, 2026). Call or text
NexLife’s providers prescribe compounded tirzepatide and semaglutide for weight loss. They aren’t treatments for type 2 diabetes and don’t replace Rybelsus or your diabetes care.
Compounded tirzepatide and semaglutide aren’t FDA-approved, aren’t Foundayo or the Wegovy pill, and a licensed provider prescribes them only when they offer a significant difference for you.
Vial math
How many units is your semaglutide dose?
It depends on your vial’s strength. Here are the Wegovy label’s dose steps at two example strengths.
| Weeks | Weekly dose | At 2.5 mg/mL | At 5 mg/mL |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 to 4 | 0.25 mg | 0.1 mL (10 units) | 0.05 mL (5 units) |
| 5 to 8 | 0.5 mg | 0.2 mL (20 units) | 0.1 mL (10 units) |
| 9 to 12 | 1 mg | 0.4 mL (40 units) | 0.2 mL (20 units) |
| 13 to 16 | 1.7 mg | 0.68 mL (68 units) | 0.34 mL (34 units) |
| 17 onward | 2.4 mg | 0.96 mL (96 units) | 0.48 mL (48 units) |
The math: mL = dose ÷ strength (mg per mL); units = mL × 100. At 2.5 mg/mL, 1 mg is 1 ÷ 2.5 = 0.4 mL, or 40 units. At 5 mg/mL, the same 1 mg is 0.2 mL, or 20 units.
Both strengths are examples only. The same dose is a different number of units at a different strength, so read the strength on your own vial’s label. Your prescription sets your dose and schedule, which may differ from these label steps. Every step: the semaglutide dosage chart.
What does NexLife cost?
One flat price at every dose.
No membership fee. Provider care, a nutrition plan, coaching and shipping are included. Paying less with another licensed provider? We match your regular monthly price.†
GIP + 12-month plan $139/mo
Tirzepatide
Weekly and dual-action. Care, coaching and shipping included. On a 12-month plan; $169/mo month to month.
Check my eligibilityCompounded, not FDA-approved · Not prescribed? No charge for medication
12-month plan $119/mo
Semaglutide
Weekly
Compounded, not FDA-approved · Not prescribed? No charge for medication
Compounded, not FDA-approved. A licensed provider prescribes it only when it offers a significant difference for you. Vials shown are illustrations. Always use the strength on your pharmacy’s label. Every plan and price · Price Match Guarantee† terms
The NexLife Price Match Guarantee†
Paying less elsewhere?
Keep your price. Upgrade your care.
Already on compounded tirzepatide or semaglutide? Pay less with another licensed U.S. telehealth provider or clinic, and we match your regular monthly price for as long as your plan stays active.† Plus a provider who follows your dose, a nutrition plan, a coaching call and real people 24/7.
- 1Send a receipt from the last 60 days
- 2A NexLife provider reviews your prescription
- 3Pay your matched price, at every dose
Locked while your plan is activeSame price at every doseNo membership fee
†Terms: see the Price Match Guarantee† details below. Compounded medications aren’t FDA-approved; a provider prescribes one only when it offers a significant difference for you.
Foundayo vs. the Wegovy pill: your questions
Fair questions about NexLife
- Will my price go up with my dose?
- No. You pay the same at every dose.
- What if I’m not prescribed?
- You aren’t charged for medication.
- Can I cancel?
- Yes, by email. It takes effect 30 days after we receive it. Plans renew until you cancel; our cancellation policy has the details.
- Do I need insurance?
- No. Pay with an HSA or FSA card, or with Affirm, Klarna or Afterpay at checkout.
How are Foundayo and the Wegovy pill different?
Both are FDA-approved
Can you take Foundayo or the Wegovy pill with food?
Foundayo, yes: its label says once a day, with or without food, and Lilly says it can be taken any time of day. The Wegovy pill, no: take it in the morning on an empty stomach with up to 4 ounces of plain water, then wait at least 30 minutes before eating, drinking or taking other pills.
Is Foundayo cheaper than the Wegovy pill?
Only at two dose steps, and only through December 31, 2026. Both run $149 to $299 a month self-pay (checked November 1, 2026), but Foundayo’s 2.5 mg is $149 and its 5.5 mg $199, against $199 and $299 for the Wegovy pill’s 4 and 9 mg. With commercial coverage, savings cards bring either to as little as $25.
Does Medicare cover Foundayo or the Wegovy pill?
Yes, for weight loss, through Medicare’s
Can you switch from the Wegovy pill to Foundayo?
Yes, with a new prescription from your provider, who decides when and at what dose. Don’t take the two together: both labels say not to combine them with another
Do Foundayo or the Wegovy pill affect birth control pills?
Foundayo can. Its label says it may make birth control pills work less well, so switch to a non-oral method or add a barrier method for 30 days after starting and after each dose increase. The Wegovy label gives no such advice: it reports no clinically significant change in birth-control hormone levels with semaglutide tablets.
Is Foundayo or the Wegovy pill better for weight loss?
No trial has compared them. In separate trials, counting everyone who started, the 25 mg Wegovy pill averaged 13.6% at 64 weeks (OASIS 4, 2025) and Foundayo 17.2 mg 11.1% at 72 weeks (ATTAIN-1, 2025), against 2.4% and 2.1% on placebo. These trials studied the FDA-approved pills; compounded versions weren’t studied.
Which has more side effects, Foundayo or the Wegovy pill?
Their labels can’t settle it. Foundayo’s lists nausea in 35% on 17.2 mg (10% on placebo); the Wegovy label says the pill’s side effects were similar to the 2.4 mg shot’s, where nausea was 44% (16%). On the pill, 6.9% stopped for side effects, vs 10% on Foundayo’s top dose.
Has Foundayo been tested against oral semaglutide?
Yes, in type 2 diabetes. In Lilly’s 52-week ACHIEVE-3 (released September 17, 2025), orforglipron’s top trial dose lowered HbA1c by 1.9 points and weight by 8.2%, vs 1.5 points and 5.3% on oral semaglutide 14 mg, counting everyone. It didn’t test the 25 mg Wegovy pill.
Is Foundayo or Zepbound better for weight loss?
No trial compared them. In separate 72-week trials, counting everyone enrolled, Zepbound 15 mg averaged 20.9% (SURMOUNT-1, 2022) and Foundayo 17.2 mg 11.1% (ATTAIN-1, 2025). Foundayo is a daily pill at $149 to $299 a month; Zepbound a weekly shot at $299 to $449 ($449, from 7.5 mg, needs a refill within 45 days, or it’s $499 to $699). Compounded tirzepatide wasn’t studied.
What if you miss a dose of Foundayo or the Wegovy pill?
The labels differ. For Foundayo, take it as soon as you can, but don’t double up; after 7 or more missed days, the label restarts at a lower dose. For the Wegovy pill, skip it and take the next one the following day. Follow your prescriber’s directions.
Why does the Wegovy pill need an empty stomach when Foundayo doesn’t?
Because they’re absorbed very differently. Very little swallowed semaglutide is absorbed, about 1% to 2%, and the Wegovy label says absorption was higher after a longer fast and with less water. About 77% of Foundayo reaches the blood (at 0.8 mg), and its label found no clinically relevant food effect.
How much does a year of Foundayo or the Wegovy pill cost?
At their top doses, a year of either pill is $3,588 self-pay; Foundayo’s 14.5 and 17.2 mg need a refill within 45 days. On Medicare’s GLP-1 Bridge, if you qualify, it’s $50 a month, or $600 a year. Compounded semaglutide at NexLife, a weekly shot that isn’t FDA-approved, is $1,428 a year on the 12-month plan.
Important safety information
Compounded tirzepatide and semaglutide are not FDA-approved, and the FDA hasn’t reviewed them for safety, effectiveness or quality. A provider prescribes them only when they offer a significant difference for you compared with an FDA-approved product. Both medicines may cause thyroid tumors, including cancer: don’t use either if you or a family member has had medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) or multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2).
Read the full safety information
In studies with rodents, both medicines caused thyroid tumors; it isn’t known whether they cause them in people. Tell your provider if you notice a lump or swelling in your neck, hoarseness, trouble swallowing or shortness of breath. Serious side effects can include inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis), gallbladder problems, low blood sugar (especially with insulin or sulfonylureas), kidney problems from dehydration, severe stomach problems, serious allergic reactions, vision changes in people with type 2 diabetes, and a faster heart rate. Tell your care team before any surgery or procedure that uses anesthesia or deep sedation. Don’t combine either medicine with other
Tirzepatide can make birth control pills less effective: switch to a non-oral method, or add a barrier method such as condoms, for 4 weeks after you start and for 4 weeks after each dose increase. Both medicines may harm an unborn baby. Semaglutide should be stopped at least 2 months before a planned pregnancy. Tell your provider right away if you’re pregnant, planning to be, or breastfeeding.
This is a summary, not the complete safety information. Read the full Prescribing Information for FDA-approved tirzepatide (Zepbound) and semaglutide (Wegovy), and talk with your provider. You can report side effects to the FDA at
† NexLife Price Match Guarantee: for new NexLife members switching from a licensed U.S. telehealth provider or clinic with an active prescription for compounded tirzepatide or semaglutide. We match your regular all-in monthly price there (medication plus any required membership, program or visit fee, on a month-to-month plan); first-month offers, coupons, referral credits and prepaid multi-month rates aren’t matched. Proof from the last 60 days required. A licensed provider must determine that treatment is right for you. Not open to people with Medicare, Medicaid or TRICARE coverage. Full terms.
About NexLife. NexLife is a telehealth and care-coordination platform. Care is delivered through affiliated, physician-owned medical groups, and licensed providers decide whether treatment is right for you. NexLife doesn’t make or compound medication: state-licensed partner pharmacies fill each prescription, and we coordinate the rest. Available only in states where our affiliated providers are licensed.
Who wrote and medically reviewed this page?
Leads the NexLife Medical Team, which writes and medically reviews NexLife’s guides, including this one.
Labels, makers’ prices, TrumpRx.gov and Medicare’s rules checked November 1, 2026.
- How we checked. Every label fact comes from the prescribing information for Foundayo (revised July 2026), Wegovy (revised June 2026) and Zepbound (revised August 2026), read on November 1, 2026. Trial details come from those labels and from Lilly’s and Novo Nordisk’s own pages. Self-pay prices come from LillyDirect, NovoCare Pharmacy, wegovy.com and TrumpRx.gov, and the Bridge’s rules from Medicare.gov and CMS, all checked the same day. We don’t treat separate trials as head to head.
- Every fact, sourced. Each price and rule links to the page it comes from.
- How we make money. NexLife is a telehealth and care-coordination platform. We earn revenue when people join NexLife.
- Corrections, fast. See something wrong or out of date? Email care@nexlife.us and we’ll fix it.
Paying less elsewhere? We match it.†
You know how the two pills compare. Next: a 3-minute check.
A licensed provider reviews your health history and decides if a compounded weekly shot is right for you: tirzepatide at $139 a month on the 12-month plan, or semaglutide at $119, at every dose.
4.8 out of 5 on Trustpilot · Medical director Adam Kennah, MD (NPI 1144260043) · LegitScript-certified
Compounded medications aren’t FDA-approved. A provider prescribes one only when it offers a significant difference for you.
- 1Tell us about you
Start online with your health history.
- 2A licensed provider decides
Online, following your state’s rules. You’re prescribed only if treatment is right for you.
- 3We ship it, then stay with you
Our partner pharmacy usually ships within 1 to 2 business days. Free shipping, and questions come to us 24/7, never to the pharmacy.
Sources
- Foundayo (orforglipron) prescribing information, Eli Lilly, revised July 2026. Read November 1, 2026.
- Eli Lilly: FDA approves Foundayo (orforglipron) (April 1, 2026). Read November 1, 2026.
- Eli Lilly: orforglipron superior to oral semaglutide in head-to-head trial, ACHIEVE-3 (September 17, 2025; BioSpace copy). Read November 1, 2026.
- Eli Lilly: orforglipron successful in third Phase 3 trial, ATTAIN-2 (August 26, 2025). Read November 1, 2026.
- Wegovy (semaglutide) injection and tablets prescribing information, Novo Nordisk, revised June 2026. Read November 1, 2026.
- Wegovy prescribing information, the FDA’s copy of the June 2026 revision. Read November 1, 2026.
- Novo Nordisk: Wegovy pill results. Read November 1, 2026.
- Zepbound (tirzepatide) prescribing information, Eli Lilly, revised August 2026. Read November 1, 2026.
- The New England Journal of Medicine: Orforglipron, an oral small-molecule
GLP-1 receptor agonist for obesity treatment (ATTAIN-1), 2025. For the trial’s name and year; this page’s figures come from the Foundayo label and Lilly. - The New England Journal of Medicine: Oral semaglutide at a dose of 25 mg in adults with overweight or obesity (OASIS 4), 2025. For the trial’s name and year; this page’s figures come from the Wegovy label and Novo Nordisk.
- The New England Journal of Medicine: Tirzepatide once weekly for the treatment of obesity (SURMOUNT-1), 2022. For the trial’s name and year; this page’s figures come from the Zepbound label.
- The New England Journal of Medicine: Once-weekly semaglutide in adults with overweight or obesity (STEP 1), 2021. For the trial’s name and year; this page’s figures come from the Wegovy label.
- LillyDirect: Foundayo self-pay prices. Checked November 1, 2026.
- LillyDirect: Zepbound self-pay prices. Checked November 1, 2026.
- Novo Nordisk: What to pay for Wegovy. Checked November 1, 2026.
- NovoCare Pharmacy: terms and self-pay prices. Checked November 1, 2026.
- NovoCare: Wegovy savings offer and self-pay pricing. Checked November 1, 2026.
- TrumpRx.gov: Foundayo. Checked November 1, 2026.
- TrumpRx.gov: Wegovy pill. Checked November 1, 2026.
- Novo Nordisk: US list price reduction for Wegovy, Ozempic and Rybelsus (February 24, 2026). Read November 1, 2026.
- Medicare.gov: Weight loss drugs (the Medicare
GLP-1 Bridge). Read November 1, 2026. - CMS: Medicare
GLP-1 Bridge. Read November 1, 2026. - NexLife:
GLP-1 price index. Compounded prices checked November 1, 2026. - NexLife: pricing, every plan.
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration. FDA Approves First New Molecular Entity Under National Priority Voucher Program. April 1, 2026.
Foundayo and Zepbound are trademarks of Eli Lilly and Company; Wegovy, Ozempic and Rybelsus of Novo Nordisk. NexLife isn’t affiliated with either.