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Glossary of GLP-1, compounding, insurance and longevity terms

This glossary defines 56 terms used across Wellchosen Health, from 503A pharmacies, which compound drugs for individually identified patients with a prescription[1], to prior authorization, step therapy and beyond-use dates.

Updated By the Wellchosen Health editorial team

Each entry is one to three sentences, cites its source where it states a fact, and links the page on this site that covers the term in depth. For short answers to common cost questions, see quick answers.

Last checked
Oct 24 2026

GLP-1 drugs

GLP-1 receptor agonist

A class of drugs that act like the gut hormone GLP-1. Semaglutide (Wegovy, Ozempic) is one; tirzepatide (Zepbound, Mounjaro) acts on both the GLP-1 and GIP receptors[26]. How GLP-1 drugs work.

Semaglutide

The drug in Wegovy and Ozempic. Wegovy is approved to reduce heart risk in adults with heart disease and for weight reduction, among other uses[28]. Semaglutide guide.

Tirzepatide

The drug in Zepbound and Mounjaro. FDA approved Zepbound for chronic weight management on Nov 8 2023[27]. Tirzepatide guide.

Orforglipron (Foundayo)

A daily GLP-1 pill from Lilly sold as Foundayo, which Lilly announced FDA approved on Apr 1 2026[30]. Foundayo cost.

Retatrutide

An investigational Lilly drug in Phase 3 trials that no regulator has approved; it cannot lawfully be sold to consumers or compounded[31]. Retatrutide explainer.

Boxed warning

The strongest warning on an FDA label. Zepbound's boxed warning covers thyroid C-cell tumors seen in rats[26]. GLP-1 side effects.

Indication

The use FDA approved a drug for, stated on its label. Mounjaro is indicated for type 2 diabetes, not weight loss[29]. Mounjaro vs Zepbound.

Off-label use

Prescribing an approved drug for a use that is not on its FDA label. Ozempic vs Wegovy.

Microdosing

Taking less than a labeled dose. The Zepbound label has no dose below 2.5 mg, and 2.5 mg is a starting dose, not a maintenance dose[26]. Tirzepatide microdosing.

Self-pay price

The cash price a drug maker charges people who buy direct, such as through LillyDirect or NovoCare, without insurance. GLP-1 cost tracker. Savings calculator.

Compounding

Compounded drug

A drug mixed by a pharmacy for a patient rather than made by a drug company. Compounded GLP-1s are not FDA-approved, and FDA does not review them for safety, effectiveness or quality[2]. Compounded semaglutide.

503A pharmacy

A state-licensed pharmacy that compounds drugs for individually identified patients with a prescription, under section 503A of the federal drug law[1]. Compounded tirzepatide. Pharmacy profiles.

503B outsourcing facility

A compounder registered with FDA that can make drugs in bulk. It may use a bulk ingredient only if the ingredient is on the 503B bulks list or the drug is on FDA's shortage list[4]. FDA says semaglutide and tirzepatide currently meet neither[1].

Bulk drug substance

The raw active ingredient a pharmacy uses to compound. Under 503A it must meet a USP or NF monograph, be a part of an FDA-approved drug, or be on the 503A bulks list, and come with a valid certificate of analysis from an FDA-registered establishment[3]. Peptide tracker.

Category 1

Bulk substances nominated with enough information for FDA to evaluate. FDA does not intend to act against compounders using them, if its guidance conditions are met, while it decides[3]. NAD injections.

Category 2

Bulk substances FDA found raise significant safety risks; FDA may take enforcement action against compounding with them[3]. Peptide legal status tracker.

Category 3

Bulk substances nominated without enough supporting information. They may be renominated and are not covered by the Category 1 policy[3]. BPC-157.

Essentially a copy

A compounded drug that copies an FDA-approved drug. A 503A pharmacy may not make one unless the prescriber documents a change that makes a significant difference for the patient; FDA does not intend to act on four or fewer such prescriptions a month[1]. State laws.

Drug shortage list

FDA's list of drugs in short supply. Compounders had wider leeway while semaglutide and tirzepatide were listed; FDA declared the tirzepatide shortage resolved on Dec 19 2024 and semaglutide on Feb 21 2025[1]. What changed.

Beyond-use date (BUD)

The date, or date and hour, after which a compounded sterile preparation should not be used, set by the pharmacy under USP rules[5]. Beyond-use dates explained.

Expiration date

The period a manufactured drug is known to stay stable when stored as labeled, set from the maker's stability testing[6]. Semaglutide storage.

USP 797

The United States Pharmacopeia chapter on sterile compounding, which sets beyond-use date limits by how a preparation is made, tested and stored[5]. BUD limits.

Salt form

A chemically different version of a drug, such as semaglutide sodium or semaglutide acetate. FDA says it knows of no lawful basis for compounding with them[2]. Compounded semaglutide.

Multi-dose vial

A vial holding several doses. FDA says to discard one within 28 days of first use, even if medicine remains[2]. Tirzepatide storage.

Research use only (RUO)

A label on products sold “for research purposes” or “not for human consumption”. FDA has warned companies selling GLP-1s this way to consumers; their quality is unknown[2]. Research-use-only GLP-1s.

Warning letter

A letter in which FDA says a company appears to have broken federal law and must correct it. FDA tells telehealth companies not to describe a compounded drug as a generic version of, or the same as, an FDA-approved drug[7]. FDA letter tracker.

Green list

FDA's import alert list of GLP-1 ingredient makers, announced Sep 5 2025; ingredients from facilities not on it can be detained at the border[8]. FDA actions.

Peptides

Peptide

A short chain of amino acids. Some peptides are FDA-approved drugs; our tracker shows which ones are legal to get in the US. Peptide legal status tracker.

PCAC

FDA's Pharmacy Compounding Advisory Committee. Its votes are not binding; adding a peptide to the 503A bulks list takes notice-and-comment rulemaking[14]. BPC-157 vote.

503A bulks list

FDA's list of bulk substances a 503A pharmacy may compound with when there is no USP monograph and the substance is not part of an approved drug[3]. Peptide costs.

Insurance and coverage

Prior authorization

A plan's decision that a drug or service is medically necessary, required before it pays; it is not a promise of coverage[9]. GLP-1 insurance coverage.

Step therapy

Trying a preferred drug first before a plan will cover another one for the same condition[12]. Zepbound insurance.

Formulary

A list of prescription drugs covered by a drug plan, also called a drug list[10]. Wegovy insurance.

Deductible

The amount you pay for covered care before your plan starts to pay[11]. Insurance coverage.

Medicaid weight-loss exclusion

Federal law lets a state Medicaid program exclude drugs used for weight loss, under Social Security Act section 1927(d)(2)(A)[32]. Medicaid coverage by state.

Medicare and weight-loss drugs

Coverage of GLP-1s under Medicare depends on the drug's use and the plan. GLP-1s and Medicare.

Telehealth and our ratings

Telehealth program

An online service where a clinician sees you by video, phone or questionnaire and sends a prescription to a pharmacy. Online GLP-1 programs.

DEA telemedicine flexibilities

Temporary federal rules that let DEA-registered clinicians prescribe controlled medicines by telemedicine without an in-person visit, extended through Dec 31 2026[13]. Online TRT.

Membership fee

A monthly or yearly program charge on top of the drug price. Always add both when comparing programs. GLP-1 costs.

Avoid verdict

Our rating for a company with a live FDA warning letter claim, a BBB Pattern of Complaints alert, a regulator, state board or court finding, or a sale of peptides that cannot legally be compounded. Every Avoid verdict.

Use caution verdict

Our rating for a company with a past FDA letter whose cited claims are fixed and an otherwise reasonable record. How verdicts work.

Clean verdict

Our rating when none of the Avoid or Use caution conditions is found. All reviews.

BBB rating

The Better Business Bureau's letter grade for a business. We show it on every review, but a grade alone, even D or F, does not set our verdict; a BBB Pattern of Complaints alert does. Lowest-rated list.

Hormones

Menopause

The final menstrual period, confirmed after 12 months without a period; The Menopause Society puts the average age at 52[16]. Online menopause care.

Hormone therapy (HRT)

Hormone medicine used to treat menopause symptoms. In Nov 2025 HHS and FDA said they would remove heart disease, breast cancer and dementia from the boxed warning, keeping the endometrial cancer warning on estrogen-alone products[19]. Hormone therapy guide.

Compounded bioidentical hormones

Pharmacy-mixed hormones sold as “bioidentical”. A 2020 National Academies review found insufficient evidence for their clinical use[15]. Bioidentical hormone costs.

Testosterone replacement therapy (TRT)

Testosterone prescribed for men with low or absent testosterone due to a diagnosed condition, per the FDA label[18]. FDA updated every testosterone label on Feb 28 2025[20]. TRT guide.

Low testosterone (diagnosis)

The American Urological Association uses a total testosterone below 300 ng/dL, confirmed on a repeat test, in its diagnostic algorithm[17]. TRT cost.

Enclomiphene

A drug sold by telehealth companies as a compounded medication, meant to raise the body's own testosterone. Our explainer covers its FDA status and evidence. Enclomiphene explainer.

Longevity tests

Biological age test

A test that estimates how old your body seems from chemical tags on DNA. The same sample can give different results at different companies[22]. Biological age tests.

Whole-body MRI

An elective MRI scan of most of the body. The American College of Radiology says there is not enough evidence to recommend it for people without symptoms[21]. Full body MRI cost.

Coronary artery calcium score

A CT scan that measures calcium in heart arteries. The ACC/AHA guideline uses it for some adults 40 to 75 when a statin decision is uncertain[23]. Calcium score cost.

Multi-cancer early detection (MCED) test

A blood test that looks for signals of many cancers. In the NHS-Galleri trial, annual Galleri testing did not meet its main goal, though stage IV diagnoses were 14% lower[24]. Galleri test.

VO2 max

The most oxygen your body can use during hard exercise, a measure of fitness. In a study of 122,007 adults, the fittest had a much lower adjusted risk of death than the least fit[25]. VO2 max test cost.

DEXA scan

A scan that measures body composition. DEXA scan cost.

Longevity blood panel

A large lab panel sold direct to consumers, often once or twice a year. Longevity blood tests compared.

Questions people ask

What is the difference between a 503A and a 503B pharmacy?

A 503A pharmacy compounds for individually identified patients with a prescription[1]. A 503B outsourcing facility can compound in bulk but may use a bulk ingredient only if it is on the 503B bulks list or the drug is in shortage[4].

What does Category 1 mean for a peptide?

Category 1 lists bulk substances nominated with enough information for FDA to evaluate; FDA does not intend to act against compounders using them while it decides, if its conditions are met[3].

What is prior authorization?

It is a plan's decision that a drug or service is medically necessary, needed before the plan pays, and it is not a promise of coverage, per HealthCare.gov[9].

What is step therapy?

Step therapy means trying a preferred drug first for your condition before the plan covers another drug, as TRICARE describes it[12].

What is a beyond-use date?

It is the date, or date and hour, after which a compounded sterile preparation should not be used, assigned by the pharmacy under USP rules[5].

Medical review: pending. A licensed clinician has not yet reviewed this page.

Sources

32 cited
  1. FDA clarifies policies for compounders as national GLP-1 supply begins to stabilize. U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Apr 1, 2026.
  2. FDA's concerns with unapproved GLP-1 drugs used for weight loss. U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Oct 1, 2026.
  3. Bulk drug substances used in compounding under section 503A of the FD&C Act. U.S. Food and Drug Administration, May 14, 2026.
  4. Bulk drug substances used in compounding under section 503B of the FD&C Act. U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Jan 7, 2025.
  5. USP compounding beyond-use date (BUD) fact sheet. United States Pharmacopeia (posted by the Mississippi Board of Pharmacy), Nov 1, 2022.
  6. Expiration dates: questions and answers. U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Oct 24, 2026.
  7. FDA to telehealth companies: what to know when promoting compounded drugs. U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Jun 15, 2026.
  8. FDA launches green list to protect Americans from illegal imported GLP-1 drug ingredients. U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Sep 5, 2025.
  9. Preauthorization (glossary). HealthCare.gov, Oct 24, 2026.
  10. Formulary (glossary). HealthCare.gov, Oct 24, 2026.
  11. Deductible (glossary). HealthCare.gov, Oct 24, 2026.
  12. Step therapy. TRICARE, Oct 24, 2026.
  13. HHS and DEA extend telemedicine flexibilities for prescribing controlled medications through 2026. Gordon Rees Scully Mansukhani, Oct 24, 2026.
  14. FDA voted yes on six peptides: now what? The regulatory road ahead. Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney, Aug 18, 2026.
  15. Prescribers should restrict the use of non-FDA-approved compounded bioidentical hormones except for specific medical circumstances. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, Jul 1, 2020.
  16. Menopause glossary. The Menopause Society, Oct 17, 2026.
  17. Testosterone deficiency diagnostic algorithm. American Urological Association, 2018.
  18. AndroGel 1.62% prescribing information. Drugs.com (FDA label, revised 10/2025), Oct 2025.
  19. Fact sheet: FDA initiates removal of black box warnings from menopausal hormone replacement therapy products. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Nov 10, 2025.
  20. FDA issues class-wide labeling changes for testosterone products. U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Feb 28, 2025.
  21. ACR statement on screening total body MRI. American College of Radiology, Apr 17, 2023.
  22. Epigenetic clocks power biological age data, but why do results differ across tests?. The Scientist, 2026.
  23. 2018 cholesterol guideline and the judicious use of coronary calcium score. American College of Cardiology, Aug 20, 2019.
  24. Annual Galleri screening reduced stage IV cancer diagnoses but missed primary endpoint in first randomized MCED trial. The ASCO Post, Jun 2, 2026.
  25. Association of cardiorespiratory fitness with long-term mortality among adults undergoing exercise treadmill testing. JAMA Network Open, Oct 19, 2018.
  26. Zepbound (tirzepatide) prescribing information. U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Apr 2026.
  27. FDA approves new medication for chronic weight management. U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Nov 8, 2023.
  28. Wegovy (semaglutide) label. DailyMed, National Library of Medicine, Jun 2026.
  29. Mounjaro (tirzepatide) label. DailyMed, National Library of Medicine, Aug 2026.
  30. FDA approves Lilly's Foundayo (orforglipron), the only GLP-1 pill. Eli Lilly and Company, Apr 1, 2026.
  31. Lilly calls on online platforms, payment companies and regulators. Eli Lilly and Company, Aug 12, 2026.
  32. Social Security Act section 1927: payment for covered outpatient drugs. Social Security Administration, Oct 18, 2026.

This page is general information, not medical advice. Talk with a licensed clinician about your own care.