GLP-1 Dose Calculator: What You'll Actually Pay Over 12 Months

When comparing GLP-1 pricing, most patients look at the headline monthly rate and multiply by 12. That math is wrong for most providers because it ignores dose titration. Over 12 months, patients typically climb through 4–6 dose levels, with pricing at many providers increasing at each dose step. The actual year-one cost can be 20–40% higher than the starter-dose price suggests.

Standard dose titration schedules

Semaglutide (Wegovy, Ozempic, compounded sema)

Weeks	Dose	Typical Volume (compounded)
1–4	0.25mg weekly	0.05 mL from 5mg/mL vial
5–8	0.5mg weekly	0.10 mL
9–12	1.0mg weekly	0.20 mL
13–16	1.7mg weekly	0.34 mL
17+	2.4mg weekly (maintenance)	0.48 mL

Tirzepatide (Mounjaro, Zepbound, compounded tirz)

Weeks	Dose	Typical Volume
1–4	2.5mg weekly	0.5 mL from 5mg/mL vial
5–8	5mg weekly	1.0 mL
9–12	7.5mg weekly	1.5 mL
13–16	10mg weekly	2.0 mL
17–20	12.5mg weekly	2.5 mL
21+	15mg weekly (maintenance)	3.0 mL

Many patients don't reach maximum doses — a significant portion stabilize at mid-range doses due to good response or side-effect tolerance. But for pricing calculation, assume maximum dose for a conservative annual cost estimate.

Year-one cost calculator by provider

Fixed-price compounded providers

Providers with flat pricing regardless of dose:

Provider	Monthly Rate	12-Month Total
Yucca Health (sema)	$146	$1,752
MEDVi (sema)	$179 (ongoing)	~$2,050 (with $99 first month)
Sprout Health (sema)	$249 (ongoing, price-locked)	~$2,938 (with $199 first month)
Care Bare Rx	$199	$2,388
Synergy Rx	$200	$2,400

Note: "Price-locked" means the rate doesn't change as your dose increases. This is a meaningful advantage for patients titrating to higher doses.

Variable-price compounded providers

Some providers charge more at higher doses. For patients likely to reach high doses, this matters:

Provider	Starter Dose Rate	High-Dose Rate	12-Month Cost Range
SHED (varies by format)	$199	$249–299	$2,388–$3,388
Various smaller providers	$149–179	$249–349	$2,200–$3,500

Brand-name injectable (FDA-approved)

Option	Monthly Rate	12-Month Total
Wegovy 12-mo subscription	$249	$2,988
Wegovy NovoCare cash	$349	$4,188
Zepbound 2.5mg vial	$299 (maintained if not titrating)	$3,588
Zepbound 5mg vial	$399	$4,788
Zepbound 7.5mg–15mg vial	$449	$5,388
Zepbound pen retail	~$1,060	~$12,720 (not realistic)

Realistic Zepbound year-one cost with titration

For Zepbound specifically, year-one cost varies significantly based on speed of titration:

• Months 1–2 at 2.5mg: $299 × 2 = $598
• Months 3–4 at 5mg: $399 × 2 = $798
• Months 5–12 at 7.5mg+: $449 × 8 = $3,592
• Total year 1: $4,988

Compared to Wegovy subscription at flat $249/mo ($2,988 annual), Zepbound is roughly $2,000 more expensive in year one for patients who titrate to higher doses.

Oral medications

Option	Monthly Rate	12-Month Total
Oral Wegovy 1.5mg (through Aug 2026)	$149	$1,788
Oral Wegovy 4mg (through Aug 2026)	$149	$1,788
Oral Wegovy 4mg (post-Aug 2026)	$199	$2,388
Oral Wegovy higher doses	$299	$3,588

Insurance-covered pricing

Scenario	Monthly Copay	12-Month Total
Commercial insurance Wegovy + savings card	$0–$25	$0–$300
Commercial insurance Ozempic/Mounjaro	$25–$100	$300–$1,200
Medicare Part D 2026	$50–$150 (tier-dependent)	$600–$1,800
Medicare Part D 2027+ (negotiated)	$15–$50	$180–$600

Year 2 (maintenance) cost differences

Year 2 often costs less than year 1 because:

• Many patients stabilize at mid-doses rather than maximum
• Some can drop to lower maintenance doses
• Promotional first-month discounts don't apply in year 2
• Some providers offer loyalty pricing to retain long-term patients

For stable maintenance:

• Compounded: $146–250/mo, little change
• Wegovy subscription: $249/mo, stable
• Zepbound: If maintained at lower dose, can drop to $299–399/mo
• Insurance-covered: Stable copays, potential PA renewal requirements

Total cost of GLP-1 treatment

Given the weight regain reality after discontinuation, most patients who start GLP-1s continue for years. For planning purposes:

Duration	Yucca ($146/mo)	Wegovy Sub ($249/mo)	Insurance ($50/mo copay)
1 year	$1,752	$2,988	$600
3 years	$5,256	$8,964	$1,800
5 years	$8,760	$14,940	$3,000
10 years	$17,520	$29,880	$6,000

These totals assume stable pricing, which historically hasn't held (prices have fallen). Actual totals over long horizons may be lower as GLP-1 pricing continues to decrease.

Hidden costs to factor

• Needles and syringes for vial-based products: ~$10–20/month if not provider-supplied
• Storage (small cooler for travel, medication fridge organization): ~$50–100 one-time
• Initial consultation fees for marketplace providers: $29–100 additional month 1
• Potential dose changes requiring additional consultations: ~$60/consultation
• Labs and monitoring: often covered by insurance separately but worth tracking
• Gym membership, trainer, nutritionist (optional but recommended): varies

Cost optimization strategy

1. Check insurance first. Coverage usually beats all alternatives.
2. Use HSA/FSA for effective 25–37% discount.
3. For uninsured: Apply for manufacturer PAP before starting cash-pay.
4. For self-pay: Consider price-locked providers (Sprout, Wegovy subscription) for predictability.
5. Reassess annually. Market pricing changes; your optimal provider may change.
6. Factor total cost, not monthly rate. Compare 12-month real costs across providers.

Bottom line

Real 12-month GLP-1 cost is often 10–30% higher than headline monthly pricing suggests due to dose titration. Fixed-price and price-locked providers (Yucca, Sprout, Wegovy subscription) offer cost predictability. Variable-dose providers (Zepbound vials, some compounded) can exceed expectations as you titrate up. Factor real year-one and year-two costs into provider decisions, not just starting prices. For long-term planning, assume multi-year treatment — total costs add up quickly at premium pricing.