Home Research Research Library Documentation of Compounded GLP‐1 Receptor Agonists in a Large Primary Care Dataset Documentation of Compounded GLP‐1 Receptor Agonists in a Large Primary Care Dataset 2025 Author(s) Hendrix, Nathaniel, Velásquez, Esther E, Pham, Harry, and Bazemore, Andrew W Topic(s) Role of Primary Care, Achieving Health System Goals, and What Family Physicians Do Keyword(s) Health Information Technology (HIT), Prime, and Quality Of Care Volume Pharmacoepidemiology & Drug Safety Source Pharmacoepidemiology & Drug Safety Purpose Large telehealth companies and smaller aesthetic medicine providers used compounded semaglutide and tirzepatide to meet consumer demand for these drugs during their shortages. In this study, we estimate the documentation rate of compounded formulations of these drugs in the US primary care and characterize differences between users of compounded and brand-name formulations of these drugs. Methods We conducted a retrospective cohort study using data from the American Family Cohort, a nationwide US database of electronic health records from primary care practices, spanning January 1, 2021, to December 31, 2024. Patients with documented semaglutide and/or tirzepatide use were included. Brand-name drug prescriptions were identified from structured data; compounded formulation use was identified from clinical notes. Outcomes included the proportion of patients using compounded formulations and their characteristics. Results Among 153 044 included patients (64.0% female, mean age 55.0 years), 8.2% used compounded formulations, which made up an increasing share of semaglutide and tirzepatide use over time. Users of compounded formulations had longer mean therapy durations (compounded only: 10.0 months vs. brand-name only: 7.8 months) and were more likely to be female, non-Hispanic White, nondiabetic, and to live in areas of lower socioeconomic deprivation compared to patients who used only brand-name drugs. Conclusions Between January 2021 and December 2024, documentation of compounded semaglutide and tirzepatide use in US primary care settings appeared lower than surveys reporting that approximately 23% of patients using these medications received them from compounders. This suggests that many patients may access these medications outside of coordinated care. ABFM Research Read all 2023 Foundational Collective Actions for Achieving Agile High-Quality Primary Care in the United States Go to Foundational Collective Actions for Achieving Agile High-Quality Primary Care in the United States 2013 Family physicians are essential for mental health care delivery Go to Family physicians are essential for mental health care delivery 2019 Scope of Practice and Patient Panel Size of Family Physicians Who Work With Nurse Practitioners or Physician Assistants Go to Scope of Practice and Patient Panel Size of Family Physicians Who Work With Nurse Practitioners or Physician Assistants 2014 Family Physicians’ Quality Interventions and Performance Improvement Through the ABFM Diabetes Performance in Practice Module Go to Family Physicians’ Quality Interventions and Performance Improvement Through the ABFM Diabetes Performance in Practice Module
Author(s) Hendrix, Nathaniel, Velásquez, Esther E, Pham, Harry, and Bazemore, Andrew W Topic(s) Role of Primary Care, Achieving Health System Goals, and What Family Physicians Do Keyword(s) Health Information Technology (HIT), Prime, and Quality Of Care Volume Pharmacoepidemiology & Drug Safety Source Pharmacoepidemiology & Drug Safety
ABFM Research Read all 2023 Foundational Collective Actions for Achieving Agile High-Quality Primary Care in the United States Go to Foundational Collective Actions for Achieving Agile High-Quality Primary Care in the United States 2013 Family physicians are essential for mental health care delivery Go to Family physicians are essential for mental health care delivery 2019 Scope of Practice and Patient Panel Size of Family Physicians Who Work With Nurse Practitioners or Physician Assistants Go to Scope of Practice and Patient Panel Size of Family Physicians Who Work With Nurse Practitioners or Physician Assistants 2014 Family Physicians’ Quality Interventions and Performance Improvement Through the ABFM Diabetes Performance in Practice Module Go to Family Physicians’ Quality Interventions and Performance Improvement Through the ABFM Diabetes Performance in Practice Module
2023 Foundational Collective Actions for Achieving Agile High-Quality Primary Care in the United States Go to Foundational Collective Actions for Achieving Agile High-Quality Primary Care in the United States
2013 Family physicians are essential for mental health care delivery Go to Family physicians are essential for mental health care delivery
2019 Scope of Practice and Patient Panel Size of Family Physicians Who Work With Nurse Practitioners or Physician Assistants Go to Scope of Practice and Patient Panel Size of Family Physicians Who Work With Nurse Practitioners or Physician Assistants
2014 Family Physicians’ Quality Interventions and Performance Improvement Through the ABFM Diabetes Performance in Practice Module Go to Family Physicians’ Quality Interventions and Performance Improvement Through the ABFM Diabetes Performance in Practice Module
