Nearly one in ten U.S. adults used GLP-1 medications in 2025, with many altering doses or using unapproved compounded versions due to cost and access barriers.
Approximately 27 million adults in the United States used a GLP-1 medication in 2025.
44 percent of users changed how they took the drug, most often by skipping doses, delaying refills, or using smaller amounts, primarily because of cost or availability.
Compounded versions, which are not FDA-approved, made up at least 23 percent of all GLP-1 use, and 62 percent of those using compounded products did not follow the prescribed regimen.
Unapproved compounded drugs may carry higher risks of preparation errors and contamination, and more research is needed on the safety of real-world dosing modifications.