Last updated November 11, 2026 · Reviewed by the Gala Health team
What Gala's intake asks if you already take a GLP-1
The medication questions come in the middle of the online assessment. If you answer that you are taking a weight loss medication now, or took one within the last month, the intake opens a short set of extra questions for current users:
- Which medicine you take: compounded semaglutide or tirzepatide (injection or oral), Ozempic®, Wegovy®, Zepbound®, Mounjaro® or another medicine.
- Your current dose in milligrams, picked from a list or typed in.
- When you took your last dose: 0 to 5 days, 6 to 10 days, 11 to 14 days, more than 2 weeks but within 4 weeks, or more than 4 weeks ago.
- How you want to continue: stay on the same or an equivalent dose, change medicines, increase, decrease, or let the provider decide.
- Whether you agree to get weight loss medication only through Gala from then on.
That last question is a safety rule, not a formality. The Zepbound label says using it with other tirzepatide products or with any other GLP-1 receptor agonist is not recommended, and the Wegovy label says the same for other semaglutide products and any other GLP-1 receptor agonist. One prescriber watching one supply is how stacking is avoided, so Gala cannot prescribe if you plan to keep a second source.
Will I have to restart at the lowest dose?
Not necessarily. The time since your last dose is what matters most. Under the dosing protocol that Gala's providers follow for compounded GLP-1, the starting dose for someone already on treatment usually depends on that gap:
| Your last dose was | What the protocol usually does | Final say |
|---|---|---|
| Within about 2 weeks | Continue at an equivalent dose step | Your provider |
| More than 2 weeks but within 4 weeks | Start one dose step lower | Your provider |
| More than 4 weeks ago | Restart at the first dose step | Your provider |
Your BMI, medical history and side effects also count, and the provider may choose a different dose than the one you asked for. If your current tirzepatide dose is above the range Gala's compounded program offers, the intake tells you before checkout and your provider confirms the starting dose after reviewing your history.
Compounded doses are prescribed in milligrams and may not match a brand pen strength exactly. Your provider and pharmacy label give your dose; see our GLP-1 dosing schedule for the brand-name steps.
Timing your last dose: gaps and overlap
Aim for no overlap and no long gap: the labels advise against using two GLP-1 medicines together, and the Wegovy label calls for restarting at a lower dose after 2 or more missed doses in a row. Unless your provider tells you otherwise, plan your first Gala dose for the day your next weekly dose would have been due, and do not take a dose from your old supply after you start the new one. If a gap does happen, the brand labels show why it matters:
- Zepbound: a missed dose can be taken within 4 days (96 hours). After that, skip it and take the next dose on the usual day.
- Wegovy injection: if the next dose is more than 2 days away, take the missed dose as soon as possible; if it is less than 2 days away, skip it. If 2 or more doses in a row are missed, the label says to restart dose escalation at a lower dose to reduce digestive side effects.
Those rules are written for the brand-name products, and compounded medicines follow the instructions from your prescriber and pharmacy. They are still a useful guide: after a gap of a few weeks, expect your provider to step the dose down rather than pick up where you left off.
What to have ready before you start
- The exact name of your medicine and whether it is a brand pen, a compounded vial or an oral form.
- Your current weekly dose in milligrams. For a compounded vial, the concentration on the label (mg per mL) and the volume you inject, not only the units.
- The date of your last injection, so you can pick the right window in the intake.
- Your recent side effects and any dose you could not tolerate.
- Your other medicines, allergies and any weight loss surgery, which the intake also asks about.
- A photo of your current prescription label, in case your provider asks to see it. You can share files with your care team from your patient portal.
Moving from a brand-name pen to compounded
Compounded medications are not FDA-approved, and the trial results for Wegovy and Zepbound belong to those brand-name products. Compounded semaglutide and tirzepatide usually come in a vial that you draw into a syringe, so the main practical change from a pen is measuring the dose yourself. Our guides on compounded vs brand-name GLP-1 and compounded GLP-1 vials vs pens cover the differences.
If you prefer to stay on a brand-name medicine, Gala also offers brand-name Ozempic®.
Why people switch to Gala
Gala offers compounded semaglutide, compounded tirzepatide and brand-name Ozempic®. A licensed provider reviews your online assessment and prescribes only if it is appropriate for you. Gala lists all doses included with no membership fee, so a future dose increase does not raise your plan price; see does the GLP-1 price go up with the dose. If prescribed, your medication ships free, and you can message your care team 7 days a week and log every shot in the Gala GLP-1 app.
Ready to move your treatment? Start your online GLP-1 assessment and choose the answers that match your current medicine and last dose.
This article is for information only and is not medical advice. Do not stop, change or double up a GLP-1 medicine without talking to your provider.
Frequently asked questions
Can I switch from Zepbound to compounded tirzepatide?
Yes, if a licensed provider decides it is appropriate. Gala's intake asks your current Zepbound dose and the date of your last injection, and the provider chooses a compounded tirzepatide starting dose from those answers, your BMI and your history. Compounded tirzepatide is not FDA-approved.
Do I have to start over at the lowest dose when I switch?
Not if your last dose was recent. Under the protocol Gala's providers follow, a last dose within about 2 weeks usually continues at an equivalent dose step, 2 to 4 weeks usually means one step lower, and more than 4 weeks usually means restarting at the first step. Your provider makes the final decision.
Can I keep my old prescription while I switch?
No. The Zepbound and Wegovy labels advise against combining them with other GLP-1 medicines, and Gala's intake asks you to agree to get weight loss medication only through Gala so one provider can monitor your dose.
When should I take my first dose after switching?
Ask your provider. Because these medicines are taken once a week and the labels advise against combining GLP-1 medicines, the usual plan is to take your first new dose when your next old dose would have been due, without overlap. After a gap of more than about 2 weeks, expect a lower starting dose.
What if my current dose is higher than Gala offers?
If your current tirzepatide dose is above the range of Gala's compounded program, the intake tells you before checkout. Your provider then confirms the starting dose after reviewing your medical history and the time since your last dose.
Ready to talk to a provider?
Your answers go to a licensed provider, who decides whether treatment is right for you. Learn more about Weight Loss.
More Weight Loss guides
- compounded vs brand GLP-1
- GLP-1 and alcohol guide
- GLP-1 dosing schedule
- GLP-1 side effects guide
- how GLP-1 approval works online
- compounded GLP-1 vials vs pens
- whether you need a video visit for a GLP-1
- whether the GLP-1 price goes up with the dose
- how long GLP-1 takes to work
- how to inject GLP-1
- Ozempic vs Wegovy
- semaglutide vs tirzepatide comparison
- stopping GLP-1 and weight regain
- Wegovy pill vs injection
- what to eat on GLP-1
- Zepbound vs Mounjaro
- tirzepatide pills
- GLP-1 without a membership fee
- compounded tirzepatide vs Zepbound
- compounded tirzepatide dosage chart
- compounded semaglutide dosage chart
- GLP-1 cost without insurance
- best online GLP-1 providers
- Ro vs Hims for weight loss
- Hims weight loss alternatives
Sources
- Eli Lilly. ZEPBOUND (tirzepatide) prescribing information. FDA-approved label.
- Novo Nordisk. WEGOVY (semaglutide) injection and tablets prescribing information. FDA-approved label.
- U.S. FDA. FDA's concerns with unapproved GLP-1 drugs used for weight loss.
This article is for general information and is not medical advice. Talk to a licensed provider about your own health.
