Brand-name medication only. No compounding.
If a clinician decides medication is appropriate after your visit, Southern Virtual Health prescribes FDA-approved brand-name therapy only:
- Zepbound (tirzepatide) — weekly injection, Eli Lilly
- Wegovy (semaglutide) — weekly injection or daily tablet, Novo Nordisk
- Foundayo (orforglipron) — daily tablet, Eli Lilly
The prescription is sent to LillyDirect (Zepbound, Foundayo) or NovoCare Pharmacy (Wegovy). You pay the manufacturer. They ship to your Alabama address.
SVH membership is $175 per month and does not include the drug. A visit is not a guaranteed prescription.
How these medicines work
These medicines act on hormones your gut already uses to signal fullness and blood sugar.
- GLP-1 (Wegovy, Foundayo, and part of Zepbound): helps you feel full sooner, slows how quickly food leaves the stomach, and supports blood-sugar control.
- GIP + GLP-1 (Zepbound): two related gut-hormone pathways. Many people notice a stronger effect on appetite than with GLP-1 alone.
They are used with nutrition, movement, and follow-up — not instead of them. Dose usually starts low and steps up so your stomach can adapt. Responses vary. Weight regain is common if treatment and habits stop.
Pills vs shots
| Weekly injection | Daily tablet | |
|---|---|---|
| Options | Zepbound, Wegovy pen | Wegovy tablet, Foundayo |
| How taken | Under the skin, same day each week | By mouth once daily |
| Practical note | Follow the pen or vial storage label | Foundayo: no empty-stomach window. Wegovy tablet: follow the product Instructions for Use (timing and food matter) |
Choice of product and dose is a clinical decision after your visit — not a menu.
How you get the medicine
- After the consult, we send the prescription to LillyDirect or NovoCare.
- The manufacturer emails or texts you to register.
- You pay them as cash-pay / self-pay. SVH does not bill insurance for the drug.
- They ship brand-name product to the address you give them.
No compounding. No in-house vials. No SVH markup on the drug.
Manufacturer self-pay prices (published 2026)
These are manufacturer cash-pay programs, not SVH prices. Offers, introductory rates, and refill rules can change. Confirm the amount at LillyDirect or NovoCare checkout.
Zepbound (tirzepatide) — LillyDirect
Weekly injection.
| Dose | Published self-pay per month |
|---|---|
| 2.5 mg (start) | $299 |
| 5 mg | $399 |
| 7.5 mg, 10 mg, 12.5 mg, 15 mg | $449 if refilled within 45 days of the prior delivery (Journey Program). Regular cash prices if that window is missed: $499 (7.5 mg) or $699 (10–15 mg). |
Needles or syringes may be separate depending on device (vial vs KwikPen).
Source: LillyDirect Zepbound
Foundayo (orforglipron) — LillyDirect
Once-daily tablet.
| Dose | Published self-pay per month |
|---|---|
| 0.8 mg (start) | $149 |
| 2.5 mg | $149 (temporary reduction through December 31, 2026) |
| 5.5 mg | $199 (temporary reduction through December 31, 2026) |
| 9 mg | $299 |
| 14.5 mg and 17.2 mg | $299 if refilled within 45 days; regular cash price applies if that window is missed |
Source: LillyDirect Foundayo
Wegovy (semaglutide) — NovoCare Pharmacy
Injection (one box of 4 pens = one month)
| Dose | Published self-pay per month |
|---|---|
| 0.25 mg or 0.5 mg | $199 for each of the first 2 monthly fills for new self-pay patients (offer through December 31, 2026), then $349 |
| 1 mg, 1.7 mg, 2.4 mg | $349 |
| Wegovy HD 7.2 mg | $399 |
Tablet (30-day bottle)
| Dose | Published self-pay per month |
|---|---|
| 1.5 mg | $149 |
| 4 mg | $199 |
| 9 mg or 25 mg | $299 |
Source: NovoCare Wegovy
Commercial insurance plus a manufacturer savings card can be as low as about $25 per month for eligible patients. SVH does not run insurance or those cards. If you have coverage, you can discuss it with the manufacturer at checkout. FSA/HSA eligibility depends on your plan.
What we will and will not prescribe
When appropriate: brand-name Wegovy, Zepbound, or Foundayo only.
We do not prescribe: compounded semaglutide, tirzepatide, or orforglipron; research peptides; or off-channel copies.
Medication and dose are decided after review of history, current medicines, labs, BMI and related conditions, and contraindications. Screening is not a promise of a prescription.
Important safety information
These medicines have a boxed warning about thyroid C-cell tumors seen in rodents. It is not known whether they cause medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) in people. Do not use if you or a first-degree relative has had MTC, or if you have MEN2.
Do not use if you are pregnant, trying to conceive, or breastfeeding; have had a serious reaction to the drug class; or have other contraindications your clinician identifies (examples include history of pancreatitis, type 1 diabetes, and certain severe gastrointestinal, kidney, or psychiatric conditions).
Seek care promptly for:
- Severe or persistent belly pain, with or without vomiting (possible pancreatitis)
- Right-upper-quadrant pain, fever, or yellowing of the skin (possible gallbladder disease)
- Signs of a severe allergic reaction
- Vision changes
- Symptoms of low blood sugar if you also take insulin or a sulfonylurea
- Unusual mood changes
Common effects while the dose is increasing: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, belching, fatigue, and injection-site reactions. Eat smaller meals, stop when full, and do not change your dose unless your clinician tells you to.
This page is educational. It is not a substitute for the official Prescribing Information, Medication Guide, or your visit.
Read the manufacturer materials before starting:
- Wegovy Prescribing Information and Medication Guide (Novo Nordisk)
- Zepbound Prescribing Information and Medication Guide (Eli Lilly)
- Foundayo Prescribing Information and Medication Guide (Eli Lilly)
Legal
Wegovy is a trademark of Novo Nordisk A/S. Zepbound and Foundayo are trademarks of Eli Lilly and Company. Southern Virtual Health is not affiliated with, sponsored by, or endorsed by Novo Nordisk or Eli Lilly.
Telehealth for Alabama residents only. Care is provided by Alabama-licensed clinicians. This is not emergency care. If you have a medical emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department.
This site is educational and is not a substitute for an evaluation. Medications are prescribed only after a licensed clinician determines they are appropriate. Individual responses vary. SVH does not promise or guarantee weight-loss results.