It is a small needle, and it goes into fat, not muscle.
A calm guide to weekly GLP-1 injections: what the shot is actually like, how the dose ladder works, and which of 12 programmes support you properly when the rough fortnight arrives.
How we are paid: one company on this page — Coreage Rx — pays us a commission if you sign up through our link. It does not buy a better score, a higher position, or the removal of a single criticism. Our rating method and full disclosure are both public.
Start with the basics
- Understand the dose ladderNobody starts on a full dose. You climb over months, and the first weeks are deliberately gentle. How the ladder works →
- Know what the rough weeks look likeMost trouble clusters in the fortnight after each increase, then eases. Week by week →
- Pick a programme that does not punish you for slowing downSome charge more at every rung. A flat rate means staying put for a month is free. See the ranking →
Tirzepatide programmes compared
Scored on cost, price honesty, clinical support, pharmacy sourcing and how easy it is to leave. The “dose-price” column is the one beginners should look at first.
| Programme | Per month | Dose-price | Our score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coreage Rx Best overall on true monthly cost | $199 | Flat | 4.5 |
| Mochi Health Insurance concierge support | $278 incl. $79 fee | Varies | 3.6 |
| Hims & Hers Widest range of formats | $238 incl. $39 fee | Varies | 3.5 |
| Ro Branded medication with insurance help | $448 incl. $149 fee | Varies | 3.5 |
| Zealthy Low-cost entry with insurance routing | $216 | Varies | 3.5 |
| LifeMD Insurance coordination | $149 | Varies | 3.5 |
Semaglutide programmes compared
| Programme | Per month | Dose-price | Our score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coreage Rx Best overall on true monthly cost | $149 | Flat | 4.5 |
| Mochi Health Insurance concierge support | $178 incl. $79 fee | Varies | 3.6 |
| Hims & Hers Widest range of formats | $188 incl. $39 fee | Varies | 3.5 |
| Ro Branded medication with insurance help | $448 incl. $149 fee | Varies | 3.5 |
| Zealthy Low-cost entry with insurance routing | $151 | Varies | 3.5 |
| LifeMD Insurance coordination | $149 | Varies | 3.5 |
Using the shot
- Your first injection
What actually happens, step by step. It is a very small needle and it goes into fat, not muscle.
Updated 2026-09-18
- The dose ladder
Why you start low, how fast you climb, and why the price of each rung matters more than people expect.
Updated 2026-09-18
- Side effects, week by week
What most people get, when it usually settles, and the signs that mean stop and call someone.
Updated 2026-09-18
- Missed doses, storage and travel
The practical questions nobody covers in the welcome email.
Updated 2026-09-18
Finding the right programme
- Best programmes if this is your first time
Ranked on how they price the dose ladder and how reachable support is — the two things that decide whether a beginner stays on treatment.
Updated 2026-09-18
- Best programmes for actual support
Most people who quit do it in the first eight weeks. Ranked on who answers when side effects arrive.
Updated 2026-09-18
- The cheapest weekly shots
Every programme sorted on what leaves your account each month, with membership fees counted and teaser rates ignored.
Updated 2026-09-18
Worth knowing. Compounded GLP-1s are not FDA-approved and the rules tightened again in 2026. That does not make them unsafe, but it is a real difference from Zepbound and Wegovy. What the rules say now →
Prices verified 2026-09-18.