Asger Risom
A growing underground movement is helping Americans make their own weight-loss injections at home, despite safety risks and zero oversight.
Faced with soaring prices and limited access to obesity medications, a growing number of Americans are taking matters into their own hands — literally.
Across the country, people are importing drug ingredients online and preparing their own weight-loss injections in home kitchens, bathrooms, and garages.
The appeal is simple: major drugs like Wegovy and Zepbound can cost hundreds of dollars per month and are often not covered by insurance.
In contrast, sourcing active ingredients from overseas can reduce costs to a fraction, sometimes under $50 a month.
Reports show these ingredients, often labeled “for research use,” are ordered from online vendors and paid for using untraceable methods like Bitcoin or mobile payment apps.
The Process: From Powder to Syringe
Once the powdered drug arrives, typically in unmarked vials, users follow guidance found on online forums.
The powder is reconstituted with sterile water, mixed, and drawn into insulin syringes.
Dosages are often based on peer advice and guesswork rather than medical expertise.
Many opt to microdose, believing that smaller amounts reduce side effects and extend supply.
Online communities provide informal support, including dosage calculators, mixing tutorials, and vendor reviews.
Some users even collaborate to test batches at independent labs to verify purity.
Risks Without a Safety Net
What’s missing is oversight. These DIY efforts exist outside of FDA regulation, medical supervision, or pharmaceutical standards.
There are no instructions in the vials, no guarantees about ingredient consistency, and no clear recourse if something goes wrong.
Yet despite risks ranging from dosing errors to contamination, many users say they feel they have no better option.
With commercial supply limited and costs high, this underground movement reflects a broader desperation in American healthcare: when essential treatment is out of reach, some will find a way, even if it means going it alone.
