SharpyWeight Loss Pill Cost: Every Prescription Pill Priced (2026)
In the US, the two new GLP-1 weight loss pills, the Wegovy pill and Foundayo, both start at $149 a month self-pay and reach $299 a month at the higher doses (Foundayo's top two doses are $349 unless you refill within 45 days). Older pills cost less: Qsymia is $74.99 a month through its home-delivery pharmacy and Contrave is $99 a month through CurAccess, but they led to less weight loss in their trials. With commercial insurance that covers them, the GLP-1 pills can drop to $25 a month, and eligible Medicare patients pay $50. Whichever pill you pick, protect your muscle with Sharpy, which gives you one protein target and one 20-minute workout a day.
How much does a weight loss pill cost in 2026? If you pay cash, the two new GLP-1 pills, the Wegovy pill and Foundayo, start at $149 a month and rise to $299 a month at the higher doses. Older prescription pills cost less. Qsymia is $74.99 a month through its own home-delivery pharmacy, and Contrave is $99 a month through its CurAccess program. With insurance that covers them, the GLP-1 pills can cost as little as $25 a month. On Medicare, eligible people pay $50.
We checked each price on the maker's own website on October 19, 2026. This guide covers US prices for FDA-approved pills only. Prices in the UK and other countries are different.
Weight loss pill cost: the full comparison
Here is every FDA-approved prescription weight loss pill we could price from an official source, side by side.
| Pill | Maker | Type | Self-pay price per month | With insurance that covers it |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wegovy pill (oral semaglutide) | Novo Nordisk | GLP-1, once a day | $149 to $299 (NovoCare) | As low as $25 |
| Foundayo (orforglipron) | Eli Lilly | GLP-1, once a day | $149 to $299, or $349 at the top 2 doses if you refill late (LillyDirect) | As low as $25 |
| Qsymia (phentermine and topiramate ER) | Vivus | Appetite suppressant combo | $74.99 ($70 on a 90-day script), plus shipping | Coupon available |
| Contrave (naltrexone and bupropion ER) | Currax | Combo pill | $99 (CurAccess home delivery) | May be lower with coverage |
| Phentermine (generic) | Several | Appetite suppressant | Varies by pharmacy; often low as a generic | Varies |
Two things the table does not show. First, these pills do not work equally well, so the cheapest is not always the best value. Second, every price above is a program price that the company can change or end at any time. Check the official site before each refill.
How much does the new weight loss pill cost? (Wegovy pill)
The Wegovy pill is oral semaglutide, the same medicine as the Wegovy shot, in a daily tablet. Through NovoCare, the cash prices are:
| Dose | Self-pay per month |
|---|---|
| 1.5 mg (start) | $149 |
| 4 mg | $199 |
| 9 mg | $299 |
| 25 mg | $299 |
A 12-month subscription through telehealth partners such as Ro, WeightWatchers and LifeMD lowers the 9 mg and 25 mg doses to $249 a month. In the OASIS 4 trial, people on 25 mg lost 13.6% of their body weight on average over 64 weeks, compared with 2.4% on placebo. Our Wegovy pill cost guide has the full breakdown, including Costco and subscription terms.
How much does the Eli Lilly weight loss pill cost? (Foundayo)
Foundayo (orforglipron) is Lilly's GLP-1 pill. The FDA approved it for weight loss on April 1, 2026, and it can be taken at any time of day, with or without food. LillyDirect lists these self-pay prices:
| Dose | Self-pay per month |
|---|---|
| 0.8 mg (start) | $149 |
| 2.5 mg | $199 |
| 5.5 mg | $299 |
| 9 mg | $299 |
| 14.5 mg | $299 if you refill within 45 days, otherwise $349 |
| 17.2 mg | $299 if you refill within 45 days, otherwise $349 |
Lilly's terms say the self-pay savings card runs through December 31, 2026 and allows up to 10 fills a year. In its main trial, people on the top dose lost about 11% of their body weight over 72 weeks. See our Foundayo guide for side effects and how it is taken.
Weight loss pill cost without insurance: the older pills
The older pills are cheaper, but they work differently and carry different warnings.
Qsymia. This pill combines phentermine with extended-release topiramate. Through the Qsymia Engage home-delivery pharmacy, it costs $74.99 a month for 30-day prescriptions and starter packs, or $70 a month on a 90-day prescription where allowed. Shipping is extra, and that pharmacy does not take insurance. Topiramate can cause birth defects, so the label requires a pregnancy test before starting and birth control during treatment for people who can get pregnant.
Contrave. This pill combines naltrexone and bupropion. The maker says it costs $99 a month with free shipping through its CurAccess home-delivery program. At a regular pharmacy without coverage, the maker says you pay no more than $199 with its savings offer. Contrave has a boxed warning about suicidal thoughts, because bupropion is also an antidepressant.
Phentermine. This older appetite suppressant is sold as a low-cost generic. The FDA approved it only for short-term use, a few weeks, and it is a controlled substance. Prices vary a lot by pharmacy, so compare before you fill.
These older pills led to less average weight loss in their trials than the GLP-1 pills. Your prescriber will weigh that against price, your other health conditions and your other medicines.
What about Rybelsus?
Rybelsus is also oral semaglutide, but it is approved only for type 2 diabetes, not for weight loss. Insurance usually treats it as a diabetes drug. Read our Rybelsus guide to see how it differs from the Wegovy pill.
Does insurance cover weight loss pills?
It depends on your plan, not the pill.
- Commercial insurance. Many employer plans exclude weight loss drugs. If yours covers the Wegovy pill or Foundayo, the maker's savings card can bring your cost to as little as $25 a month. Expect prior authorization.
- Medicare. Drugs used only for weight loss have generally not been covered. The Medicare GLP-1 Bridge, which began July 1, 2026, lets eligible beneficiaries with obesity get covered GLP-1 drugs for a $50 monthly copay. CMS sets who qualifies.
- Medicaid. Coverage varies by state, and some states have cut it. Manufacturer coupons cannot be used with government insurance.
Our GLP-1 cost and coverage guide explains appeals and prior authorization step by step.
Weight loss pills cost per month vs per year
Most people spend most of the year on a maintenance dose. Here is the yearly math at the top self-pay price for each pill.
| Pill | Monthly (maintenance) | 12 months |
|---|---|---|
| Wegovy pill, NovoCare cash | $299 | $3,588 |
| Wegovy pill, 12-month subscription | $249 | $2,988 |
| Foundayo, refilled on time | $299 | $3,588 |
| Contrave, CurAccess | $99 | $1,188 |
| Qsymia, 30-day Engage | $74.99 | about $900 plus shipping |
| Any GLP-1 pill, insurance at the $25 floor | $25 | $300 |
| Any covered GLP-1 pill, Medicare GLP-1 Bridge | $50 | $600 |
The first 2 months of the GLP-1 pills cost less ($149, then $199), so a real first year is a bit lower. Add telehealth visit fees if you use an online clinic.
Make the pill worth the money
At up to $3,600 a year, you want the weight you lose to come from fat. On any weight loss drug, eating less can also mean losing muscle. Two habits protect it best: hitting a daily protein target and doing strength work a few times a week. Our guide on how much protein you need on a GLP-1 gives you the numbers, and the beginner strength program shows where to start.
Sharpy rolls that into one protein target, one 20-minute workout and one Shape Score a day, so you can see if your body is changing the right way. It works with any pill or shot.
Watch out for cheap "weight loss pills" online
If a site sells "oral semaglutide," "GLP-1 drops" or "orforglipron" without a prescription, it is not an FDA-approved product, and there is no way to know what is inside. Buy only from a licensed US pharmacy or the maker's own program, with a real prescription.
The bottom line
The new GLP-1 pills cost $149 to $299 a month on cash pay, $25 with good insurance and $50 on Medicare. Qsymia and Contrave cost $75 to $99 a month but tend to lead to less weight loss. Prices change often, so confirm them on the maker's site, and talk to your prescriber about which pill fits you. Then use Sharpy to keep your muscle while the scale goes down.
Sources
- Foundayo self-pay pricing, LillyDirect (Eli Lilly)
- Foundayo full terms and conditions, Eli Lilly
- Price your Wegovy, NovoCare (Novo Nordisk)
- Novo Nordisk launches multi-month subscription program for Wegovy, PR Newswire, March 31, 2026
- Qsymia Engage home delivery pricing, Vivus
- Contrave cost and CurAccess program, Currax
- Foundayo (orforglipron) US Prescribing Information, Eli Lilly
- Wegovy access expanded through the Medicare GLP-1 Bridge, PR Newswire, May 7, 2026
Questions people ask
How much does the new weight loss pill cost?
There are two new GLP-1 pills. The Wegovy pill (oral semaglutide) costs $149 a month at 1.5 mg, $199 at 4 mg and $299 at 9 mg or 25 mg through NovoCare. Foundayo (orforglipron) costs $149 a month at 0.8 mg, $199 at 2.5 mg and $299 at 5.5 mg and 9 mg through LillyDirect. Prices checked October 19, 2026; both companies can change them.
How much does the Eli Lilly weight loss pill cost?
Foundayo self-pay prices on LillyDirect start at $149 a month for 0.8 mg, $199 for 2.5 mg, and $299 for 5.5 mg and 9 mg. The 14.5 mg and 17.2 mg doses are $299 a month if you refill within 45 days; otherwise Lilly's terms list $349. With commercial insurance that covers it, the savings card can bring it as low as $25 a month.
How much does the Novo weight loss pill cost?
Novo Nordisk's Wegovy pill is $149, $199, then $299 a month as the dose goes up, when you pay cash through NovoCare. A 12-month subscription through telehealth partners lowers the 9 mg and 25 mg doses to $249 a month. With covering insurance it can be $25 a month.
What is the cheapest prescription weight loss pill?
Among brand-name pills, Qsymia through its home-delivery pharmacy is $74.99 a month (or $70 a month on a 90-day prescription, plus shipping). Generic phentermine is often cheaper still, but it is only approved for short-term use. Cheaper is not the same as better: the older pills led to less weight loss in their trials than the GLP-1 pills. Ask your prescriber which fits your health.
Does insurance cover weight loss pills?
Sometimes. Many employer plans exclude drugs used only for weight loss. If your plan covers the Wegovy pill or Foundayo, the maker's savings card can lower your cost to as little as $25 a month. Qsymia and Contrave also have coupons for insured patients. Check your plan's drug list and ask about prior authorization.
Are weight loss pills covered by Medicare?
Medicare drug plans generally have not covered drugs used only for weight loss. The Medicare GLP-1 Bridge, which started July 1, 2026, lets eligible people with obesity get covered GLP-1 drugs, including the Wegovy pill and Foundayo, for a $50 monthly copay. CMS sets the rules, so check with your prescriber and CMS.gov.
Are weight loss pills cheaper than shots?
Usually, on a cash basis. The Wegovy pill tops out at $299 a month self-pay, while the Wegovy pen is $349 to $399. With insurance at the $25 floor, the price is the same for the pill and the shot. Your plan's rules matter more than the form.