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Your True Total Cost: The Hidden Line Items Providers Don't Advertise

SideBySideMeds Investigative Team

The number on a provider's homepage is rarely your actual monthly cost. Here's how to calculate what you'll really pay, line item by line item.

The full list to actually add up

Line ItemOften Separate From Advertised Price
Base medicationThe number usually advertised
Initial consultationSometimes bundled, sometimes not
Lab workFrequently billed separately
ShippingOften not shown until checkout
Membership/platform feeCommon at some providers, absent at others
Dose escalation increaseRarely reflected in the initial "starting at" price

SHED From $199

A physician-led program — ask for the full itemized cost breakdown, including labs and monitoring, before committing.

Pricing increases at 7.5mg and above — confirm your projected dose and total cost before committing.
Visit SHED →

Wellorithm From $147

Compounded semaglutide and tirzepatide — request the complete cost breakdown, not just the starting price, during your evaluation.

Compounded formulations are not FDA-approved.
Visit Wellorithm →

The calculation to actually do

Before comparing two providers' advertised prices, ask each one directly for your projected total monthly cost at maintenance dose, including labs, shipping, and any platform fees. The provider with the lower "starting at" number isn't necessarily cheaper once you add everything up — and that comparison is the one that actually matters.

Affiliate Disclosure: SideBySideMeds.com earns commissions from some telehealth providers listed on this site. This never influences our rankings. We show dose-level pricing, pharmacy sourcing details, and subscription terms other comparison sites tend to leave out. Medical Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only. All medications require evaluation by a licensed healthcare provider. Compounded medications are not FDA-approved. Individual results vary.
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The GLP-1 Cost & Provider Comparison Guide

10 pages breaking down real all-in monthly costs, what drives price differences between providers, and the questions to ask before you commit.