It's not the government that I'd be worried about when it comes to this endeavor.
Gray market crackdown ?
- Thread starter krsct
- Start date
derekd419
GLP-1 Apprentice
I just grabbed some & got an email saying its out of stock and is going to take 24+ days to arrive when the page said 4-6 days
Calm Logic
GLP-1 Specialist
Unfortunately, that's to be expected when buying from Chinese vendors. Especially for something popular like reta, you need to basically ask the vendor in real-time before placing an order to have a hope for in-stock shipping from a US warehouse (if they have one).
On the positive side, it's a good sign they were out-of-stock since it shows people like the product.
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BNLFL
GLP-1 Specialist
I had the same happen on a good sized order a while back. He said 2-3 weeks, and It actually came in pretty quick. Mine was R30. He must have finally sold out of that R60 from 12/27/25.
ta13579
GLP-1 Novice
🚫No Source Discussion🚫
Outside of niche sports competitions or perhaps the military, I can't think of any other organization or employer that would even attempt to pee test for Peptides or AAS. Maybe government jobs? I wouldn't know lol. I stay away from the gov and gov jobs as much as possible. I'm allergic to authority figures.
wulf00777
GLP-1 Apprentice
I have to fly international with a boat load of peps in my suitcase in a couple months. Getting a bit concerned my peps might be an issue.
UghItsStupidNIHateIT
GLP-1 Apprentice
I’m just going to be THAT person for a second so I apologize in advance for the soap box.
No one wants to go grey as a first option, but legitimately what are people supposed to do? GLPs are not covered by insurance for the most part unless you have diabetes. Many of us are trying to get a handle on this before it gets to that point. The vast majority of people can’t afford $1500+ a month out of pocket for a med. So seriously what are they wanting us to do? I really dislike that this is the position I’m in, especially because I work in healthcare, have insurance, and understand this is somewhat risky. However, I think the long term risk of being overweight probably outweigh the risk of going grey.
No one wants to go grey as a first option, but legitimately what are people supposed to do? GLPs are not covered by insurance for the most part unless you have diabetes. Many of us are trying to get a handle on this before it gets to that point. The vast majority of people can’t afford $1500+ a month out of pocket for a med. So seriously what are they wanting us to do? I really dislike that this is the position I’m in, especially because I work in healthcare, have insurance, and understand this is somewhat risky. However, I think the long term risk of being overweight probably outweigh the risk of going grey.
Especially with the testing you can do to make sure the product is good.
Big Pharma greed is unbelievable and I'm not surprised people go grey. Recently Lilly introduced new KwikPen with exactly 4 doses of Mounjaro - earlier there was extra liquid in the pen that was essentially a 5th dose to extract. Imagine, the cost of manufacturing is cents/mg for them and still they want to squeeze people.
Like anything else, grey will always exist. It might be just a bit harder to source products and prices might go up but it won't be eliminated.
Big Pharma greed is unbelievable and I'm not surprised people go grey. Recently Lilly introduced new KwikPen with exactly 4 doses of Mounjaro - earlier there was extra liquid in the pen that was essentially a 5th dose to extract. Imagine, the cost of manufacturing is cents/mg for them and still they want to squeeze people.
Like anything else, grey will always exist. It might be just a bit harder to source products and prices might go up but it won't be eliminated.
BNLFL
GLP-1 Specialist
I've actually enjoyed it. In my case, there's been a vendor who I pay and they take care of everything. I also have two US based vendors I use. I know it al comes from CN.
UghItsStupidNIHateIT
GLP-1 Apprentice
That’s awesome, and I’m genuinely happy for you. But be honest, if you could get the same product from your doctor for $4 a month like many prescriptions wouldn’t you?
BNLFL
GLP-1 Specialist
Hell yeah, but I wouldn't have this really cool case full of piles of vials then. 🤣
UghItsStupidNIHateIT
GLP-1 Apprentice
🤣 ok that’s a fair point. I do enjoy feeling like a mad scientist sometimes 🙂
j_nebulism
Recently Joined
🚫No Source Discussion🚫
A lot of single vial suppliers here in the UK have stopped selling Reta recently. I’ve noticed that anywhere that does has also stopped taking Stripe payments. I think some Eli Lilly letters have been making their way to UK suppliers from what I’ve heard?
Calm Logic
GLP-1 Specialist
Reta is just harder to keep in stock. So may be hard to tell. But supply is likely the biggest issue with the recent shipping slowdown.
Some of the domestic vendors I buy from are still out-of-stock on reta kits and singles.
Regarding Stripe, it's still a miracle to me that some vendors here use it.
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Let’s start with the fact neither Wegovy or Zepbound are “$1500+ a month”. You’re grossly exaggerating the most expensive self pay option by 300%+. You’re clearly not paying attention. By next year the most expensive self pay option will be even less, at $249 (for the highest doses), and in a few months Medicare will soon cover it so everyone 62+ will have easy access.
I don’t know about you, but I spend at least $200-300 less in food a month since starting GLPs.
It’s also not “just for diabetes”. Presumably working in healthcare you likely have a good health insurance coverage, so did you ever actually check? A majority of Americans with commercial health insurance have coverage for at least one GLP if they’re at an obesity BMI (30+). And a large portion of those have coverage for overweight BMI (27+) if there’s a comorbidity like sleep apnea, high blood pressure, or knee pain. With insurance coverage and the Novo or Eli copay card, out of pocket cost is typically $25 for 3 months.
The thing is, even if the monthly cash self pay price for pharma GLPs was $50, if Chinese grey market sellers are offering it at $10 a month, many will go that route because they want to, not because they “have to”. It’s because it’s easier, no doctor required, or they’re not overweight and are using it for cosmetic reasons, or because some people will always choose the cheapest option, legal or not, even if there’s a potential health risk.
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BNLFL
GLP-1 Specialist
Easily, and that doesn't included the alcohol we don't drink out or at home. I get zero issues on all the supplies I buy. Although, I don't think she's seen the new huge storage case I bought.
I was an “early adopter” of GLPs for weight loss, and years ago, before there was discussion about the anti addiction properties of these meds, I knew a woman who would never leave home without her THC vape. After starting Semaglutide, she told me she noticed she had been forgetting it, and eventually, looked at the thing and was shocked to realize she just “lost interest” in it.
Since then, and hearing a million other anecdotes like that, I’ve come to see GLPs as “anti consumption” drugs. A satisfying life just seems to get cheaper once you’re on a GLP.
BNLFL
GLP-1 Specialist
I'm starting to see this is really spot on for many things. I'll be interesting to see future testing and trials on this.
UghItsStupidNIHateIT
GLP-1 Apprentice
I did check. I was quoted $1497 by the pharmacy even with my “good health insurance” because I do not have any comorbidities. I was class III obese when I started but because my bloodwork was perfect I couldn’t get my insurance to cover a dime or even give me a discount. I’m thankful that apparently not everyone has had the same experience.
Are you aware of Lilly Direct?
Diamondd817
GLP-1 Apprentice
Remember the "War On Drugs"? That started in 1971. 55yrs later and there are no less drugs, just trillions in wasted tax payer dollars.
I don't have Lily Direct money either. My commercial insurance first approved it in 2020, but then a shortage happened, when that resolved, they denied it. I appealed, appealed, appealed. No, no, no, even though I had the approval letter in my hand. I had to call the state insurance department and report them (thank you ProPublica) to get them to honor it. And at that 6 month mark? CUT OFF.
Just like the person you were talking to, I have no comorbidities, I was just grossly morbidly obese. No diabetes, no sleep apnea, etc. Even with the savings card, even with Lily Direct, I don't have that kind of money lying around for indefinite use.
j_nebulism
Recently Joined
🚫No Source Discussion🚫
Some are definitely out of stock due to popularity, but quite a few have removed it from their sites altogether. I’ve noticed this on a few more established UK vendors.
UghItsStupidNIHateIT
GLP-1 Apprentice
Dude I feel this in my soul. Insurance is a nightmare, and I say that as someone who works in healthcare. I have had so many issues like the one you’re describing where I have proof that something was approved by the insurance company in my literal actual hand only for them to come back later and recoup. It’s terrible.
Over a year ago when I started, my insurance covered Zep (tirz) 100%. It was fantastic. Recently, they just dropped it completely and said there were better options. I didn't want to change back to S, so I went full pay with Lilly direct. $450/month for 4 vials of 15. That's $7.50/mg. When you realize they're making upwards of $20/mg you realize what a joke it is.
Calm Logic
GLP-1 Specialist
And Eli Lilly isn't the only one marking up. Grey-market elora is $3.50 a mg ($350 from Uther for 10-mg kit). Elora is harder to make and test, but grey tirz is about one-tenth the price.
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BNLFL
GLP-1 Specialist
What does that stuff do?
Calm Logic
GLP-1 Specialist
12x more selective for amylin as cagri
2x as much weight loss as cagri
Less side effects than cagri, if anything
Stacks cleanly with tirz or reta
(But elora requires 3x more mg than cagri for titrating up.)
More info:
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Only 1 vendor is making eloralintide do far, so that makes sense. R30 for 300 last year wasn't unheard of, and T30 for 300 2-3 years ago was the norm.
Gt3294a
GLP-1 Enthusiast
Yeah, and I have to pay insurance totally out of pocket for my family. And I have stuff like acne medicine rejected for my daughter. And even if they do pay, some times it is like 2/3 of the price of a brand name. So it isn’t just GLP. Now here is the crazy thing, one can get prescription stuff from other countries in the mail often cheaper than buying through insurance in the US. It’s all very pathetic.
