Comparing your options, side by side

How we build each comparison

Every comparison uses the same core questions, so you can read across them consistently. We explain how each option works in the body, how it's taken, how strong the evidence is, the side effects to know about, and whether it's FDA-approved, compounded or sold as a supplement. Where HealifyMD offers one of the options, we show our price; where we don't, we say so.

We draw on sources such as FDA labeling and safety communications, NIH resources, MedlinePlus and guidelines from professional societies. When the evidence is limited, early or comes mostly from animal studies, we say that plainly.

• How it works
• Form and routine
• Strength of the evidence
• Common and serious side effects
• FDA status: approved, compounded or supplement
• HealifyMD price, where applicable

What these comparisons can't do

A comparison page can tell you how two options differ in general. It can't tell you which one is right for you. Your age, other medications, family history, lab results, fertility plans and personal priorities all change the answer, sometimes completely.

For that reason, each page ends with a section on which option might fit different situations, framed as questions to discuss with your clinician rather than a recommendation. Sometimes the honest answer is neither, because the symptoms point to a different cause that needs its own care.

A note on compounded medications and supplements

Several HealifyMD treatments are compounded, meaning a licensed pharmacy prepares them for an individual prescription. Compounded drugs are not FDA-approved, and they are not equivalent to branded products such as Wegovy or Zepbound. Dietary supplements, like berberine or nicotinamide riboside, are a third category: manufacturers are responsible for their safety and labeling, and the FDA does not approve them before they're sold.

We point out which category each option falls into, because it affects what you can expect about quality control, evidence and insurance coverage.

Comparisons by topic

Weight and metabolism: semaglutide versus tirzepatide explains the difference between a one-receptor and a two-receptor medicine, and oral versus injectable semaglutide covers what changes when the same molecule is swallowed instead of injected. Two berberine pages look honestly at a popular supplement next to metformin and next to GLP-1 medicines.

Hormones: testosterone therapy versus enclomiphene focuses on fertility and how each affects your own hormone production. Peptides versus TRT explains why the two aren't substitutes. Estradiol cream versus patch compares two ways of getting estrogen through the skin.

Longevity and wellness: NAD+ injections versus supplements, glutathione injections versus oral forms, and B12 injections versus tablets each look at whether the route of delivery really matters and who might need which.

Hair: finasteride versus minoxidil compares the two best-studied medicines for pattern hair loss, which work in very different ways and are often used together.

When you're ready to decide

Start with the free eligibility check. A licensed clinician reviews your history and goals, explains which options are appropriate for you, and confirms the price before anything is charged. Care is available in the states where our clinicians are licensed. If you still have questions after reading, email support@healifymd.com.

Bring the questions these pages raise to your visit. Tell your clinician what matters most to you, whether that's avoiding injections, protecting fertility, keeping costs predictable or choosing the option with the strongest evidence. Those priorities shape the recommendation as much as your labs do.