BiltRx vs Arc-1: Compounded Tirzepatide Compared

BiltRx and Arc-1 are two telehealth providers selling compounded tirzepatide online. Both require a medical consultation, both ship injectable tirzepatide to your door and both cost a fraction of brand-name Zepbound or Mounjaro. The similarities end there. Pricing structure, formulation, pharmacy sourcing, state availability and return policies differ in ways that affect which provider makes more sense for a given patient. This page puts the two side by side using verified information from each provider's website.

Side-by-Side Comparison

The table reveals two fundamentally different business models. BiltRx operates as a broader telehealth pharmacy with multiple product lines and a simple flat-rate pricing structure. Arc-1 focuses on a single product with added ingredients, dose-based pricing and consumer protections like a money-back guarantee and free shipping.

Pricing Breakdown

Price is the primary reason patients choose compounded tirzepatide over brand-name options. But the two compounded providers price their products very differently, and the gap widens at higher doses.

BiltRx Flat Monthly Rate

BiltRx charges $129 per month regardless of dose. Whether a patient is on 2.5 mg during the introductory phase or titrated up to a higher maintenance dose, the monthly cost stays the same. That predictability is useful for budgeting. There are no surprise price increases as the prescriber escalates the dose. The consultation is included in the price, and BiltRx also lists brand-name Mounjaro and Zepbound at $1,499 per month for patients who prefer the FDA-approved product.

Arc-1 Per-Dose Pricing

Arc-1 uses a tiered structure. The 2.5 mg dose costs $199.99 per month. The 5 mg dose costs $249.99. The 7.5 mg dose costs $399.99. This means the monthly cost increases as the patient moves through the titration schedule. The consultation is free and shipping is included at all price points. Arc-1 also includes a 30-day satisfaction guarantee, which neither the brand-name manufacturers nor BiltRx advertise.

The tiered model creates a widening cost gap as doses increase. A patient on the 2.5 mg starting dose pays $71 more per month with Arc-1 than with BiltRx. At 7.5 mg, the difference grows to $271 per month.

Annual Cost Comparison

Over a full year, BiltRx costs $1,548 regardless of dose. Arc-1 ranges from approximately $2,400 to $4,800 depending on where the patient lands in the titration schedule. Most patients do not stay at 2.5 mg long term because it is an introductory dose. A patient who stabilizes at 5 mg would pay $2,999.88 annually with Arc-1 versus $1,548 with BiltRx. That $1,452 annual difference is significant for patients paying entirely out of pocket.

The cost comparison does assume the patient fills every month for a full year. Weight management with tirzepatide is generally considered long-term therapy. The SURMOUNT-4 trial demonstrated that stopping the drug leads to substantial weight regain, so most prescribers advise continued use. Annual cost is a practical number to consider. For a broader look at compounded versus brand-name pricing, see our compounded vs brand comparison.

Formulation Differences

The active ingredient in both products is compounded tirzepatide. But Arc-1 adds two additional compounds to its formulation. Whether those additions matter depends on what the evidence says about each one.

BiltRx: Tirzepatide Only

BiltRx dispenses compounded tirzepatide without additional active ingredients. The product is prepared by a US 503A compounding pharmacy based on an individual prescription from a licensed provider. This straightforward approach mirrors the brand-name formulation concept: one active molecule, one injection.

Patients who prefer a formulation closer to what was tested in the SURMOUNT clinical trials may find the single-ingredient approach appealing. The published efficacy data from SURMOUNT-1 through SURMOUNT-5 reflects tirzepatide alone, without added supplements.

Arc-1: Tirzepatide + Glycine + B12

Arc-1 includes glycine and vitamin B12 alongside tirzepatide. Glycine is an amino acid involved in collagen synthesis, neurotransmitter function and antioxidant pathways. Vitamin B12 supports red blood cell production and neurological function. Both are well-characterized nutrients with established safety profiles at standard supplemental doses.

The question is whether adding glycine and B12 to a tirzepatide injection produces measurable clinical benefit beyond what tirzepatide delivers on its own. No published trial has tested this specific combination. B12 deficiency is uncommon in the general population unless a patient has pernicious anemia, malabsorption or follows a strict vegan diet. Glycine supplementation has shown some metabolic benefits in small studies, but not in the context of GLP-1 agonist therapy.

The additions are unlikely to cause harm. They are also unlikely to produce benefits that would justify the higher price on their own merits. Patients who are already B12-sufficient will excrete the excess. The practical value of these additives remains unproven in the context of tirzepatide treatment.

Consultation and Ordering Process

Both providers require a medical evaluation before dispensing tirzepatide. Federal and state regulations require a prescription for tirzepatide regardless of whether it is compounded or brand-name. The consultation formats differ.

BiltRx Process

BiltRx conducts an online consultation as part of the ordering process. The patient completes a health questionnaire, a licensed provider reviews it and either approves or denies the prescription. The consultation fee is included in the $129 monthly price. BiltRx does not charge separately for the medical evaluation. If the provider determines tirzepatide is not appropriate, the patient is not charged for the consultation. BiltRx also provides access to brand-name Mounjaro and Zepbound for patients who prefer or require the FDA-approved product.

Arc-1 Process

Arc-1 advertises a free consultation. The process similarly involves an online health assessment reviewed by a licensed provider. Free shipping is included with every order. The 30-day guarantee means patients who are dissatisfied within the first month can request a refund. The specific terms of that guarantee should be confirmed on the Arc-1 website before ordering. Arc-1's LegitScript certification indicates the website has been reviewed and verified as operating in compliance with applicable laws and regulations for online pharmacy and telehealth services.

Availability and Restrictions

BiltRx does not list state restrictions on its website. Arc-1 explicitly states it does not ship to California, Arkansas, Indiana, Minnesota and South Carolina. These restrictions reflect differences in state compounding pharmacy regulations. Some states impose additional requirements on out-of-state compounding pharmacies or on telehealth prescribing of certain medications.

Patients in CA, AR, IN, MN and SC cannot order from Arc-1 and would need to use BiltRx or another provider. Patients in all other states have access to both. State regulations change, so checking current availability on each provider's website before ordering is advisable.

Our Editorial Verdict

BiltRx wins on price at every dose level. The flat $129 monthly rate is the lowest compounded tirzepatide price we have found, and it stays flat as the dose increases. For patients whose primary concern is cost, that makes BiltRx the straightforward choice.

Arc-1 offers consumer protections that BiltRx does not advertise. The 30-day guarantee, free shipping and LegitScript certification provide a degree of buyer assurance. The added glycine and B12 are unlikely to produce clinically meaningful benefits, but they also add no documented risk. Patients who value the guarantee and external certification may find the higher price acceptable at the lower doses.

The calculus shifts sharply at higher doses. At 7.5 mg, Arc-1 costs more than three times what BiltRx charges. For a patient who expects to titrate beyond 5 mg, the annual cost difference exceeds $3,000. That gap is hard to justify based on the current evidence for glycine and B12 additives.

Both providers serve a real need. Brand-name tirzepatide at $1,499 per month is out of reach for many patients without insurance coverage. Compounded options make the medication accessible at a fraction of the cost. Our recommendation: compare based on your dose trajectory, your state of residence and whether the consumer protections matter enough to you to pay the premium. For context on how both compare to brand-name products, see our compounded vs brand-name tirzepatide page.