1st Optimal vs Andrew Meds
An in-depth comparison of two leading GLP-1 Providers
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1st Optimal
Best for: GLP-1 therapy within a lab-driven functional-medicine program
Visit 1st Optimal →
Andrew Meds
Best for: cash-pay shoppers who want the whole price ladder before starting intake
Visit Andrew Meds →1st Optimal and Andrew Meds are both GLP-1 Providers competing for the same patients, but they make different trade-offs on price, coverage, and what's included. In our scoring, 1st Optimal starts lower at $99/mo versus $149/mo, and Andrew Meds edges ahead overall (7.7 vs 6.7 out of 10). Below we break down pricing, what each plan covers, the six-dimension score, pros and cons, and exactly who should pick which.
Pricing
1st Optimal
Care membership only — the GLP-1 medication is billed separately and is not priced.
Andrew Meds
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What’s included
1st Optimal
What the monthly price covers
Medication
Not disclosed
Provider visits
Included
Shipping
Included
Lab work
Not disclosed
Coaching
Included
Andrew Meds
What the monthly price covers
Medication
Included
Provider visits
Included
Shipping
Included
Lab work
Not disclosed
Coaching
Not disclosed
Score breakdown
Both providers are scored on the same six-dimension framework. The gradient bar marks the stronger side on each dimension.
1st Optimal
6.7/10
Andrew Meds
7.7/10
Value25%
Effectiveness25%
User Experience15%
Trust & Safety15%
Accessibility10%
Support10%
Features & Coverage
| Feature | 1st Optimal | Andrew Meds |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | ✓$99/mo | $149/mo |
| Features | ✓8 features | 7 features |
| States Available | Not disclosed | 51 |
| Compounded | — | ✓ Yes |
| Brand Name | ✓ Yes | — |
| FSA/HSA Accepted | — | — |
| FDA Warnings | None | None |
About 1st Optimal
1st Optimal is a Michigan-based telehealth and functional-medicine platform offering GLP-1 weight loss medications, including semaglutide and tirzepatide, as once-weekly injections or daily oral tablets. Its model pairs prescription GLP-1 therapy with at-home lab testing, blood-work interpretation, unlimited coaching, and personalized protocols framed around long-term weight loss and longevity. Care is delivered virtually by credentialed providers, and treatments ship to the home with no long-term contracts. The site does not publish monthly pricing or a state list.
Read our full 1st Optimal review →About Andrew Meds
Andrew Meds is a Houston telehealth platform selling compounded semaglutide and tirzepatide on a cash-pay subscription, with clinical care delivered by the Dr Tel X provider network. The full price ladder is published before intake: semaglutide is $199/month month-to-month down to $149 on a 12-month prepay, tirzepatide $299 down to $229. Asynchronous questionnaire care is listed for 44 states, with seven jurisdictions requiring a live visit first.
Read our full Andrew Meds review →Pros & Cons
1st Optimal
What we like
- Offers both semaglutide and tirzepatide with injectable and oral formats
- Functional-medicine approach with at-home labs and blood-work interpretation
- Unlimited coaching and ongoing support included
- No long-term contracts
- Board-certified doctors and nurse practitioners referenced
Watch-outs
- No public monthly pricing disclosed
- No published state availability list
- Compounded vs branded sourcing not clarified on site
- Pricing only revealed after quiz or consultation
Andrew Meds
What we like
- The whole price ladder is public before intake — $199/mo month-to-month for semaglutide, $299/mo for tirzepatide, no account required.
- Every advertised prepay saving matches the arithmetic; the $1,788 twelve-month semaglutide plan really is $149/month.
- State coverage is enumerated rather than blanket-claimed: 44 asynchronous states listed by code, plus 7 that require a live visit.
- The prescribing group is named — Dr Tel X — with its own phone, email and mailing address published.
- Medication, supplies and shipping are all stated as included in the subscription price.
- Toll-free phone support is published at (866) 888-6633.
Watch-outs
- The compounding pharmacy is never named; the terms refer only to contracted pharmacies.
- No refunds for partially used subscription periods — refunds are case-by-case at the company's discretion.
- Cancellation needs at least two days' notice before the renewal date, and the first renewal may be charged early.
- Multi-month plans are a single upfront charge, not a reduced monthly bill.
- No LegitScript certification or third-party accreditation is claimed anywhere on the site.
- Seven jurisdictions (DC, KS, LA, MS, NM, RI, WV) cannot use the async path and need a synchronous visit first.
Our Verdict
Andrew Meds edges out 1st Optimal with a higher overall score of 7.7/10 and is particularly strong for cash-pay shoppers who want the whole price ladder before starting intake. 1st Optimal remains a solid alternative, especially if you're looking for GLP-1 therapy within a lab-driven functional-medicine program.
Choose 1st Optimal if…
You want GLP-1 therapy within a lab-driven functional-medicine program and a starting price around $99/mo.
Choose Andrew Meds if…
You want cash-pay shoppers who want the whole price ladder before starting intake and a starting price around $149/mo.
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Get started →1st Optimal vs Andrew Meds: FAQ
Key terms, explained
New to GLP-1s? Tap any term for a quick, plain-English definition.
- Semaglutide · Drugs and brands
- Tirzepatide · Drugs and brands
- Compounded GLP-1 · Pharmacy and drug forms
- 503A pharmacy · Pharmacy and drug forms
- PCAB accreditation · Pharmacy and drug forms
- Prior authorization (PA) · Insurance and regulatory
- Off-label use · Insurance and regulatory
- FDA Drug Shortage List · Insurance and regulatory
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