Know when to pause. Know when to get help.

Pause if names and access are missing

Get both names: the clinician's full name and the name of the pharmacy.

An online service's name may not reveal who prepared the drug.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) lists checks for online pharmacies.

Its advice highlights a prescription, state pharmacy licensing and access to a licensed pharmacist.

A polished site can hide a fake pharmacy; appearance cannot confirm a licence.

Pause over the medicine claim

Status facts as of September 26, 2026.

Compounded medicine is made to order; its maker may be a pharmacist, a doctor or a registered facility.

Calling a compounded product FDA-approved is false.

National Drug Code, shortened to NDC, is a number that identifies a drug product in a government directory. A seller may point to this number as proof of approval, but having the number does not show FDA approval.

If an advert cites an NDC number, ask for the exact medicine's FDA approval record.

Researchers are studying retatrutide for weight control; it has no FDA-approved use as of September 26, 2026.

Cagrilintide is another drug ingredient without an FDA-approved use. FDA has not found either ingredient safe and effective for any health problem.

As of September 26, 2026, FDA says federal law does not allow compounding with retatrutide or cagrilintide.

FDA has also warned about products marketed for research but sold for human use. FDA says the quality of these products is unknown and they may cause harm.

If a medicine has arrived

Semaglutide and tirzepatide are drug ingredients used in approved medicines for diabetes or weight control.

FDA has found made-to-order semaglutide or tirzepatide medicines whose labels give false information about the pharmacy.

Some named pharmacies did not exist; other real pharmacies had not made the product.

Storage depends on the exact medicine; peptides do not share one storage rule.

The body naturally makes a chemical message called GLP-1, which influences hunger and blood sugar. Medicines in this group copy that message.

FDA's advice for GLP-1 shots is to avoid using medicine delivered warm or without enough cooling.

FDA has received reports of dose errors with compounded semaglutide injections, including cases needing hospital care.

Get the prescriber or pharmacist to explain unclear instructions.