A prescription still matters
Under U.S. prescription law as of September 2026, it is illegal to supply prescription medicine without a valid prescription.
U.S. law · prescription requirementAsk who reviews your history and makes the decision. A promise that everyone qualifies is not an explanation of your care.
A believable label can still be false
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has found compounded semaglutide and tirzepatide with false pharmacy details. Some labels named pharmacies that did not exist.
FDA · false pharmacy names on labelsTake the full pharmacy name to the state record. If the names do not match, ask for the difference to be explained before proceeding.
Open the pharmacy checksResearch labelling is a reason to pause
In its September 2026 guidance, FDA urges consumers to avoid unapproved GLP-1 products marketed as research chemicals for human use.
FDA · research-labelled productsResearch means study work. A research label cannot take the place of a care plan, a prescription or a product explanation.
Check the missing detail
Does a matching ingredient mean an approved copy?Read the correction
A generic medicine has approval and copies a brand product. As of September 2026, no semaglutide or tirzepatide generic is an approved U.S. medicine. Approved liraglutide generics do exist.
FDA · generic application recordsDoes FDA registration mean the medicine is approved?Read the correction
Under the federal rule checked in September 2026, recording a medicine-making site or its products in FDA’s records is not FDA approval. Those records are called registration and product listing.
Federal rule · registration and approvalHas medicine made to order had FDA approval?Read the correction
As of September 2026, compounded products have not been through FDA approval. FDA does not review their safety, how well they work or quality before they are offered to patients.
FDA · compounded product review