Get the pharmacy’s name
People who use online care websites may be unsure who made their medicine to order, notes the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
FDA · knowing who made a medicineAsk which pharmacy fills the prescription. For medicine made to order, ask for the maker’s name and where it is made. Write down the full name before looking it up in state records.
Use the state record
Use the FDA pharmacy lookup to reach the licensed-pharmacy lists kept by each state. FDA advises against using a pharmacy that is missing from the list for your state.
FDA · open the state pharmacy lookupAs of September 2026, most states make pharmacies based elsewhere get a local licence or permit before sending medicine into that state.
FDA · pharmacy licences across statesA licence record is a starting check. Ask about the exact medicine too; a licence alone does not answer every question about how it is supplied.
Check the person doing the review, too
Public state medical board records show doctors’ licences and action taken when a doctor breaks the rules. The details shown differ by state.
Medical boards · public doctor recordsThe Federation of State Medical Boards offers directory links for finding U.S. medical licensing boards.
Medical boards · find the relevant boardIf your prescriber has another role, ask which licensing board holds their record.
Read a badge for what it proves
As of September 2026, registration with FDA does not mean a facility or its medicine has FDA approval.
Federal rule · registration and approvalA badge is easier to show than a record is to verify. Keep the full product and pharmacy names in your notes.