Orientation
First, work out which kind of product is on offer
Before comparing claims, prices, or convenience, sort out which of the three kinds of product is on offer: an approved drug, a custom-mixed medicine, or a chemical sold for lab research.
Guide, not a care service
Guide note
Kind one: an approved medicine
FDA approval covers one exact product for one use. Another product with the same ingredient does not share that approval just because the name matches.
As of September 2026, semaglutide (brand names Ozempic and Wegovy) and tirzepatide (brand names Mounjaro and Zepbound) both carry FDA approval.
Source: FDA medicine recordsGuide note
Kind two: a medicine made to order
The useful questions are concrete. Who prescribed it? Which pharmacy made it? Why do I need a medicine made to order instead of a regular one from a manufacturer?
As of September 2026, federal law allows medicine to be made to order, called compounding, in two set ways, but no medicine made this way is approved by the FDA.
Source: FDA compounding overviewGuide note
Kind three: a chemical labelled for research
A scientific-looking label does not turn a product into care. Step away from this kind of product and look for a licensed prescriber and a licensed pharmacy.
As of September 2026, chemicals offered online for research are not medicines, and injecting one is not a legal way to receive treatment.
Source: FDA enforcement letterGuide note
Keep one note
Write down the exact product name, form, prescriber, pharmacy, total cash cost, and what happens after the first visit. That small record makes every later check simpler.