Pause when the medicine story does not add up
As of September 26, 2026, federal law forbids giving out prescription medicine without a valid prescription.
- FDA advertising guidance confirms that claiming FDA approval for compounded semaglutide was false as of September 26, 2026.
- FDA concerns checked September 26, 2026 describe unapproved semaglutide sold for people to use despite a label saying 'not for human consumption' or one saying 'for research purposes'. These products have unknown quality and may cause harm.
- Pause if those words appear on the offer or bottle. They mean research use or not for people to take.
- On September 26, 2026, the FDA also reported labels on compounded products that named nonexistent pharmacies.
- Ask for the actual pharmacy name, and compare it with the state record.
Pause when questions or payment are pushed aside
FDA consumer guidance warns against services that leave people without a licensed doctor for questions once their medicine has arrived.
- Ask how follow-up questions are handled before paying.
- The Federal Trade Commission's payment guidance warns of scams when a seller takes payment only by wire transfer, bank transfer, gift card, payment app, or cryptocurrency. Cryptocurrency, often shortened to crypto, is digital money sent through a computer system.
- If a seller demands digital money or a gift card instead of offering ordinary ways to pay, pause before sending it.
- Ask the clinician who would help with a medicine problem after the visit.