Pause when these answers are missing
Prescription medicine, without a prescription
A prescription is a health professional's order for a medicine.
As of September 26, 2026, federal law says a licensed health professional must issue the order for a prescription drug.
The US drug agency is the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). It flags an offer missing that order as a reason for caution.
A research label offered as treatment
As of September 26, 2026, FDA cautions against weight-loss drugs with research labels being offered for people to use. Their quality is not known, and they could harm people.
Ask for a clear product name and approval status.
A made-to-order drug described as approved
Compounded means made to order. Calling such a medicine FDA-approved is false. Rule checked September 26, 2026.
Describing a made-to-order drug as an approved copy misleads people, according to FDA. It also says it is misleading to claim that studies prove it produces the same health results as an approved drug. Guidance checked September 26, 2026.
Ask what supports the claim being made.
No clear pharmacy or way to ask questions
As of September 26, 2026, FDA had identified labels for some compounded semaglutide and tirzepatide products that gave false names for the pharmacy.
Get the pharmacy's exact name and look for its state record. Ask how to speak with a pharmacist.
A badge cannot finish the check
Health websites can fake seals that look official and claims promising money back, the Federal Trade Commission warns.
Keep going back to names, records and written answers rather than the design of the offer.
Read the consumer cautions
- FDA checklist for online pharmacies
Read for prescription, pharmacist and licence checks.
- FDA rules for compounding claims
Read when an offer says its product is the same as a reviewed drug.
- Trade Commission advice on health offers
Read for the limits of badges and guarantees.