A plain-language care & cost guide Pause & check
Pause when the offer skips the checks.
Keep these questions next to any care offer: who reviews my health and medicines, what is the product, and who can answer my questions?
Jump to a question
Has someone checked your health before prescribing?
The Food and Drug Administration handles federal medicine reviews; you’ll see it called FDA here.
FDA’s online-pharmacy checklist, checked in September 2026, calls for a valid prescription, state licensing and a pharmacist who can answer questions.
Without a valid prescription, handing out prescription medicine breaks federal law, as of September 2026.
Under September 2026 guidance from the state medical boards’ national group, selecting a drug from a website list is not enough for a prescription.
A filled-in online questionnaire alone is not enough either, under that guidance.
The same guidance requires a way for patients to put follow-up questions to their care professional.
Ask who reviews your health history and medicines before prescribing. Ask whether you need an exam or tests, and how to get answers to questions of your own.
Source note AWatch for words about research use
Research means study use. Watch for labels that say “not for human consumption” (not for people to use) or “for research use only”.
In a September 2026 warning, FDA flagged products marketed for weight loss with “for research purposes” on the label or with the wording “not for human consumption”.
FDA says these products may harm people and their quality is not known.
Compounding is having a pharmacist or doctor make a medicine to order.
Retatrutide is one name used in online weight-treatment offers; it has no approved use in the US as of September 2026.
In September 2026, FDA says federal law bars retatrutide from use in compounded medicines.
Source note BWhat does that badge or code prove?
A National Drug Code (NDC) identifies a product by number in FDA’s drug directory.
An FDA registration is a record of a drug business or facility with the agency.
As of September 2026, neither an FDA registration nor an NDC code proves that a drug has FDA approval.
If a seller shows a code or registration on a label or website, ask for the FDA approval record for that exact medicine. Get the care professional and pharmacy names, then check their state records.
Use the New York name checksSource note CAn unclear label is a question for the pharmacist
In its September 2026 record, FDA reports mistakes in measuring compounded semaglutide, with some people needing hospital care.
Ask the pharmacist to explain the label in words you can repeat back. Bring any unclear instruction to the pharmacist who filled the prescription.
Storage depends on the specific medicine, so the product label and pharmacy instructions matter, as checked in September 2026.
Source note BWhen the question needs urgent help
MedlinePlus lists trouble breathing and tongue swelling among signs of a severe allergic reaction, as checked in September 2026.
It calls that reaction a life-threatening emergency.
Get urgent medical help for severe symptoms.
As checked in September 2026, the FDA’s MedWatch service accepts patients’ reports of medicine problems.
Read about reporting a medicine problemSource note DNotes behind these answers
- A
The FDA lists what to check in an online pharmacy. The national medical board guidance calls for a health review and a chance for patients to ask questions.
FDA: checking an online pharmacyMedical board guidance on choosing drugs from a website list - B
The FDA warns about products sold with research warnings and describes problems with custom-made weight medicines.
FDA: research products and custom-made weight drugs - C
FDA registration and a product listing are different from a product approval.
Federal rule on registration and listingFDA: what a drug code means - D
MedlinePlus explains severe allergic reactions and the need for emergency care. MedWatch is for reporting a medicine problem.
MedlinePlus: severe allergic reactions