Before treatment
What needs checking before treatment?
Start with your own health history and the exact product. Keep these questions with the prescriber and the pharmacy.
Make the product checkable.
Medicine prepared to order
Compounding is the work of a doctor or pharmacist preparing medicine for an order.
Before these drugs go on sale, they receive no review of harm, benefit or quality from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), under September 2026 rules. FDA account of compounded drugs
FDA warns that compounding done poorly may introduce germs or leave the working ingredient at a level that is too high or too low. FDA explanation of quality problems
Ask the pharmacy who made the product. Ask what to do if the name on the label is wrong.
Your own health history
Bring a list of your health problems, medicines, supplements, allergies and recent test results. Ask which details change the choice for you.
If you are older, ask what needs checking at your age. Ask which problems this exact medicine could cause and who will review them.
Pregnancy plans, if they apply to you
The semaglutide (Wegovy) label checked in September 2026 warns of possible harm during pregnancy. U.S. National Library of Medicine product label
In September 2026, made-to-order drugs had no pregnancy information reviewed by FDA.
Bring up pregnancy, pregnancy plans and breastfeeding with the clinician. Ask how those details affect the medicine being considered.
Check storage and the delivery plan.
Some peptide medicines need cooling; other products stay at room temperature, according to their labels. National Library of Medicine label recordNational Institutes of Health patient information
Ask for the instructions for your exact product. Get an answer about delivery, storage and who to contact if the package looks wrong.
The signal imitated by GLP-1 medicines helps the body regulate blood sugar and hunger.
FDA guidance read in September 2026 says to avoid a GLP-1 injection that needs chilling but arrives warm or poorly cooled. FDA guidance on delivery conditions
Ask the pharmacy about a questionable delivery before using the medicine. Keep the packaging so the problem can be described clearly.
Know who answers a problem.
- Which problems can this medicine cause?
- Who can answer a question about the label?
- What needs urgent medical help?
- Between appointments, how can I contact my clinician?
FDA says loose used needles go in a sharps container, a hard box for needle waste, rather than a household bin. FDA needle-disposal guidance