The first check
Name the exact treatment.
Begin with the exact product name. A broad phrase such as peptide therapy cannot tell you which medicine, preparation or label is being offered.
Read the product description
Read the offer
An approved medicine
As of September 2026, Ozempic and Wegovy are among the semaglutide products with FDA approval in the United States. FDA’s semaglutide product information
As of September 2026, tirzepatide injections have US approval under two brand names. Mounjaro helps people with type 2 diabetes control their blood sugar. Zepbound helps with weight loss and keeping weight off. FDA’s tirzepatide product information
In labels checked in September 2026, Ozempic has approval for blood-sugar control in adults with type 2 diabetes. Wegovy has approval for losing weight and helping keep it off. FDA’s Ozempic product label FDA’s Wegovy product label
Ask which exact product and form the clinician means. Also ask which condition it would address. A familiar ingredient name does not identify everything being offered.
Look more closely
A preparation made to order
As of September 2026, a compounded preparation may meet a medical need that an approved medicine does not address, but the preparation has no FDA approval. FDA on when compounding may be appropriate
Ask why a medicine made to order is proposed for you and who would make it. Keep that answer with the prescription discussion.
Carry this forward
A label saying “for research use only”
Look for the words “for research use only” on a research label. Another wording is “not for human consumption”. These labels describe products meant for studies, not for people to use as treatment.
As of September 2026, FDA advises avoiding research-labeled weight-drug products sold for human use: their quality is unknown, and harm is possible. FDA’s account of research-labeled products
If a page pairs that label with treatment claims, keep it out of your comparison of medical care. Bring the exact name or a copy of the claim to a clinician instead.
Keep in mind
The chapter recap
The exact product is the first check. Approval, compounding and a research label describe different things.
Check who would provide care