Skip to main content

The Pharmacy
Vetting Checklist

Your standard of care is non-negotiable. Use this four-point diagnostic to vet any compounding pharmacy before injecting their product.

The Clinical Anchor
FDA Human Drug Compounding Regulatory Framework →
01
The Designation: 503A vs. 503B

The Science: The FDA categorizes legitimate compounding facilities into two distinct tiers. 503A (Traditional Compounding) pharmacies mix medications for specific patients and are state-regulated. 503B (Outsourcing Facilities) manufacture in larger batches and are subject to direct FDA inspection and strict Current Good Manufacturing Practice (CGMP) requirements.

The Kitchen Table Translation If your telehealth provider uses a 503B facility, you are getting the highest level of federal oversight available for compounded drugs. If they use a 503A, you must be hyper-vigilant about the next three steps.
02
The Prescription Requirement

The Red Flag: If a website allows you to purchase Semaglutide or Tirzepatide by simply adding it to a cart without a synchronous consultation or a required prescription, close the tab immediately.

The Standard A legitimate, legal pharmacy will absolutely require a valid, patient-specific prescription from a licensed healthcare provider prior to dispensing any GLP-1 medication.
03
The Certificate of Analysis (CoA)

The Science: A CoA is a document from an independent, third-party laboratory verifying the exact purity and potency of the drug batch.

The Kitchen Table Translation Trust, but verify. Ask the pharmacy to see the CoA for your specific batch. If they refuse, or if testing was done "in-house" rather than by a third party, take your business elsewhere. Look for purity levels above 99%.
04
The Base Molecule vs. The Salt

The Science: The FDA has explicitly warned against the use of salt forms of Semaglutide (such as Semaglutide sodium or acetate). These are not the active ingredients evaluated in the FDA-approved drugs.

The Kitchen Table Translation Your medication should be compounded using the pure base molecule. If the ingredient list contains the words "sodium" or "acetate," it is a substandard, potentially unsafe product.