Your history matters.
Ask how your clinician reviews your medical history, medications, and treatment goals—and how they decide whether an option fits you. A prescription decision should include you as a whole person.
THE GLP-1 FIELD GUIDEPAGE 04 / 15
03 / QUALITY & SUPPORT
A pretty vial
isn’t a credential.
Before you get swept up in a transformation photo, get clear on what you’re being prescribed and where it comes from.
The package arriving is the beginning. You should also know who reviewed your health history, who answers medical questions, and what happens if the plan needs to change.
Get specific.
Know the exact medication and dispensing pharmacy. FDA advises obtaining a prescription and using a state-licensed pharmacy. Ask what supports any claims about purity, potency, or testing. [1]
Who answers after checkout?
Find out how to contact a clinician, how follow-up works, and what support is included. Ask about response times and where to turn if you need help sooner.
Who is prescribing it—and who is dispensing it?
Ask for the clinician’s name and the dispensing pharmacy’s name. Know who to contact about the prescription, shipping, storage, and medication questions.
Is this FDA-approved or compounded?
Those are different categories. Compounded drugs are not FDA-approved; FDA does not review them for safety, effectiveness, or quality before marketing. Ask your clinician why a particular option is appropriate for you. [1]
Do I understand my exact prescription?
Have your pharmacist or prescriber explain the label and demonstrate how to measure a dose if needed. Concentrations can vary. Someone else’s “units” are not instructions for your vial. [2]
What happens after I order?
Ask about follow-up, refill timing, total costs, cancellation terms, and how clinical questions are handled. Get the answers while you’re deciding.
What do quality claims actually tell me?
Ask what was tested, who performed the testing, and whether the information applies to the medication you receive. A marketing phrase or a test result alone does not establish that a medication is appropriate for you or free of risk.
Compounded medication is not FDA-approved. FDA says it should be used when a patient’s medical needs cannot be met by an FDA-approved drug. Products labeled “research use only” are not a substitute for prescribed treatment. [1]
Can I ask questions without being pushed to buy?
Yes. Ask for plain-language answers about benefits, risks, alternatives, and costs. You can take time to decide. Being curious does not obligate you to order.
TURN THE SPIRAL INTO A QUESTION
Clarity looks like this.
- “I’m guessing the amount.”
- Ask the pharmacist to explain your exact label and show you how to measure it.
- “I’m crowdsourcing symptoms.”
- Contact your treating clinician and describe what you’re feeling and when it started.
- “I don’t know what happens next.”
- Ask for the follow-up plan, refill process, and a clear contact for questions.
- “I feel rushed.”
- Pause. Get answers about the medication, its risks, and the full cost before deciding.
THE BFF TAKE
“Trust me, babe” is not enough information for a medication decision.
YOUR PERI BFF / ASHLEY STEVENSSources, photo credits & disclosures