In brief
In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) handles the review of medicines.
Storage and other precautions depend on the particular medicine; there is no cold-storage rule covering all peptides.
Ask the person treating you and pharmacist to explain the written instructions for the product being proposed.
A compounded medicine is made for a particular order instead of being supplied as the manufacturer’s finished drug.
Ask how the product is handled
FDA has told sellers that injected products bypass some defences against germs and can pose serious risks.
When compounding goes wrong, a medicine may contain germs or an incorrect quantity of the ingredient responsible for its effect, called the active ingredient.
In advice reviewed on September 17, 2026, FDA recommended against using an injectable weight-care drug that arrived warm or without enough refrigeration.
Ask how a delivery problem would be handled and who would check the product. Keep the pharmacy’s reply with the care plan.
Make the precautions personal
Bring your list of medicines and supplements to the person treating you. Ask which warnings and written product information apply to you. If pregnancy or breastfeeding is relevant, ask about that too.
As reviewed on September 17, 2026, compounded medicines did not have equivalent FDA-reviewed pregnancy and breastfeeding information.
FDA has received reports of dose errors involving compounded semaglutide, including events that may have required hospital care.
Have your pharmacist or prescriber clarify any instructions you do not understand. Do not use a comparison page to work out an amount.
Severe symptoms need urgent help
Swelling affecting the tongue or face, or difficulty breathing, may point to a severe allergic reaction.
For symptoms suggesting a severe allergic reaction, MedlinePlus advises calling 911 or seeking help in the nearest emergency room.
Reporting is a separate step
FDA’s MedWatch service lets patients submit reports about problems with medicines.
Submitting a report establishes neither that the drug caused the event nor how frequently such events occur.
Ask the person treating you about the next step for your care. Use the reporting link in the source file for the separate report.