Verbatim response from Claude
Compounded Semaglutide: Safety & How to Stay Safe
The Safety Reality
Compounded semaglutide is not FDA-approved, but it became legally available during the Ozempic/Wegovy shortage. The FDA has raised concerns, including:
- Variable potency and purity
- Some products using semaglutide salts (sodium or acetate forms) rather than the base form used in approved drugs — potentially different and unstudied
- Reports of dosing errors and adverse events
It's not the same as brand-name products, and quality depends heavily on the compounding pharmacy.
How to Avoid Sketchy Providers
Look for these green flags:
- Uses an FDA-registered 503B outsourcing facility (higher manufacturing standards than typical compounding pharmacies)
- Requires a real physician consultation — not just a quick online quiz
- Provides certificates of analysis from third-party testing
- Licensed in your state
Reputable telehealth platforms that use legitimate pharmacies:
- Hims & Hers — transparent about pharmacy sourcing
- Ro — uses 503B facilities
- Henry — physician-led, quality-focused
- LifeMD — established medical oversight
Red flags to avoid:
- No prescription required
- Extremely low prices ($100/month or less)
- Sold as a "peptide" or "research chemical"
- No physician follow-up
Bottom Line
Ask any provider: "Which 503B pharmacy do you use?" If they can't answer clearly, walk away.