General Pharmaceutical Council

Short answer — don’t rely on the pharmacy’s word alone. Verify it with official regulators and independent certifiers before buying a prescription drug like Ozempic (semaglutide). Steps, services to use, and red flags are below. 1) Check official licensing If you’re in the U.S.: find the pharmacy’s license on the state Board of Pharmacy website for the state listed on the pharmacy’s site. You can also use the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP) resources (NABP: https://nabp.pharmacy/). NABP’s VIPPS/Verified pharmacy program list is a trusted source of certified online pharmacies. If you’re outside the U.S.: check the national or provincial regulator (e.g., UK: General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC); Canada: provincial college of pharmacists). Many countries publish a searchable register. 2) Verify third‑party seals (but confirm them) LegitScript: https://www.legitscript.com/ — they certify legitimate online pharmacies and telehealth vendors. PharmacyChecker: https://www.pharmacychecker.com/ — compares international online pharmacies and verifies credentials. NABP VIPPS/Verified: https://nabp.pharmacy/programs/vipps/ — click any seal on the pharmacy’s site to make sure the seal link goes to the certifier’s site (don’t trust a static image). 3) Use FDA / consumer safety guidance FDA BeSafeRx: “Buying Medicine Online” guidance and tips: https://www.fda.gov/drugs/buying-medicine-online FDA warnings: the FDA has many alerts about counterfeit semaglutide and illegal online sellers. 4) Practical verification checklist (do these) Confirm the pharmacy asks for a valid prescription from a U.S. (or your country’s) licensed prescriber. Find a physical address, U.S. phone number, and a named licensed pharmacist; call the number to confirm it’s real. Look up the pharmacy’s license number on the state/provincial board website. Click any “certification” seals to confirm they go to the certifier’s site. Verify the domain and WHOIS info if unfamiliar; be wary of recently registered domains. If price is drastically lower than usual or no prescription is required: red flag. 5) Red flags (stop and don’t buy) No prescription required. Only accepts cryptocurrency or wire transfers. Site ships from overseas but claims to be “U.S.” licensed. No pharmacist contact, no physical address, or bad customer reviews describing counterfeit or ineffective drug. Unsolicited emails offering Ozempic at huge discounts. 6) Safer alternatives / trusted places to get Ozempic Your local or hospital outpatient pharmacy, or major national chains (CVS, Walgreens, Walmart) — they’re licensed and can advise on storage/handling. Manufacturer resources: Novo Nordisk patient support (NovoCare) for product information and assistance. Certified telehealth/weight‑loss clinics that explicitly show licensing and prescription processes; before using one, verify its license via LegitScript or state board. Services such as GoodRx Care, Ro, and Hims/Hers offer telehealth for weight/diabetes care in many states, but you should still verify credentials and pharmacy sources. 7) If you still aren’t sure Contact your state Board of Pharmacy and give them the pharmacy name/URL — they can tell you if it’s licensed or reported. Report suspicious sellers to the FDA (MedWatch) and NABP. If you tell me which country and state/province you’re in or give the pharmacy’s name/URL, I can look up the regulator and walk you through verifying the license.

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