What deserves a pause before paying?

Is a badge enough?

The Federal Trade Commission says health sales pages can fake official-looking seals, endorsements and money-back guarantees.

Ask for the underlying record. A badge is a reason to check who issued it and what it covers, rather than the end of the check.

What if no prescription is needed?

Under federal law on September 26, 2026, a pharmacy needed a valid prescription before it could supply prescription medicine.

Ask who will assess you and who would write any prescription. A product checkout does not explain the care being offered.

What if a medicine made for a patient is called approved?

For this guide, we shorten US Food and Drug Administration to FDA.

As of September 26, 2026, FDA guidance treated claims of FDA approval for compounded drugs as false or misleading.

“Compounded” means custom-made or changed by a pharmacist or doctor. Ask what exact product the approval claim refers to, then check the answer against the FDA source.

Does a research label protect me?

The FDA letters reviewed as of September 26, 2026 warned sellers that injected products bypass some of the body’s defences and can cause serious harm.

Do not use a research label as a care plan.

Bring the product name to a clinician and ask about the assessment and evidence before deciding on treatment.

What can I ask about unwanted effects?

Ask the clinician which unwanted effects matter for the exact product, whom to contact if they occur and what would need urgent help. Ask for written information you can keep.

When signs of a severe allergic reaction appear, including a swollen tongue or trouble breathing, MedlinePlus advises going to the nearest emergency room.

Patients can also report medicine problems through FDA’s MedWatch programme.

Which readings help me check a claim?

• FDA: considering an online pharmacy

  Compare the named pharmacy and the ability to speak with a pharmacist. Appearance alone cannot settle the check.

• FDA: claims about compounded drugs

  Helps you question a claim that a medicine made for a patient has the same FDA approval as a ready-made medicine. Ask which exact medicine the claim is about.

• MedlinePlus: severe allergic reactions

  Explains the emergency signs behind the urgent-help advice above.