A physician-led consumer resource
The peptide provider checklist.
Ten questions to ask about medical screening, regulatory status, pharmacy licensing, product testing and follow-up before considering peptide therapy with any online provider.
Medically reviewed by Cory Mellon, MD
Chief Medical Officer · Last reviewed September 23, 2026
“Consumers should not have to become regulatory experts to determine whether an online peptide provider is offering real medical care. A legitimate clinical process begins with the patient—not the product.”
At a glance
The ten questions.
- 01Will a licensed clinician evaluate me?
- 02Will the clinician review my complete medical history?
- 03Will my medications and supplements be reviewed?
- 04Is the proposed use supported by appropriate evidence?
- 05Is the product’s regulatory status explained accurately?
- 06Is a prescription required?
- 07Who is dispensing the medication?
- 08What quality testing is performed?
- 09What monitoring and follow-up are provided?
- 10What would cause the clinician to decline or stop treatment?
Part one
The medical evaluation
- 1
Will a licensed clinician evaluate me?
A questionnaire or automated product recommendation should not be presented as a substitute for medical judgment. Consumers should understand who will review their information, where that clinician is licensed and whether they can speak directly with that clinician.
- 2
Will the clinician review my complete medical history?
A responsible evaluation should consider current and previous medical conditions, allergies, pregnancy status where applicable, prior procedures and other relevant risk factors.
- 3
Will my medications and supplements be reviewed?
Prescription medications, over-the-counter products, supplements and other therapies may affect whether a proposed treatment is appropriate. The provider should evaluate the complete picture rather than assess a peptide in isolation.
Part two
Evidence, regulation and prescribing
- 4
Is the proposed use supported by appropriate evidence?
The quality of evidence varies substantially among peptides and proposed uses. Consumers should be told whether the available evidence comes from laboratory research, animal studies, observational reports or controlled human trials—and what remains unknown.
- 5
Is the product’s regulatory status explained accurately?
“Compounded,” “under FDA consideration” and “FDA approved” do not mean the same thing. A provider should clearly distinguish among FDA-approved drugs, compounded medications and products sold only for research purposes.
Compounded medications are not FDA approved, and an advisory-committee recommendation does not constitute FDA approval or final agency action.
- 6
Is a prescription required?
When a substance is provided as part of medical treatment, consumers should understand whether a valid, patient-specific prescription is required and which licensed clinician is responsible for the prescribing decision.
Part three
The pharmacy and the product
- 7
Who is dispensing the medication?
The provider should identify, where permitted, the state-licensed pharmacy responsible for compounding and dispensing the prescription. Consumers should be able to verify the pharmacy’s license with the relevant state board of pharmacy.
A Section 503A compounding pharmacy should not be described as “FDA approved” or automatically characterized as “FDA registered.” Section 503A pharmacies are primarily overseen through state pharmacy licensing, while FDA registration applies differently to Section 503B outsourcing facilities and certain drug-manufacturing establishments.
- 8
What quality testing is performed?
Consumers should ask how the provider and pharmacy address identity, potency, sterility, endotoxins and other relevant quality measures. They should also ask whether batch or lot documentation, including a certificate of analysis (COA), can be reviewed.
The existence of a document labeled “COA” does not by itself demonstrate sterility, accurate potency or clinical suitability. Consumers should review which attributes were actually tested.
Part four
Ongoing care
- 9
What monitoring and follow-up are provided?
Medical care should not end when a product ships. Consumers should know when follow-up occurs, how treatment response is assessed, how potential adverse effects are reported and who can be contacted with an urgent concern.
- 10
What would cause the clinician to decline or stop treatment?
A responsible provider should be willing to determine that treatment is inappropriate. Consumers should understand the contraindications, warning signs, stopping criteria and circumstances that require in-person or emergency care.
Our answers
How PeRx answers these questions.
We think every provider should be able to answer these in writing. Here are ours.
- 01
Will a licensed clinician evaluate me?
A licensed U.S. clinician reviews your health questionnaire before every order. Most reviews happen asynchronously; the clinician can require a video visit before approving, and you can book a consultation from your dashboard.
- 02
Will the clinician review my complete medical history?
Before any prescription, you complete a medical questionnaire covering your conditions, medications, allergies, pregnancy or breastfeeding status, cancer history and recent surgeries, plus questions specific to each peptide.
- 03
Will my medications and supplements be reviewed?
The questionnaire asks about prescription medications and any other peptides or hormone therapies you use, and our consent asks you to disclose herbs, vitamins and supplements as well.
- 04
Is the proposed use supported by appropriate evidence?
Each product page links to published research, and we say plainly when evidence is limited or comes mostly from animal studies.
- 05
Is the product’s regulatory status explained accurately?
Compounded medications, including those we dispense, are not FDA approved and have not been reviewed by the FDA for safety, effectiveness or quality.
- 06
Is a prescription required?
Yes. Every order requires an individual prescription from a licensed clinician, who reviews your health information first and is responsible for the treatment decision.
- 07
Who is dispensing the medication?
Prescriptions are compounded and dispensed by state-licensed U.S. 503A compounding pharmacies.
- 08
What quality testing is performed?
For batch-level test results, call the number printed on your vial.
- 09
What monitoring and follow-up are provided?
Before each refill, you complete a check-in covering side effects, new medications and new conditions, and a clinician reviews it before prescribing again. For questions or side effects, email support@perxpeptides.com or reply to our texts. For emergencies, call 911.
- 10
What would cause the clinician to decline or stop treatment?
Your clinician can approve, decline or approve only some of your requested items, or require a video visit first. If an item is not approved, you are not charged for it, and you can see the clinician’s notes in your dashboard.
Words that sound alike
Four terms that do not mean the same thing.
- FDA approved
- A drug the FDA has reviewed and approved for specific uses, based on evidence of safety and effectiveness.
- Compounded
- Prepared by a licensed pharmacy for an individual patient under a prescription. Compounded medications are not FDA approved.
- Advisory-committee recommendation
- Advice to the FDA from an outside expert panel. It is not FDA approval, and it is not final agency action.
- “Research use only”
- Products labeled as not intended for human use. They are not a substitute for a prescription from a licensed clinician.
Why now
Interest is growing. The models are not the same.
Interest in injectable peptides has grown rapidly, driven by social media, wellness communities and online sellers. Consumers now encounter substantially different models: physician-supervised telehealth programs, licensed compounding pharmacies and websites selling substances labeled for “research use only.” The differences are not always obvious from a homepage, product description or social media advertisement.
The regulatory backdrop
An advisory vote is not an approval.
At its July 23–24, 2026 meeting, the FDA’s Pharmacy Compounding Advisory Committee voted to recommend BPC-157, KPV, TB-500, MOTS-c, Semax and Epitalon for inclusion on the Section 503A Bulks List, and voted against recommending Emideltide (DSIP). Committee recommendations are advisory. They do not make a substance FDA approved, establish that a treatment is safe or effective for every promoted use, or constitute final FDA action.
Read the FDA review timeline
“Peptide therapy should not be a celebrity luxury or a one-click purchase. It should be a clinical decision grounded in a patient’s individual needs, realistic expectations and ongoing physician oversight.”
How to use this checklist
PeRx developed this checklist as an educational resource for anyone considering peptide therapy, regardless of which provider they ultimately choose. It is not intended to diagnose a condition, recommend a particular treatment or replace an individual consultation with a qualified healthcare professional. If you have an urgent medical concern, contact your clinician or call 911.
Compounded drugs are not FDA approved. Recommendations from an FDA advisory committee are advisory and do not constitute FDA approval or final agency action.