How to tell if an online GLP-1 provider is legitimate

A legitimate online GLP-1 provider has a licensed provider review your health history before anything is prescribed, sends your prescription to a state-licensed pharmacy, holds certification you can verify yourself, and publishes its prices, renewal terms and refund policy before you pay. The clearest red flag is medication sold without a prescription, especially vials labeled "research use only" or "not for human consumption".

What should a legitimate online GLP-1 provider have?

1. A licensed provider who reviews your health history. The provider should be licensed in your state and decide whether treatment is appropriate based on your intake. Some states also require a short video visit.
2. A prescription. GLP-1 medications require one. A site that sells semaglutide or tirzepatide without a prescription is not a telehealth provider.
3. A state-licensed pharmacy. Compounded medication should come from a state-licensed compounding pharmacy that prepares it for you, based on your prescription. Brand-name medication should come through the manufacturer's pharmacy channel or another licensed pharmacy.
4. Certification you can verify. LegitScript certifies telehealth companies and online pharmacies after reviewing their licensing and legal compliance. Look the company up on LegitScript's site rather than trusting a badge image.
5. Prices and terms in writing. You should see the total you'll pay, what the plan renews at and when, how to cancel, and what happens if the provider doesn't prescribe, all before checkout.
6. Accurate claims about compounded medication. Compounded medications are not FDA-approved, and a legitimate provider says so. They are not generic versions of Wegovy, Ozempic or Zepbound.
7. A real company and a way to reach your care team. Look for the company's legal name, a support contact, terms of service and a privacy policy.

What are the red flags?

• "Research use only" or "not for human consumption". The FDA has issued warning letters to sellers of semaglutide and tirzepatide labeled this way.
• No prescription and no provider review. If no one asks about your health history, no one is deciding whether treatment is safe for you.
• "Generic Ozempic", "same as Wegovy" or "FDA-approved compounded semaglutide". None of these describe a compounded medication accurately.
• Guaranteed results. Results vary, and no provider can promise a specific outcome.
• Prices without totals or terms. An advertised monthly price that hides a membership fee, a higher dose price or the renewal price makes comparison impossible.
• No named pharmacy. A legitimate provider can tell you what kind of pharmacy fills your prescription and that it's licensed in your state.

How do you verify a company yourself?

1. Search LegitScript. Enter the company's website on LegitScript's certification lookup and confirm the result matches the site you're on.
2. Check the pharmacy's license. Ask which pharmacy fills your prescription, then look it up on your state board of pharmacy's website. The FDA's BeSafeRx page and NABP's Safe.Pharmacy explain what to look for.
3. Read the terms before you pay. The renewal price, the cancellation process and the refund policy should be easy to find.
4. Read the FDA's guidance. The FDA's page on unapproved GLP-1 drugs lists what it has seen go wrong and how to protect yourself.

How does Forva check out against this list?

• Certification: Forva Health is LegitScript certified. You can verify it on LegitScript.
• Providers: care comes from independent licensed providers, with providers licensed in all 50 states. The medical team page names the medical director.
• Pharmacies: if a provider prescribes compounded medication, a state-licensed U.S. pharmacy prepares it for you.
• Prices and terms: every plan, the total charged at checkout, and the renewal and cancellation terms are on the compounded semaglutide and compounded tirzepatide pages.
• If you're not prescribed: no medication is sent and you're refunded in full.
• Contact: support@forvahealth.com. The About page has the company details.

Is compounded GLP-1 medication FDA-approved?

No. Compounded medications are not FDA-approved. The FDA does not review compounded drugs for safety, effectiveness, or quality before they are marketed. A state-licensed 503A pharmacy prepares them for an individual patient when a licensed provider decides they are appropriate. Clinical trial results for a brand-name medication describe that medication, not a compounded one.

GLP-1 medications can cause side effects, most commonly nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and constipation, and carry serious risks. Labeling for FDA-approved semaglutide and tirzepatide products includes a boxed warning about thyroid C-cell tumors. Your provider reviews these risks before prescribing.

Wegovy and Ozempic are registered trademarks of Novo Nordisk A/S. Zepbound is a registered trademark of Eli Lilly and Company. Forva Health is not affiliated with or endorsed by Novo Nordisk or Eli Lilly.

This article is for general information and is not medical advice. Eligibility and treatment decisions are made by a licensed provider.