If this is where you are…
If you want a quick answer before opening another chapter, find the question closest to yours. Keep the product name beside the answer.
Is this a real kind of medicine?
Yes, some peptides are approved medicines. Tirzepatide products Mounjaro and Zepbound, plus semaglutide products Ozempic and Wegovy, hold U.S. approval as of September 2026.[a]
The label “peptide” establishes neither approval nor permission to supply another product.[b]
Does a research label make human treatment allowed?
No: a research-only label does not give permission to sell a product for treatment.[c]
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said in letters checked in September 2026 that sellers broke drug law by offering unapproved products for people to use, despite research-only labels.[c]
Those letters are the agency’s accusations against particular sellers, not final decisions by a court.[c]
Does Colorado allow the first visit to be online?
Yes, Colorado medical-board guidance allows a first visit online if the care meets the same medical standards as a room visit, as of September 2026.[d]
That guidance does not accept an online form by itself as the basis for a medicine order.[d]
Are blood tests always required?
Blood tests are not required for every prescription by any general federal rule, as of September 2026.[e]
A particular medicine’s rules, state rules, or the need to understand your health can still call for tests.[e]
Ask the person treating you whether you need tests and what each test would tell them.
Is compounded medicine the same as a generic?
No: a compounded preparation is made to order, without FDA approval, as of September 2026.[b]
A generic is an approved medicine that copies a brand medicine. In September 2026, no generic semaglutide or tirzepatide could legally be sold in the U.S.[a]
Which treatment fits my goal?
Bring your goal to the person treating you and ask about the medicine, the research, other choices, and the cost. Keep asking until you can explain the proposed plan in your own words.