Which offers need a closer look?

An offer without a prescription

Federal law requires a valid prescription for a prescription drug, as of September 2026.

The FDA, or Food and Drug Administration, warns about websites that offer a prescription drug without asking for a prescription.

Pause an offer that skips the prescription. Ask who is doing the assessment.

A custom drug called approved

A drug prepared by compounding is made to order. In September 2026, describing it as FDA-approved was untrue.

In September 2026, FDA also called it misleading to present a custom preparation as identical to a product with approval.

A research label beside human-use claims

FDA warning letters reviewed in September 2026 described sellers using “research only” labels despite website content showing that the products were intended for people to take.

FDA’s allegations in the letters concern named businesses; the letters themselves carry no court ruling.

A “research only” label is not proof of a treatment’s approval, as of September 2026.

Illinois has cautioned about misleading weight ads

The Illinois Attorney General’s January 2025 alert flagged research-only weight products and requests to misstate your weight.

The alert describes shortages in January 2025. Its older supply details cannot establish whether the drug is scarce today.

For a claim about a shortage, check the FDA’s dated national list and ask the pharmacy about supply.

A seal or a low price is not a full check

Health websites can fake both a seal that looks official and a promise to return your money, according to the Federal Trade Commission.

FDA lists deeply discounted offers as a reason to pause, but a low price alone does not prove fraud.

Ask for the clinician and pharmacy names. Check the licence record and the exact medicine.