Fake and unapproved GLP-1 products

What FDA warns about

• FDA says unapproved versions of semaglutide and tirzepatide skip its review for safety, effectiveness and quality.FDA is aware that some patients and health care professionals may look to unapproved versions of GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists) drugs, including semaglutide and tirzepatide, as an option for weight loss. This can be risky for patients, as unapproved versions do not undergo FDA’s review for safety, effectiveness and quality before they are marketed.fda.gov, Sep 30, 2026(page dated Sep 1, 2026)
• FDA knows of counterfeit Ozempic sold in the U.S. Counterfeits may hold the wrong ingredient, the wrong amount, or none at all.FDA is aware of counterfeit Ozempic marketed in the U.S. Counterfeit drugs claim to be authentic, but could contain the wrong ingredients, contain too little, too much or no active ingredient at all or other harmful ingredients, and are illegal.fda.gov, Sep 30, 2026(page dated Sep 1, 2026)
• In December 2025, FDA seized counterfeit Ozempic 1 mg that had reached the legitimate U.S. supply chain.[12/5/2025] FDA recently seized dozens of units of counterfeit Ozempic (semaglutide) injection 1 mg that were distributed illegally outside of Novo Nordisk's authorized supply chain. The seized counterfeit products were in the legitimate U.S. drug supply chain.fda.gov, Sep 30, 2026(page dated Dec 5, 2025)
• In April 2025, Novo Nordisk told FDA that several hundred counterfeit Ozempic 1 mg units were in the U.S. supply chain.[4/14/2025] FDA was notified by Novo Nordisk on April 3, 2025, that several hundred units of counterfeit Ozempic (semaglutide) injection 1mg were in the U.S. drug supply chain.fda.gov, Sep 30, 2026(page dated Apr 14, 2025)
• In December 2023, FDA said it had seized thousands of counterfeit Ozempic 1 mg units.[12/21/2023] FDA continues to investigate counterfeit Ozempic (semaglutide) injection 1 milligram (mg) in the legitimate U.S. drug supply chain and has seized thousands of units of the product.fda.gov, Sep 30, 2026(page dated Dec 21, 2023)
• FDA knows of fraudulent compounded semaglutide and tirzepatide with false information on the label.FDA is aware of fraudulent compounded semaglutide and tirzepatide marketed in the U.S. that contain false information on the product label.fda.gov, Sep 30, 2026(page dated Sep 1, 2026)
• Salt forms such as semaglutide sodium and semaglutide acetate are different active ingredients from the ones in approved drugs.These salt forms, including semaglutide sodium and semaglutide acetate, are different active ingredients than are used in the approved drugs.fda.gov, Sep 30, 2026(page dated Sep 1, 2026)
• As of May 31, 2026, FDA had received 990 adverse event reports tied to compounded semaglutide and more than 730 tied to compounded tirzepatide.As of May 31, 2026, the FDA has received: 990 reports of adverse events associated with compounded semaglutide. more than 730 reports of adverse events associated with compounded tirzepatide.fda.gov, Sep 30, 2026(page dated May 31, 2026)

Red flags FDA lists

FDA's page on unapproved GLP-1s lists signs that a seller may not be legitimate. Three of them:

• Prices that seem too good to be true.offers medicine at deep discounts or prices that seem too good to be truefda.gov, Sep 30, 2026(page dated Sep 1, 2026)
• Medicine that looks different from before, or arrives damaged or without instructions.sends medicine that looks different than what you’ve previously received at your local pharmacy or was pictured on their website, or arrives in packaging that is broken or damaged or lacks instructions for usefda.gov, Sep 30, 2026(page dated Sep 1, 2026)
• No screening and no prescription from a licensed doctor.does not require a screening and prescription by a licensed doctor before providing medicinefda.gov, Sep 30, 2026(page dated Sep 1, 2026)

“Research use only” peptides

• FDA has warned companies selling semaglutide, tirzepatide, retatrutide, survodutide or mazdutide labeled “for research purposes” or “not for human consumption,” and urges people not to buy them.FDA has warned companies that have illegally sold unapproved drugs containing semaglutide, tirzepatide, retatrutide, survodutide or mazdutide that are falsely labeled “for research purposes” or “not for human consumption.” These products have been sold directly to consumers for human use with dosing instructions. The agency urges consumers not to purchase these products which are of unknown quality and may be harmful to their health.fda.gov, Sep 30, 2026(page dated Sep 1, 2026)
• Retatrutide and cagrilintide cannot be used in compounding under federal law and are not in any FDA-approved drug.Retatrutide and cagrilintide cannot be used in compounding under federal law. Additionally, these are not components of FDA-approved drugs and have not been found safe and effective for any condition.fda.gov, Sep 30, 2026(page dated Sep 1, 2026)
• In a 2025 warning letter, FDA said labels like “research use only” did not stop a seller's products from being drugs meant for people.Despite statements on your product labeling and website such as “research use only,” “not for human consumption,” “lab purposes only,” and “not intended to diagnose, cure, mitigate, treat or prevent disease,” evidence obtained from your website establishes that certain products offered for sale by www.usapeptide.com are drugs intended for human use.fda.gov, Sep 30, 2026(page dated Feb 26, 2025)

Drops, patches, sprays and supplements

• FDA sends online advisory letters to companies whose products make serious disease claims, and lists the ones that did not fix them within 30 days.The letters state companies have 30 days to comply with FDA’s request to correct the violations and remove promotional information related to serious disease claims. Companies who fail to comply within 30 days are listed below.fda.gov, Sep 30, 2026(page dated Jun 30, 2026)
• That list includes “GLP-1” branded drops, oral liquids, a gel, microneedle patches and a nasal spray.“Ourlyard GLP-1 Six-in-One Health Solution Oral Liquid,” “CroAie GLP-1 & NAD+ Slimming Support Drops,” “Croaie GLP-1 weight loss oral solution,” “Croaie GLP-1 20-in-1 Slim & Healthy Oral Solution,” “Croaie GLP-1 & Matrixyl 3000 Sliming & Health Drops,” “Croaie GLP-1 Weight Loss Liquid Gel,” “Croaie Nano Microneedle Patch with SMGT-GLP-1,” “Croaie Moringa GLP-1 NeuroSlim Nasal Spray,” “Lercea Nano Microneedle Patch,” and “Croaie GLP-1 Liquid Drops”fda.gov, Sep 30, 2026(page dated Mar 31, 2026)
• It also includes “GLPro” blood sugar support products.GLPro+ Blood Sugar Support and GLPro Blood Sugar Support productsfda.gov, Sep 30, 2026(page dated May 1, 2026)

Not found on an official page: A general FDA statement about GLP-1 gummies or dietary supplements.

Compounded is not generic

• Compounded drugs are not FDA approved, so FDA does not review them for safety, effectiveness or quality before they are sold.However, compounded drugs are not FDA approved. This means the agency does not review compounded drugs for safety, effectiveness or quality before they are marketed.fda.gov, Sep 30, 2026(page dated Sep 1, 2026)
• Compounded drugs are not the same as generic drugs, which are FDA-approved.Compounded drugs are not FDA-approved. This means the agency does not review their safety, effectiveness or quality before they are marketed. Compounded drugs are also not the same as generic drugs, which are FDA-approved.fda.gov, Sep 30, 2026(page dated Mar 3, 2026)
• Companies may not call compounded GLP-1s generic versions of, or the same as, FDA-approved drugs.In promotional materials, companies cannot claim that non-FDA-approved compounded products are generic versions or the same as drugs approved by FDA.fda.gov, Sep 30, 2026(page dated Feb 6, 2026)
• On March 3, 2026, FDA sent warning letters to 30 telehealth companies over false or misleading claims about compounded GLP-1s.The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today announced the issuance of 30 warning letters to telehealth companies for making false or misleading claims regarding compounded GLP-1 products offered on their websites.fda.gov, Sep 30, 2026(page dated Mar 3, 2026)
• In September 2025, FDA started a “green list” import alert to stop GLP-1 ingredients from unverified foreign sources.The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today established a “green list” import alert to help stop potentially dangerous GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) from unverified foreign sources from entering the U.S. market.fda.gov, Sep 30, 2026(page dated Sep 5, 2025)

Where FDA says to buy

• Buy only from state-licensed pharmacies.The agency urges consumers to be vigilant when purchasing drugs online and only purchase from state-licensed pharmacies.fda.gov, Sep 30, 2026(page dated Sep 1, 2026)
• Get a prescription from your doctor and fill it at a state-licensed pharmacy.Patients should obtain a prescription from their doctor and fill the prescription at a state-licensed pharmacy.fda.gov, Sep 30, 2026(page dated Sep 1, 2026)
• For Ozempic, check the product for signs of counterfeiting before you use it.Patients should only obtain Ozempic with a valid prescription through state-licensed pharmacies and check the product before using for any signs of counterfeiting.fda.gov, Sep 30, 2026(page dated Dec 5, 2025)
• Drugs sold outside those safeguards may be contaminated, counterfeit, or hold the wrong amount or a different ingredient.Drugs that have circumvented regulatory safeguards may be contaminated, counterfeit, contain varying amounts of active ingredients, or contain different ingredients altogether.fda.gov, Sep 30, 2026(page dated Feb 26, 2025)