6 Safety Tips for Seeking GLP-1 Medications Through Telehealth

Telehealth has made it easier than ever to get a prescription for GLP-1s, but the convenience telehealth affords does not always come with adequate medical oversight you may need when deciding to take these drugs. GLP-1s (glucagon-like peptide-1s), such as Ozempic, Wegovy, and Zepbound, are effective medications for treating diabetes and losing weight. However, virtual care doesn’t always measure up: From prescriptions issued without proper evaluations to misleading claims about compounded drugs and medications arriving improperly refrigerated, patients face risks that aren’t always obvious when seeking treatment online. 

Taking steps to be safe with GLP-1s during the telehealth age is important. Below are six safety considerations you should keep in mind before starting GLP-1 treatment through a telehealth provider.

1. Ensure it includes a proper evaluation 

You should not take these drugs without proper guidance from a care professional. A legitimate telemedicine service will include a proper evaluation by a licensed clinician before your GLP-1 prescription is written. 

“So many people” can benefit from telemedicine, Emory University experimental psychologist researcher Elizabeth Krupenski told KFF Health News. However, she says, “it gives a black eye to telemedicine” that telehealth providers are writing prescriptions for people who should not take GLP-1s.

Endocrinologist Marc-Andre Cornier added concerns about improper evaluations, where baselines were not obtained. Before starting GLP-1 therapy, baseline screening with blood work might be beneficial to ensure GLP-1s are a good fit for you.

2. Look for a prescription requirement

Proper evaluations go hand in hand with prescription requirements. The telehealth service should not sell you medicine without requiring a legitimate order from a prescriber. The online vendor should not prioritize quick prescriptions over comprehensive oversight from your clinician either. This also applies to compounded versions of GLP-1.

CBS News found that there are online vendors for GLP-1s that not only have no prescription requirements, but also offer compounded versions of an investigational, unapproved GLP-1 called retatrutide. 

As of October 2026, popular GLP-1s approved in major international markets include:

• Mounjaro (tirzepatide)
• Ozempic (semaglutide)
• Rybelsus (semaglutide)
• Saxenda (liraglutide)
• Trulicity (dulaglutide)
• Victoza (liraglutide)
• Wegovy (semaglutide)
• Zepbound (tirzepatide)

If you see retatrutide marketed online, be wary.

3. Do not start without adequate dosage and administration directions

Before starting on a GLP-1, you should receive sufficient dosage and administration directions for appropriate use. If your telehealth provider and/or associated pharmacy skips this step, speak up!

Reports of GLP-1 medication errors drastically increased from 2,000 in 2020 to 25,000 in 2025. These errors, including inadequate communication and prescribing errors, involved both healthcare professionals and patients, leading to unwelcome side effects from an extra dose or incorrect doses. 

When helping my uncle with his injectable medication, I walked him through the package insert, which has step-by-step instructions with pictures. We also watched a video. I then used a demonstration pen to show him each step and had him repeat the steps back to me. We also pulled out his calendar so he can keep track of his weekly self-injections and determine when his next refill is due. We went over the different body regions he can inject and how not to inject in the exact same spot every week. I also ensured he understood how to properly store his medication before and during use, discussing proper disposal of one-time-use needles and pens with no more doses. 

Not everyone has the luxury of a pharmacist in the family or competent caregiver in the home to help with such things. If you have doubts, please discuss them with your care team. You can also Ask PharmacyChecker, and we will do our best to direct you to information relevant to your prescription. 

4. Do not negotiate on follow-up care

If you are taking a GLP-1, your telehealth provider should be providing active follow-up care to ensure the medication is working appropriately and helping you meet your goals. Follow-up care helps monitor for side effects and ensures you are pairing your medication with a healthy diet and exercise routine.

According to package inserts, GLP-1s are supposed to be used in combination with diet and physical activity. For examples, refer to the Mounjaro and Zepbound package inserts. 

The importance of exercising while on a GLP-1 cannot be overstated. Muscle loss is linked to GLP-1 use, and exercise is necessary to preserve muscle mass. Exercise also helps maintain your weight, as stopping GLP-1 use can lead to weight regain.

As you can see, a lot goes into sustainable, successful results from your GLP-1 therapy. So, it should be a red flag if the telehealth company does not provide follow-up care. 

5. Be wary of marketing claims – especially for compounded versions

Many telehealth companies are offering compounded versions of GLP-1s. However, they might be making false, misleading claims that their compounded versions are “the same as” the FDA-approved name brands in terms of safety, effectiveness, and clinical testing. 

Unlike FDA-approved medications, compounded drugs do not undergo FDA review for safety, effectiveness, or quality before being marketed. Although compounding pharmacies are subject to regulatory requirements, these differ from those that govern approved drug manufacturers. Similarly, in the European Union, qualifying pharmacy-compounded medications are exempt from the standard marketing authorization process, with regulatory requirements varying among member states.

While compounded products may have the same active ingredient as the approved drug, the amount may differ. Compounded versions may also use a salt derivative of the active ingredient. So, instead of semaglutide, the compounded medication contains semaglutide sodium or semaglutide acetate. These are chemically altered forms of the approved semaglutide used in Ozempic and Wegovy, which means these products might work or break down differently than approved name brands. 

With so much variability, telehealth companies cannot guarantee that their compounded GLP-1 is “the same” as the market-approved name brand.

6. Review shipping conditions

Before engaging with a telehealth provider for your GLP-1, review their packaging and shipping processes. Injectable GLP-1s require refrigeration. Concerningly, the FDA has received complaints that certain compounded GLP-1 drugs have arrived warm at patients’ homes.

If you rely on GLP-1s and other refrigerated products, you deserve confidence that your medication is properly handled and shipped from the pharmacy to your door.

If you choose to import your GLP-1, know that websites in the PharmacyChecker International Pharmacy Verification Program that sell injectable GLP-1s only work with dispensing partners that are cold-chain certified.

When you review our list of accredited online pharmacies, look for the Cold-Chain icon. 

PharmacyChecker’s Takeaways

As you search the internet for telemedicine providers and online vendors for GLP-1 access, there are ways to stay safe.

You can use PharmacyChecker resources to check that you are interacting with trusted telehealth providers and accredited online pharmacies. 

Before moving forward with telehealth services and online vendors, always involve your core care team to determine the next best steps for you and to help you safely take your medications.