Educational purpose
This website provides general education. Medical decisions require guidance from a licensed healthcare professional who knows the patient. Results vary, and no outcome is guaranteed.
This page cannot list every warning, contraindication, interaction, or adverse effect. Follow the prescription label, the Medication Guide when provided, and instructions from the prescriber and dispensing pharmacy.
Prescription medicines
A licensed prescriber determines whether a medicine is appropriate after reviewing the patient’s health history and clinical needs. Access depends on clinical review and lawful dispensing. Use only the prescription issued to you, and seek professional guidance before changing a dose.
Tell your prescriber and pharmacist about all prescription medicines, over-the-counter products, vitamins, supplements, allergies, pregnancy or breastfeeding status, and relevant health conditions.
Compounded preparations
Compounded drugs are not FDA-approved. The FDA does not review them for safety, effectiveness, or quality before marketing. Under section 503A, qualifying traditional pharmacy compounding is based on a valid prescription for an identified patient.
A prescriber may consider a compounded preparation when an FDA-approved medicine cannot meet a patient’s clinical need. Compounded drugs are distinct from FDA-approved products and their generic equivalents.
Learn more through the FDA’s compounding questions and answers and its guidance on the risks of compounded drugs.
Use and storage
- Use the medicine only for the patient named on the label.
- Follow the prescribed directions exactly.
- Read the label before each dose and call the pharmacy with questions.
- Follow the storage instructions on the dispensed product.
- Keep medicines secure and out of reach of children and pets.
- Discard medicine that is expired, damaged, contaminated, or stored incorrectly.
- Ask the pharmacy how to dispose of unused medicine and sharps.
Side effects and adverse events
Contact the prescriber or pharmacy about side effects, missed doses, administration problems, or unexpected changes. Seek emergency care immediately for severe symptoms, including trouble breathing, facial or throat swelling, chest pain, fainting, severe confusion, or signs of anaphylaxis.
Patients and healthcare professionals may report serious problems to the FDA through MedWatch.
Brand names and trademarks
Ozempic® and Wegovy® are trademarks of Novo Nordisk A/S. Mounjaro® and Zepbound® are trademarks of Eli Lilly and Company. These references are educational. They indicate no affiliation, sponsorship, ownership, substitution, or equivalence.