check / made to order

Why this made-to-order medicine?

Ask what need requires your medicine to be prepared to order. Find out how it would meet your health needs, as well as what it would cost.

Understand what compounding changes.

To compound a medicine, a pharmacist, doctor or registered facility prepares it to order.a

As of September 2026, these preparations are not FDA-approved, even when made by a well-run pharmacy.a

As of September 2026, FDA describes compounding as an option when approved medicine cannot meet a need or is unavailable.a

Ask the clinician to describe your particular need and the other options they considered.

Ask about the current reason for making a copy.

As of September 2026, regular pharmacies cannot routinely copy a ready-made medicine that is available to buy.

An exception applies if the prescribing health professional finds that the change makes an important difference for that patient.b

For example, FDA describes removing a dye a patient is allergic to as a reason to make a medicine to order.a

Ask what change matters for your health, and how the copy rule applies to your prescription.

A price saving by itself cannot qualify for that exception.

FDA's nationwide shortage list includes neither semaglutide shots nor tirzepatide shots, as of September 2026.b

A pharmacy being out of stock locally is different from a national shortage listing.b

Adding a vitamin to a similar semaglutide shot may still amount to a copy of the ready-made medicine, as of September 2026.

The clinician must decide and document why the change makes an important difference for you.b

Ask who prepares it and check that name.

With online care, patients may lack the name of whoever made their compounded medicine, FDA says.a

FDA has a page linking to state pharmacy licence searches.c

As of September 2026, a place making batches of medicines can choose to join FDA's list of registered outsourcing facilities.d

That registration is not FDA approval of its medicines.

As of September 2026, registered outsourcing facilities must follow federal manufacturing quality rules and are inspected by FDA.e

Record the maker, the medicine's name and the clinician's reason for choosing it. Ask about storage and written instructions too.