Ask for the full product name
Write down the medicine name and its form, such as a tablet or injection. Ask whether the plan uses an approved product or a drug made to order. “The same ingredient” leaves that question open.
Making or mixing medicine to order is a process called compounding. As of September 2026, these drugs are not approved by FDA, the Food and Drug Administration. Patients receive these drugs without FDA first checking their safety, quality, or how well they work.
A custom medicine may meet a need left unmet by approved options, such as leaving out a dye that would trigger a patient’s allergy.
- NameWhat is it?
- StatusIs this exact product approved?
- ReasonWhy this version for me?
Why do old shortage claims matter?
As of September 2026, semaglutide and tirzepatide injections have been removed from FDA’s national shortage list. A drug missing from one pharmacy’s shelves is not enough to put it on FDA’s national shortage list.
During a national shortage, special rules had let pharmacies prepare copies. Once the shortages and the extra time FDA allowed had ended, pharmacies could no longer use those rules to make copies. Federal law still limits how often pharmacies may make copies of medicines that are available.
The rule on copies allows an exception when a change makes a major difference to your own care. The person writing your prescription must decide whether the change meets that test. Lower cost alone does not meet that test.
Ask what would be changed and how that change would help your care.
As of September 2026, Illinois also requires the person writing your prescription to request a made-to-order version of a ready-made drug. Getting the ready-made drug from normal suppliers in time for your care must not be a reasonable option.
Why do I personally need this medicine made to order?
Ask the person writing your prescription to explain the reason and the current rules. Ask which suppliers were checked and how long getting the ready-made drug would take. Ask why that wait would not meet your care needs. A discount does not answer the medical question.
What about a newer research name?
Federal law bars making retatrutide or cagrilintide to order, according to FDA as of September 2026. Neither is an ingredient in an FDA-approved medicine.
BPC-157 also has no FDA-approved US product as of September 2026. Looking up approval cannot settle whether the law lets a pharmacy make BPC-157 to order.
This page does not establish that BPC-157 can legally be offered to you.
Ask the person writing your prescription which rule would allow it and why that rule applies to your care.
Keep this in mind
Approval, the reason for a custom version, and the current compounding rules are separate checks. Ask for each answer in plain words.
Notes for this chapter
- FDA: making medicines to order
When an approved medicine may not meet a patient’s need.
- FDA: shortages and copy rules
The end of the injection shortages and the copying limits.
- Illinois: making a version of a ready-made drug
When the usual suppliers cannot provide it in time and who must request the change.
- FDA: newer weight products
What federal rules say about retatrutide and cagrilintide.
- FDA: medicine approval records
The approval search behind the named medicine examples.