When something goes wrong
What risks deserve your attention first?
Start with the route into the body, the product source and the plan for help if something goes wrong.
The route matters
Why does an injection need extra care?
FDA warning letters say injections may cause serious harm because they pass by parts of the body’s protection from germs and toxins.
Poor compounding can leave a medicine contaminated or with too much or too little active ingredient.
This is why the pharmacy, sterile-compounding licence and clear instructions matter more than a polished box.
The product
Can the label itself be false?
The FDA has found fraudulent labels for compounded semaglutide and tirzepatide, medicines used for weight or diabetes. The labels named pharmacies that did not exist or did not make the product.
Counterfeit medicine can contain the wrong ingredient, too much, too little or no active ingredient, and fake needles have also appeared in the US supply chain.
Urgent help
What signs cannot wait?
Severe allergic reactions may start in seconds or minutes and can be life-threatening; call 911 when symptoms are severe.
Sepsis is the body’s extreme response to infection and is a life-threatening medical emergency.
For a problem that is not an emergency, contact the treating clinician and the pharmacy named on the label.
Patients can report a medicine problem directly to the FDA through MedWatch.
Brief source note
The signs above are general, not a personal answer about your health. Open the official pages below for more detail.
What belongs in a care plan?
A named contact, a clear route for urgent problems, product-specific storage instructions and a follow-up date.