Only a licensed clinician with prescribing authority, licensed in the state where you are located, can prescribe compounded semaglutide or tirzepatide, and only after reviewing your health. On VevaMD, that clinician is part of the Beluga Health network. VevaMD itself never writes prescriptions.
Here is what that means, what the clinician looks at, and why the review step is what separates real care from risky sellers.
What kind of clinician can prescribe a GLP-1?
In the US, prescriptions come from licensed clinicians with prescribing authority. Depending on the state, that can include physicians (MD or DO), nurse practitioners and physician assistants. Each state sets its own rules for who can prescribe what. A company, a website or a pharmacy cannot prescribe on its own. The decision belongs to an individual clinician who takes responsibility for it.
Two things must be true for a prescription to be valid:
- The clinician is licensed in the state where you are located when you get care.
- The clinician has reviewed your health information and decided the medicine is appropriate for you.
If you want the details on state licensing, read telehealth across states.
Who prescribes when I use VevaMD?
VevaMD is a technology and marketing company, not a medical provider. Licensed clinicians in the Beluga Health network (Beluga Health, P.A.) review each assessment. Your assessment goes to a clinician licensed in your state. They may follow up by message or video, and they make the final decision.
VevaMD does not examine patients, diagnose, or prescribe. We do not pressure clinicians to say yes. A prescription is never guaranteed. More on that split in is VevaMD a medical provider?
What does the clinician look at?
Your free online assessment asks about your health history, current medications, height and weight. The clinician uses that to check things like:
- Age and BMI. Adults 18 to 80 may be eligible. First-time GLP-1 patients generally need a BMI of 25 or higher. People already on a GLP-1 may continue if their BMI is above 20. Diabetes is not required.
- Reasons a GLP-1 may not fit. Pregnancy, breastfeeding or trying to conceive; a personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma or MEN 2; a history of pancreatitis; and other conditions they screen for.
- Other medications. Some combinations need extra care, such as insulin or sulfonylureas, which can raise the chance of low blood sugar.
If something in your answers needs a closer look, the clinician may message you or ask for a video visit before deciding. That is a normal part of careful care, not a sign of a problem.
Be honest and complete. The review only protects you if the clinician has the full picture.
Who decides between semaglutide and tirzepatide?
The clinician picks the medication and the dose. You are welcome to say which one you would prefer, and they will consider it alongside your health history. Both are usually injected once a week. For a side-by-side look, see can I choose semaglutide or tirzepatide?
Where does the prescription go?
If you are prescribed, the prescription goes to a licensed US pharmacy. The pharmacy prepares compounded semaglutide or compounded tirzepatide for you as an individual patient and ships it to your home. Compounding for a specific patient with a valid prescription is legal under federal law (section 503A of the FD&C Act).
Keep in mind that the FDA does not approve compounded drugs or review them before they are sold. Compounded versions are not Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro or Zepbound, and they are not generic versions of those brands. Read our compounded medications disclosure for the full picture.
Why is skipping the prescription a bad idea?
The FDA has warned consumers about GLP-1 products from unlicensed online sellers, including products labeled as not for human use. Those products skip the clinician and often skip the licensed pharmacy too. You have no way to know what is in the vial, and nobody is checking whether the medicine is right for your body.
A real prescription comes with real accountability. When your medication arrives from a licensed pharmacy, the label shows the pharmacy that dispensed it, your name, the prescriber, directions for use and a beyond-use date. If anything on the label is unclear, such as how many units to draw into the syringe, ask your clinician. Do not guess or convert doses yourself.
With a real prescription, your clinician also stays involved. They check in before refills and dose changes, and you can message them any time through your private My VevaMD page.
Next step
To find out whether a GLP-1 might fit you, take the free assessment. A licensed clinician in your state reviews it. Questions first? Call +1 (888) 275-1703 or email info@vevamd.com.
VevaMD is a technology platform, not a medical provider. Educational content only, not medical advice. All prescriptions are written by independent licensed clinicians. Individual results vary.