A secret shopper study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that nearly 50 direct-to-consumer telehealth sites prescribe GLP-1 medications for weight loss. The research, conducted by one researcher at Yale University, documents online prescriptions by posing as a patient.
How easy is it to get GLP-1 medications online?
According to the study, obtaining a prescription for GLP-1 agonists via telehealth is “extraordinarily fast and easy.” The researcher posed as a patient to document the onboarding processes of various sites.
This surge in accessibility follows a demand for drugs like semaglutide and tirzepatide. Because of shortages, many of these telehealth sites promote compounded versions of these medications that aren’t approved by the Food and Drug Administration.
What are the risks of virtual-only GLP-1 prescriptions?
Clinicians and public health experts have raised concerns about the potential for lax virtual care practices to put patients at risk.
Comparing FDA-Approved vs. Compounded GLP-1s
| Feature | FDA-Approved (Brand Name) | Compounded GLP-1s |
|---|---|---|
| Regulatory Oversight | Approved by the Food and Drug Administration. | Not approved by the Food and Drug Administration. |
| Consistency | Standardized. | Not approved by the Food and Drug Administration. |
| Availability | Subject to shortages. | Often available during shortages. |
Why this matters for patient safety
The Yale study underscores the practices of nearly 50 telehealth sites that prescribe GLP-1 medications. As online prescribing has grown, clinicians and public health experts have raised concerns about the potential for lax virtual care practices to put patients at risk.
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