Before starting
Know what to ask before starting.
Bring the exact medicine name to the conversation. Ask which problems to watch for, who will answer questions and when to seek help.
For a severe allergic reaction, seek emergency help
A severe allergic reaction may threaten life within a very short time.
For severe symptoms, including breathing difficulty or tongue swelling, get help right away by dialing 911 or heading directly to the nearest emergency room.
Ask about risks, preparation and storage
A shot can leave a sore, red or itchy spot; how often this happens depends on the exact medicine.
Ask what has been established for this particular product, what remains uncertain and which details in your case could affect the choice.
Bring your medicine list, allergies and questions about pregnancy or breastfeeding to the person deciding on your treatment. Ask for an answer you can understand before moving on.
For a medicine made to order, ask how it is prepared
Mistakes while preparing a medicine to order can add unwanted material or leave the wrong amount of active ingredient. That ingredient makes the medicine work; the amount may be too high or too low.
Minnesota Care Briefings uses FDA as shorthand for the federal drug agency called Food and Drug Administration. A medicine made to order is called a compounded medicine.
FDA has received reports of people harmed after possible mistakes in measuring compounded semaglutide for injection; some needed hospital care.
The reports include patients measuring the wrong amount for their own shots and health professionals calculating the wrong amount.
Ask the pharmacist filling your prescription to check the prescription and label together if any directions are unclear.
Get storage instructions for that product
Storage rules vary by medicine: some peptide products must be stored cold, while others do not need that.
GLP-1 medicines imitate a hormone with a role in both blood sugar and appetite.
For injectable GLP-1 medicines needing refrigeration, FDA advises against using a delivery that arrives warm or without enough cooling.
If a delivery fails to meet its storage instructions, ask the pharmacy how to respond.
A problem can be reported
FDA’s free MedWatch service lets patients report problems with medicines.
A report describes an event but cannot, by itself, show that the medicine caused it.
Keep the packaging and a plain account of what happened for the care team and any report.
Safety facts were checked September 17, 2026; the drug terms and semaglutide measuring-error alert reflect September 26, 2026.