A first visit about peptide therapy is a chance for a provider to learn about you, and for you to learn about the provider. Going in prepared helps you get clear answers and make a calm decision. This guide covers what to bring, what Florida law says about video visits, what usually happens and what to ask.
Before the visit
Get clear on your goal
Write down, in a sentence or two, what you hope to change and why. A clear goal helps the provider tell you whether a peptide makes sense at all, or whether another approach fits better. Our goal pages, such as weight loss and injury recovery, can help you frame it.
Gather your information
- A list of all medicines
- Vitamins, supplements and over-the-counter products
- Any peptides you have tried, including products bought online
- Allergies, health conditions and past surgeries
- Family health history, if you know it
- Recent lab results, if you have them
- Your insurance card and your written questions
Be honest about research-labeled products. FDA has called several peptides sold “for research use only” unapproved new drugs, and your provider needs to know what you have used.1
Check the clinic first
Look up the prescriber’s license, and the pharmacy’s, in the Florida Department of Health’s MQA Search Services portal. It also shows discipline records.2 Our guide on how to vet a peptide clinic has a full checklist.
Video or in person: what Florida law says
Many first visits happen by video. Under Florida’s telehealth law:3
- Telehealth providers must meet the same standard of care as an in-person visit.
- If a video evaluation is enough to diagnose and treat you, the provider does not have to do an in-person physical exam first.
- E-mail and fax alone do not count as telehealth.
- The provider must hold a Florida license or certification, a license under a multistate compact Florida belongs to, or a Florida out-of-state telehealth registration.
- Registered out-of-state providers may not see you in person in Florida, and their websites must link to the state’s registry.
What usually happens during the visit
Every clinic works differently, but a careful first visit often includes:
- Health history. Your conditions, medicines, lifestyle and past treatments.
- Your goals. What you want, what you have tried and what you expect.
- Basic checks. Weight and blood pressure, if the visit is in person.
- Lab orders. Many providers want blood work before starting. Ask the provider which labs they order and why.
- Options. Whether a peptide may fit, which one and what the alternatives are.
- Risks. Side effects to expect and when to call.
FDA’s red flags for telehealth include no screening and prescription by a licensed doctor, and no doctor available for questions after you receive the medicine.4 A very short visit that skips your health history is worth noticing.
Questions to ask the provider
About the treatment
- Why do you think this peptide fits my goal?
- What does the research show, and where is the evidence weak?
- What are the common side effects? What would make you stop treatment?
- How does it interact with my current medicines and conditions?
About the product
- Is this an FDA-approved drug or a compounded medicine? FDA says compounded drugs should be used only when an approved drug cannot meet a patient’s needs.4 See compounded vs. FDA-approved peptides.
- What has FDA said about this peptide? FDA still lists safety concerns, such as possible immune reactions and limited human safety data, for many wellness peptides.5
- Which pharmacy makes it, and is it licensed?
- How do I measure the dose? FDA has received reports of people injecting 5 to 20 times the intended dose of compounded semaglutide from multiple-dose vials, partly from confusion between milliliters, milligrams and “units.”6 Ask to be shown, not just told.
About follow-up
- How often will I be seen, and who do I contact with side effects?
- What lab work will you repeat, and when?
About cost
- What is the total monthly cost, and what does it include?
- Will the cost change as my dose changes?
- If you prescribe a brand-name drug, how does your price compare with the maker’s own self-pay price?
- What is the refund and cancellation policy?
Paying cash for some brand-name drugs may not count toward your insurance deductible. Novo Nordisk says this for Wegovy.7 Our cost guide and insurance and HSA/FSA guide go deeper.
Signs of a good consultation
- The provider listens and asks follow-up questions.
- They explain both possible benefits and the limits of the evidence.
- They are clear about whether a product is FDA-approved or compounded.
- They are willing to say a peptide is not right for you.
- You get pricing and next steps in writing.
After the visit
Give yourself time to think. Review your notes, compare written cost breakdowns and look up anything you were unsure about. Our peptide pages, such as semaglutide, tirzepatide, sermorelin and BPC-157, explain what research has and has not shown.
If you decide to go ahead, keep a simple log of side effects and questions for your next visit. If you decide not to, that is a fine outcome too. You can compare other local options on our Find a provider page.
Footnotes
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U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Warning letter 735063 to a Sarasota, Florida peptide seller. August 24, 2026. Accessed November 2026. https://www.fda.gov/inspections-compliance-enforcement-and-criminal-investigations/warning-letters/peptide-partners-llc-735063-08242026 ↩
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Florida Department of Health, Division of Medical Quality Assurance. MQA Search Services. Accessed November 2026. https://mqa-internet.doh.state.fl.us/MQASearchServices/Home ↩
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Florida Legislature. Florida Statutes § 456.47, Use of telehealth to provide services. 2026 Florida Statutes. Accessed November 2026. http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0400-0499/0456/Sections/0456.47.html ↩
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U.S. Food and Drug Administration. FDA’s concerns with unapproved GLP-1 drugs used for weight loss. Content current October 1, 2026. Accessed November 2026. https://www.fda.gov/drugs/drug-alerts-and-statements/fdas-concerns-unapproved-glp-1-drugs-used-weight-loss ↩ ↩2
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U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Certain bulk drug substances for use in compounding that may present significant safety risks. Content current April 22, 2026. Accessed November 2026. https://www.fda.gov/drugs/human-drug-compounding/certain-bulk-drug-substances-use-compounding-may-present-significant-safety-risks ↩
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U.S. Food and Drug Administration. FDA alerts health care providers, compounders and patients of dosing errors associated with compounded injectable semaglutide products. Content current July 26, 2024. Accessed November 2026. https://www.fda.gov/drugs/human-drug-compounding/fda-alerts-health-care-providers-compounders-and-patients-dosing-errors-associated-compounded ↩
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Novo Nordisk. NovoCare: Price your Wegovy. No page date shown. Accessed November 12, 2026. https://www.novocare.com/obesity/products/wegovy.html ↩
Frequently asked questions
Can the first consultation be done by video?
Often, yes. Florida requires telehealth providers to meet the same standard of care as in-person visits, and a video evaluation that is enough to diagnose and treat can replace an in-person exam. E-mail or fax alone does not count as telehealth.
Will I get a prescription at the first visit?
Sometimes, but not always. Many providers want lab results or more information first. FDA lists getting medicine without screening by a licensed prescriber as a red flag.
Do I have to decide at the end of the visit?
No. It is reasonable to take the information home, compare options and decide later. Be cautious of pressure to sign up or pay the same day.
Should I mention peptides I bought online?
Yes. Tell the provider about everything you take, including supplements and any research-labeled peptides. FDA considers many of those products unapproved drugs, and your provider needs to know.
Questions? Talk to a licensed provider
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