For medicine approval, ask for the FDA record
FDA is the US drug agency, whose full name is the Food and Drug Administration.
As of September 26, 2026, FDA warns that a National Drug Code directory entry does not prove drug approval. [a]
A medicine’s identifying number in a government drug directory is called a National Drug Code, or NDC. [a]
Ask the doctor or pharmacist to show you the exact medicine’s entry in FDA’s Drugs@FDA approval search. Match the name and whether it is a shot, tablet or another form.
For a person’s licence, choose the right board
MD means medical doctor. DO doctors also practise medicine and surgery. They have a different medical qualification and are called osteopathic doctors. A physician assistant is often called a PA. [b]
Arizona offers distinct official licence searches for MD doctors, DO doctors, nurses and physician assistants, as of October 3, 2026. [b]
The licence checklist links each role to its board. Check the treating person’s full name, not just the business name.
Read what an FDA warning letter claims
As of September 17, 2026, FDA provides a searchable database of warning letters sent to companies. [c]
A warning letter states what FDA believes was wrong at the time it wrote. It is not a final decision. Later replies from the company or FDA may change the answer. [c]
Look for a company response or an FDA letter saying the matter is closed. Ask about an issue whose current answer is unclear.
Finding no warning letter does not prove that a company meets the rules. FDA may never have reviewed it. [c]
For a payment programme, check its terms
GLP-1 is a hormone: a chemical message in your body that affects appetite and blood sugar. GLP-1 medicines act like that message.
As of September 26, 2026, Medicare’s temporary GLP-1 Bridge is separate from ordinary Medicare drug coverage and has eligibility conditions. [d]
Ask the plan and the person prescribing which programme can pay for the proposed medicine. Keep the answer with the quote.
Turn an unclear answer into a question
Copy the line that does not make sense. Bring it to the person treating you or the pharmacist. Ask for the answer in ordinary words.