Peptide Provider Checklist: 12 Questions to Ask Before You Buy

Why you need a checklist

Peptides and GLP-1 medications are sold by everyone from licensed clinics to anonymous websites that take crypto and ship from overseas. The websites can look the same. The differences are in what goes into the vial, who is watching over you, and what happens when something goes wrong.

Below are twelve questions. Ask them of any provider, and ask them of us. A good provider answers every one without hesitation. If you get vague answers or a sales pitch instead of a fact, keep looking.

The 12 questions

• Is the prescriber licensed in my state, New York or New Jersey? Why it matters: a provider licensed elsewhere cannot legally prescribe for you here.
• Will a real provider talk to me before anything is prescribed? Why it matters: a questionnaire with no human review is not medical care, and no one is there to catch what makes a peptide unsafe for you.
• Which pharmacy makes the medication, and is it an FDA-registered 503A or 503B pharmacy in the United States? Why it matters: if they will not name the pharmacy, you cannot check it.
• Can I see a certificate of analysis for my batch? Why it matters: a certificate of analysis from an independent lab shows the vial contains what the label says, at the right strength, without contaminants.
• How is it shipped, and is it kept cold the whole way? Why it matters: peptides and GLP-1 medications break down in heat. Refrigerated packaging and fast transit is the standard; a padded envelope is not.
• Does it arrive ready to use, or do I have to mix powder myself? Why it matters: mixing powder at home introduces measuring errors and contamination risk.
• How do you describe the FDA status of what you sell? Why it matters: compounded peptides are not FDA-approved, and no honest provider will say they are.
• What is the full price, and what is not included? Why it matters: consultation fees, platform fees, shipping and supplies can double a quoted price.
• Are follow-ups and dose adjustments included? Why it matters: doses almost always need adjusting early on. If each adjustment costs extra, people skip them.
• Can I reach a human by phone or text, and when? Why it matters: you will have a question at 9PM on a Sunday. An email form that replies in three business days is not support.
• What are the refund and cancellation terms, in writing? Why it matters: medication cannot be returned once shipped, so the terms should be clear before you pay.
• Does any label say research use only or not for human use? Why it matters: that label means the product was never made or tested for people, and the seller is telling you so in small print.

Red flags that end the conversation

Some signs are bad enough that you do not need the rest of the list:

• Payment only by crypto, wire transfer or gift card. Legitimate medical providers accept cards and give receipts.
• No consultation at all. Add to cart, check out, done, with no questions about your health or medications.
• The words FDA-approved peptides anywhere on the site. Brand-name semaglutide and tirzepatide are FDA-approved; compounded peptides are not, and a seller who blurs that line is blurring others.
• Shipping from overseas, or no shipping origin listed. You have no idea what facility made it or whether it was refrigerated.
• Prices far below everyone else's. Licensed prescribing, US compounding, testing and cold shipping cost real money. A price that skips it is skipping something.

How Zen IV Spa answers each one

Here are our answers, in the same order. Hold us to them.

• Licensed in your state. Our medical director and prescribing providers are licensed in New York and New Jersey, the only two states we serve.
• A real consultation. Every program starts with a free video visit with a licensed provider. Nothing is prescribed without it.
• Named pharmacies. Your medication is compounded to your prescription by FDA-registered 503A pharmacies in the United States, and the pharmacy name is on your label.
• Certificates of analysis on request. Ask and we will send the certificate for your batch. Our Quality & Testing page (Quality & Testing) explains how to read it.
• Cold-chain shipping. Programs ship refrigerated to addresses in New York and New Jersey. If a package arrives warm, tell us and we replace it.
• Ready to use. Vials arrive from the pharmacy already prepared, with syringes and swabs. A nurse can walk you through your first injection in person or on video.
• Honest FDA language. Compounded peptides and GLP-1 medications are not FDA-approved, and we say so on every page.
• Published prices. Each program page lists the monthly price, which includes the video visit, medication, supplies and shipping. Two- and three-month supplies are $10 and $30 less per month. No surprise fees.
• Follow-ups included. Check-ins and dose adjustments with your provider are part of the program, not an add-on.
• A human you can reach. Call or text (332) 239-2005, 8AM to 11PM, seven days a week, and a person answers.
• Clear terms. Cancellation and refund terms are written on the program page before you pay. You can stop at any time; shipped medication cannot be returned, and we say so up front.
• No research labels. Everything we prescribe is made for people, by a pharmacy, to a prescription with your name on it.

The standards behind these answers are written up in full on our Zen Standard page (The Zen Standard).

How to use this list

Copy the twelve questions into a note on your phone, ask any provider you are considering, and write down the answers. The point is not a perfect provider. It is one that answers plainly, puts a licensed person between you and the medication, and is still reachable after you pay. Want to ask us directly? Book a free consultation and bring the list.

Common Questions

All treatments are medical services. Every guest is screened, and every treatment is prescribed by a licensed provider. Nothing on this page is medical advice for you personally or a promise of results.