About peptides
What peptides are
Peptides are short chains of amino acids, the building blocks of proteins. The body makes many of its own, and some medicines are peptides too.
The word covers very different products. Some peptide medicines are FDA-approved for specific conditions and are prescribed like any other medicine. Many peptides promoted online for wellness, recovery or anti-aging are not FDA-approved, and some have little reliable research in people.
The consultation
What a peptide consultation covers
At a peptide consultation, your provider discusses which peptide options, if any, may be appropriate for your goals and health history, what evidence is available for them, the potential risks, and what ongoing care involves.
You can ask about the exact product, whether it is FDA-approved for your situation, how it is made and where it comes from, the alternatives and how you would be monitored. Whether a particular treatment is appropriate needs an individual medical assessment.
A consultation does not mean a peptide will be recommended or prescribed.
FDA status
Compounded peptides and FDA status
Some peptides are made by compounding pharmacies rather than drug companies. Compounded drugs are not FDA-approved, which means the FDA has not reviewed them for safety, effectiveness or quality before they are sold.
The FDA has also listed certain peptide substances as possibly presenting significant safety risks when compounded, for example because of impurities or immune reactions. Your provider can tell you where a product you ask about stands.
Peptides we discuss
Peptides discussed at a consultation
These are the peptides your provider may discuss at a consultation. Being on this list does not mean a peptide is right for you, that it works or that it is FDA-approved. Only tesamorelin is FDA-approved, and only for one specific use. Your provider explains the evidence, the risks and where a product comes from before you decide.
- Tesamorelin FDA-approved, as Egrifta, to reduce excess abdominal fat in adults with HIV and lipodystrophy. Any other use is off-label.
- Sermorelin No FDA-approved sermorelin product is marketed in the United States; the brand once approved has been discontinued. Compounded versions are not FDA-approved.
- BPC-157 Not FDA-approved. Listed by the FDA among compounding substances that may present significant safety risks: possible immune reactions and impurities, with little safety information.
- TB-500 (thymosin beta-4 fragment) Not FDA-approved. Listed by the FDA among compounding substances that may present significant safety risks: possible immune reactions and impurities, with no data on its use in people.
- MOTS-c Not FDA-approved. Listed by the FDA among compounding substances that may present significant safety risks: possible immune reactions and impurities, with no data on its use in people.
- GHK-Cu (injectable) Not FDA-approved as an injection. Listed by the FDA among compounding substances that may present significant safety risks: possible immune reactions and impurities, with limited data in people.
- KPV Not FDA-approved. Listed by the FDA among compounding substances that may present significant safety risks: no data on its use in people.
- Melanotan II Not FDA-approved. Listed by the FDA among compounding substances that may present significant safety risks, citing published reports of serious side effects, including melanoma.
- Semax Not FDA-approved. Listed by the FDA among compounding substances that may present significant safety risks: possible immune reactions and impurities, with little safety information.
- Selank acetate Not FDA-approved. Listed by the FDA among compounding substances that may present significant safety risks: possible immune reactions and impurities, with little safety information in people.
- Dihexa acetate Not FDA-approved. Listed by the FDA among compounding substances that may present significant safety risks: no data on its use in people.
- Emideltide (DSIP) Not FDA-approved. Listed by the FDA among compounding substances that may present significant safety risks: possible immune reactions and impurities, with no safety information for its proposed use.
- Cathelicidin LL-37 Not FDA-approved. Listed by the FDA among compounding substances that may present significant safety risks: possible immune reactions and impurities, with too little safety information.
- PEG-MGF (pegylated mechano growth factor) Not FDA-approved. Listed by the FDA among compounding substances that may present significant safety risks: possible immune reactions and impurities, with no data on its use in people.
What to expect
What to expect at your consultation
Before your visit
Call 214-618-9600 to arrange a consultation, which is separate from a pain management visit, and ask about costs and coverage. Bring a list of your medicines and supplements, including any peptide products you use now or have used, with their names and where they came from.
At your consultation
You talk through your goals, your health history and what you have tried. Your provider explains which options, if any, may be appropriate, what is and is not known about them, and the potential risks and alternatives.
If you go ahead
If an option may be appropriate and you decide to go ahead, your provider explains how it is given, how you will be monitored and how often you are seen. You can stop and talk with the team at any point.
Do not start, stop or change a peptide or other product based on this page. Talk with the clinician who prescribes it first.
Who it’s for
Who a consultation may suit, and who it does not
A consultation may suit adults who want a medical opinion on a peptide option before trying it, or who already use a peptide product and want it reviewed.
Peptide options are usually not appropriate if you are pregnant, planning a pregnancy or breastfeeding, have an active cancer, or are looking for a product for athletic performance or bodybuilding. Your provider reviews your health history before discussing any option.
Safety and limitations
Safety and limitations
Possible risks depend on the product. They can include reactions where an injection is given, allergic reactions, infection, and effects that are not yet known because a product has not been well studied in people.
Evidence for many peptides is limited, and results seen in laboratory or animal studies may not apply to people. Your provider discusses what is known and not known before any decision.
When to seek urgent care
Call 911 for swelling of the face or throat, trouble breathing, chest pain or fainting. Get medical care right away for redness, warmth, swelling or pus where an injection was given, especially with a fever.
Common questions
Questions about peptide consultations
Your provider can talk through your own situation at your visit.
Where can I get peptide therapy in Frisco, TX?
Lewis Pain & Physical Medicine offers peptide consultations at our Frisco office, 11500 State Highway 121, Suite 810, Frisco, TX 75035. Your provider discusses which options, if any, may be appropriate, the evidence and the potential risks before any decision. Call 214-618-9600 to arrange a consultation.
Are peptides FDA-approved?
Some peptide medicines are FDA-approved for specific conditions. Many peptides promoted for wellness are not, and compounded drugs are not FDA-approved. Ask your provider about the exact product and its regulatory status.
Which peptides do you offer?
The peptides your provider may discuss are listed on this page with their FDA status. At the consultation, your provider explains which options, if any, may be appropriate for your goals and health history, along with the evidence and the potential risks.
Are GLP-1 medicines like semaglutide peptides?
Yes. Semaglutide and tirzepatide are peptide-based medicines that are FDA-approved for specific uses, including chronic weight management. They are discussed as part of medical weight loss.
Can I bring a peptide I already use?
Yes. Bring the product name and where it came from, and your provider can review it with you. Do not stop or change it based on this page.
Is a peptide consultation covered by insurance?
Coverage depends on your plan and the service. Call 214-618-9600 to ask about the consultation and costs before you schedule, and see Insurance & Billing.
Related care
Clinical references
Individual results are not guaranteed and may vary from person to person. This page shares general information. It is not medical advice and does not replace a visit with a qualified clinician.