Fact-checked by the Peptide Authority Editorial Board · Last reviewed:
Safety Centre
What to ask your pharmacist
A printable list. Take it with you (or open on your phone) when collecting a GLP-1 or peptide medicine for the first time. The pharmacist is the medication-expert link in your care; their job description includes answering these. Don't feel awkward — a good pharmacist welcomes the questions.
Verifying the medicine
- Can you confirm this is the genuine licensed product (brand name)?
- Can I see the batch number and expiry on the box and the pen?
- Is the PIL inside the box, and in English?
- Is the tamper-evident seal intact?
- If anything about the packaging looks unusual, who do we report it to together?
Storage
- Does this need refrigeration before first use?
- How long can it stay at room temperature once in use?
- What temperature range is the in-use limit?
- What do I do if it's been outside the fridge for longer than the limit?
- If I'm travelling, what's the practical advice for keeping it cool?
Dosing and administration
- Can you walk me through how to use this pen?
- Where on my body should I inject? Should I rotate sites?
- What time of day should I take it, and is there a best day of the week to use weekly products?
- What do I do if I miss a dose?
- What do I do if I accidentally take two doses too close together?
- How many doses are in each pen and how long should it last me?
Interactions
- I'm also taking [list of medicines and supplements] — are there any interactions I should know about?
- Does this affect contraceptive absorption? (Especially for Mounjaro.)
- Are there any OTC products (painkillers, antacids, vitamins) I should avoid?
- Can I drink alcohol on this? In what amounts?
- Any food I should avoid or focus on?
Side effects
- What are the common side effects to expect?
- When in the dose cycle do side effects peak?
- Is there anything I can take or do to help with nausea or constipation?
- What side effects mean I should contact someone urgently?
- How do I report side effects on Yellow Card?
What to watch for
- What symptoms mean I should stop the medicine immediately?
- What symptoms mean I should call 111 or 999?
- What's the route to contact you (or another pharmacist) out of hours?
Sharps and disposal
- Do I need a sharps bin? Where do I get one?
- How and where do I dispose of a used pen?
- Can I bring used pens back to the pharmacy?
If you bought online and are unsure
You can take a pen and packaging to a UK community pharmacy and ask them to check it. Most pharmacists will engage seriously with this — they don’t want patients on counterfeit medicines either. If they identify it as suspect, they can help you report it.
Printable version
Use Ctrl+P (or Cmd+P) to print this page directly. The headings and bullets are designed to be readable on paper as a one-page checklist.
Sources & further reading
- GPhC — Online registers — pharmacyregulation.org
- Yellow Card — yellowcard.mhra.gov.uk
- NHS 111 — nhs.uk
- MHRA — gov.uk