Explainer

Reading your label

What each line on the vial and the paperwork means, and the four things to check the moment the box arrives.

Updated 2026-09-18

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The box arrives and most people put it straight in the fridge. Two minutes with the label first will catch nearly every problem worth catching.

Compounded preparations vary between pharmacies in ways branded products do not, so the label is doing more work here than it would with a Wegovy pen. These are the lines that matter.

The four checks to do immediately

The concentration. Usually written as mg/mL. This is the one that matters most, because your dose in units or millilitres depends entirely on it. If the concentration has changed between refills, your injection volume changes too — do not assume last month’s marking on the syringe is still right.
The beyond-use date. Compounded preparations carry a beyond-use date rather than a manufacturer expiry. It is usually much shorter. Check it against how long your supply is meant to last.
The storage instruction. Most need refrigeration at roughly 36–46°F (2–8°C). Do not freeze. Check whether yours states an out-of-fridge window.
The pharmacy name. You should be able to identify who prepared it. If the label does not say, ask.

Important. If the concentration on a refill differs from your previous vial and nobody has told you, stop and contact the provider before injecting. Drawing your usual volume from a stronger preparation is one of the few genuinely dangerous mistakes available here.

What else should be in the box

Syringes appropriate to your dose volume, if the programme supplies them.
Written dosing instructions naming your current dose and the date of your next step.
Some record of who prescribed it and how to reach them.
Ideally, a sharps container — though most programmes do not include one.

Checking the medication itself

The solution should be clear and free of visible particles. Cloudiness, discolouration or floating matter means do not use it and contact the pharmacy. The same applies if the vial arrived warm when it should have been cold, or frozen when it should have been chilled.

Keep a simple record

Date, dose and concentration for each injection, on paper or on your phone. It takes seconds and it answers almost every question a clinician will ask you later. It also makes a missed week obvious rather than something you half-remember.

Which programmes ship supplies with the medication

Dispensed by	Product	Per month	Score
Coreage Rx Best overall on true monthly cost	Compounded	$199	4.5
Trimi Lowest flat price with named pharmacies	Compounded	$125	4.6
PlexusDx Pharmacy transparency and genetic testing	Compounded	$189	4.4
Ozari Health Lowest advertised semaglutide price	Compounded	$125	4.4
Fifty 410 Prepaid blocks with no subscription	Compounded	$133	4.2
Ivím Health Unlimited clinician access	Compounded	$199	4

TrimRx bundles supplies into one price; Coreage Rx ships them alongside the medication. Others expect you to source your own, which is worth knowing in week one rather than week two.