Peptide Therapy: Benefits, Risks, and What You Need to Know
Peptides are the new “buzz term.” Everyone is talking about them, but you may have more questions than answers.
What are peptides and how do they work?
Peptides are short chains of amino acids that act as messengers in the body. They play a role in many functions in the body: mood and chemistry balance, joint and skin maintenance, and fighting infections.
Why are peptides in the news?
Peptides are already used in medicine to treat a variety of medical conditions. There are over 80 peptides that are FDA-approved as medical or skin care products. One of the most well-known is insulin, which is used to treat type 1 diabetes mellitus by telling cells to absorb and use glucose for energy. More recent examples are GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1s), like semaglutide or tirzepatide. GLP-1s help with weight loss by making you feel less hungry, telling the body to release insulin, and slowing digestion. Increased use of GLP-1s has found it to have additional benefits that were not known at first as other systems in the body respond to these peptides too.
Since peptides may work on a variety of body systems, they have become very interesting to health influencers. This is why you hear about them more in the news.
Are peptides legal?
This is a gray area. FDA-approved peptides are available in the United States when prescribed by a doctor. But many of the peptides touted online are not FDA-approved.
There are pharmacies that can make medicines (licensed compounding pharmacies), like these unapproved peptides, to treat conditions that don't have an FDA-approved treatment. Use of these compounded peptide products, often obtained through telehealth companies (companies that provide medical care online), has become extremely popular. In 2023, the FDA placed 19 popular peptides on a "Do Not Compound" list due to telehealth misuse and peptide safety concerns. Despite this, compounded peptides continued to be sold…just by different means. Overseas suppliers now sell compounded peptides online, made “legal” by adding the label “for research purposes only” to the product.
In February 2026, the US Secretary of Health and Human Services announced on a podcast that 14 of the 19 peptides would be removed from the list to allow for compounding again. However, the official status has not changed yet. So the situation remains gray.
Will peptides help me?
Beyond FDA-approved peptides like insulin, GLP-1s, and bremelanotide (used to treat low sex drive in women), there is not a lot of studies on whether peptides work and safe to use. Some peptides are approved for use in other countries and some have shown promise in rat studies but have small to no data in humans.
Are peptides safe?
Since there isn’t a lot of studies with peptides, this is a tough question to answer. Peptides have been shown to cause severe immune or allergic reactions. There is also a concern that they feed cancer growth but this hasn't been studied yet. Safety also depends on how you get the peptide; a prescription from a doctor for an FDA-approved product is the safest way. Getting peptides prescribed from telehealth prescriber through a licensed compounding pharmacy is safer than getting a peptide online. Peptides bought online may be contaminated or the dose may not be correct, or it may cause side effects.
Conclusion
The use of peptides is growing due to ease of getting online and promotion by social media health influencers. But this does not mean you should jump onto the peptide bandwagon. If you are wondering if peptide therapy is right for you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about the risks and benefits.