Federal fact file dated September 26, 2026.
A shortage headline has a date
A story from the shortage period may describe a different situation from the offer in front of you.
Understand why shortages entered the conversation
FDA is the federal medicines agency, formally the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Compounding means preparing a medicine to order.
When FDA lists a national drug shortage, pharmacies may be able to prepare copies that the usual copy rules would stop. That permission depends on the official shortage listing.
Read the FDA’s dated supply and compounding updates
Ask whether a shortage claim refers to the national list, a local stock problem or an old article. Keep the date with the answer.
Read the end dates as well as the old headline
On December 19, 2024, FDA confirmed the end of the shortage for tirzepatide injections.
Find the tirzepatide resolution in the FDA update log
For semaglutide injections, the resolution date was February 21, 2025.
Find the semaglutide resolution in the same log
At the September 26, 2026 check, neither tirzepatide nor semaglutide injections appeared on FDA’s shortage list.
For an offer made later, ask to see the list entry being relied on.
Ask why this preparation is being offered now
The law’s 503A section covers preparation for a named patient by a pharmacy or doctor. To make a version that avoids the usual copy limit, the person writing the prescription must find an important change for that patient’s care. A saving in price does not meet that test.
Read the FDA’s explanation of the copy restrictions
Ask the pharmacy to explain why today’s rules allow this preparation. Take that answer to the person prescribing and ask if they agree. Ask what change matters for you. A story about past shortages does not answer that question.