Research
Twelve questions to ask any provider
Use these anywhere, with anyone, including the resource I point to. A good provider will welcome them. A bad one will change the subject.
- Who is prescribing this, and what is their license and specialty?
- Will you take a full health history, including thyroid and pancreatic history, before anything is prescribed?
- Will you order baseline labs, and which ones?
- Is this the FDA-approved product or a compounded version? If compounded, which pharmacy makes it, is that pharmacy licensed in my state, and can I see a current certificate of analysis for my batch?
- How is the amount increased, over what period, and who decides?
- What is the plan for protein, strength training, and sleep alongside it?
- What happens when I stop, and what is the plan for that?
- What does it cost per month, what is included, and what happens to the price after the first few months?
- If I have side effects at 9 p.m. on a Saturday, who do I contact and how fast do they respond?
- Will you coordinate with my primary care doctor?
- How is my health information stored, and who can see it?
- What results do you see in people like me, and what do you do when someone isn't responding?
Five red flags
- No prescriber, or a prescriber you never actually speak to
- Anything labeled for research use only or not for human consumption
- No questions about your history before they'll sell to you
- Pressure to buy months in advance, or a bundle you didn't ask for
- A guaranteed result
Print this. Ask every one. If a provider fails it, so does my resource, and I'd want to know.
← All research