A small glossary for a noisy subject

Core terms

Peptide

A short chain made from amino acids, the same building blocks used to make proteins.

Approved medicine

A specific drug and form reviewed and approved by FDA for the uses in its label.

Compounded medicine

A medicine prepared by a pharmacist, doctor, or outsourcing facility rather than supplied as a finished approved product.

503A pharmacy

An ordinary pharmacy, or a doctor, preparing medicine for a single named patient who holds a valid prescription. The 503A label refers to the federal drug-law section that covers it.

503B outsourcing facility

A bigger, FDA-registered operation producing sterile compounded medicine in batches, frequently for clinics and hospitals. It can work without a prescription that names you.

Telehealth

Care given from a distance: a live video visit, a phone call, or information such as photos or forms sent for the clinician to review later. In Nevada a fax or an email alone does not count.

Clinician

The licensed person who reviews your health and decides on treatment, such as a doctor, nurse practitioner, or physician assistant.

Sharps

Needles, syringes, and anything else sharp enough to break the skin.

Generic name

The medicine’s own name, such as semaglutide, rather than the company’s brand name, such as Ozempic.

Prescription

An order from a licensed prescriber that a pharmacy uses to dispense a prescription medicine.

NDC

A National Drug Code is a listing identifier, not proof that FDA approved or verified a product.

Prior authorization

A health plan’s review step before it agrees to cover a particular use.

Cash price

The amount paid outside an insurance claim, which may differ from list price, copay, or discount-card price.

Red flag

A fact or gap that calls for a pause and a direct check, not a final diagnosis about a business.