Understanding the offer
What has the FDA actually reviewed?
Approval belongs to a specific drug and its named uses. Ask which exact product is being described.
Make the approval claim specific
The Food and Drug Administration, or FDA, reviews medicines in the US.
FDA approval applies to a particular product after the agency has reviewed its evidence and accepted it for a stated use.
Read the basisFDA’s explanation of reviewed and compounded drugs
Ask for the product name and the use the agency reviewed. Then ask the clinician how that information relates to your joint problem.
A product code is not approval
As of September 2026, FDA approval is not shown by an NDC number.
NDC means National Drug Code, a code that identifies a product on a government drug list.
Read the basisFDA’s explanation of drug directory codes
Ask to see the FDA approval letter or FDA-approved drug label for the exact medicine. Ask the person making the claim to point out the product name, approved use and approval date in the FDA record. Keep a copy so you can compare it with the medicine being offered.
A logo saying “FDA registered” claims that a business has registered with the FDA. That is a claim about business registration, not approval of the medicine.