43 defined terms across the GLP-1 telehealth landscape.
503A
Section of FD&C Act establishing patient-specific traditional compounding pharmacy framework. State-licensed only; USP <797> standard; not cGMP.
503B
Section of FD&C Act (DQSA 2013) establishing FDA-registered outsourcing facilities. cGMP standards; third-party batch testing required.
AHI
Apnea-Hypopnea Index. Events per hour of sleep. ≥15 = moderate OSA; ≥30 = severe.
ABMS
American Board of Medical Specialties. Standard 'board-certified' credential.
API
Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient. For semaglutide, only base form is FDA-acceptable; salt forms (sodium, acetate) are not.
Base API
Free-base form of the active ingredient. For semaglutide, base is the FDA-acceptable API.
cGMP
Current Good Manufacturing Practice. 503B facilities must follow; 503A generally do not.
Compounded
Prepared by licensed 503A pharmacy or 503B outsourcing facility under federal exceptions to FDA finished-drug approval.
DEXA
Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Body composition (fat, lean, bone density) measurement.
DPP-4
Dipeptidyl peptidase-4. Enzyme that breaks down natural GLP-1. GLP-1 RAs engineered to resist.
DQSA
Drug Quality and Security Act of 2013. Refined 503A; added 503B framework.
FAERS
FDA Adverse Event Reporting System. Spontaneous AE reports database.
FDA-approved
Authorized by FDA for marketing. Compounded medications are not FDA-approved as finished products.
Flat-rate pricing
Same per-month cost regardless of dose tier.
GIP
Glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide. Second incretin; tirzepatide is dual GIP/GLP-1 agonist.
GLP-1
Glucagon-like peptide-1. Endogenous incretin hormone.
GLP-1 RA
GLP-1 receptor agonist. Drug class: semaglutide, tirzepatide, liraglutide, dulaglutide, exenatide.
HPLC
High-performance liquid chromatography. Standard potency-measurement method.
LegitScript
Third-party verification for telehealth and online pharmacy legitimacy.
MACE
Major Adverse Cardiovascular Events. Composite CV-trial endpoint (CV death + non-fatal MI + non-fatal stroke).
MASH
Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis. Liver disease with fat, inflammation, fibrosis. Formerly NASH.
MASLD
Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease. Umbrella term.
MEN-2
Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2. Predisposes to MTC. GLP-1 contraindication.
MTC
Medullary thyroid carcinoma. GLP-1 class boxed warning based on rodent data.
NEJM
New England Journal of Medicine. Primary venue for major GLP-1 trials.
Off-label
Use of FDA-approved drug for non-approved indication, population, or dose.
OSA
Obstructive sleep apnea. Zepbound first drug ever FDA-approved (December 2024).
PA
Prior authorization. Insurance requirement before dispensing.
PCOS
Polycystic ovary syndrome. Insulin resistance, anovulation, hyperandrogenism.
Salt form
Active ingredient bound to cation/anion. FDA flagged semaglutide salt forms (sodium, acetate) as unapproved API.
Sarcopenia
Age-related muscle loss. Accelerated by rapid weight loss without resistance training.
SELECT
Semaglutide CV outcomes trial (NEJM 2023). 17,604 adults BMI ≥27 + CVD. 20% MACE reduction.
Speakable
Schema.org property identifying content for TTS and voice-assistant surfacing.
STEP
Semaglutide Treatment Effect in People with obesity. Trial program.
SURMOUNT
Tirzepatide weight-management trial program.
SURPASS
Tirzepatide T2D trial program.
SUSTAIN
Semaglutide T2D trial program.
Telehealth
Healthcare delivery via remote technology.
Titration
Gradual dose escalation. Standard for GLP-1 initiation.
USP <71>
USP sterility test.
USP <85>
USP bacterial endotoxin test.
USP <797>
USP chapter on sterile compounding standards. Required for 503A sterile preparations.
USP <800>
USP chapter on hazardous drug handling.