Takeaway
Respond to patient questions about injectable peptides with nonjudgmental curiosity. Ask what they hope to achieve and check on safety reports. Then help them align their goals with safe evidence-based options.
Lifelong Learning in Clinical Excellence | January 2, 2026 | 3 min read
By Anita Gupta, DO, PharmD, Johns Hopkins Medicine
“Look at this, Doc!”
A vibrant 48-year-old patient came in last week beaming. She excitedly showed me the subtle, firming changes around her eyes and credited them to a new injectable peptide cocktail she’d started at a wellness clinic. “It’s like turning back time!” she gushed, eyes crinkling with genuine joy. But her brow furrowed a moment later. “My sister-in-law told me I was crazy to take them. Are they really safe? Should I stop?”
Her question mirrored the conflicted, even anxious, thoughts I was having myself. She had, like many patients, made a health decision she believed was in her best interest. This situation—the outside-the-box thinking versus the realities of safety concerns—set off a chain reaction of reflection and concern over injectable peptides and supplements. It made me ask: What does truly exceptional care look like in this new landscape?
The hype and the hope
It’s no secret that peptides, short chains of amino acids, are powerful biological messaging molecules. They prompt the body to make new cells, encourage tissue repair, and spur hormone production. Certain injectable peptides, like those that stimulate growth hormone release or encourage collagen production, have achieved peak popularity as “anti-aging” cocktails.
Injectables feel like an attractive and exciting frontier of regenerative medicine. They have an aura of being cutting-edge, yet approachable. However, in many cases, this “wild west” of injectable peptides is evolving much more quickly than the regulatory oversight and clinical testing that’s needed. Many formulations are being used with minimal to no safety and efficacy testing to back them up. The purity, dosing, and interaction with other medications are often still unknown variables, making a seemingly simple injection a potential Pandora’s Box of safety concerns.
Giving exceptional care
Exceptional care requires that we view every wellness decision a patient makes, even those outside our standard medical algorithm, as a critical touchpoint. When my patient brought up her peptides, my goal was to provide truly excellent care—her mention of an over-the-counter injection was my cue to slow down and help.
Here are a few things I keep in mind when caring for all patients:
1. Meet the patient where they are. Recognize that hope is the driving force keeping them returning to these therapies.
2. Listen with an open mind and speak without judgment.
3. Guide patients to the safest and most effective way to get the outcomes they’re looking for.
4. Think of yourself as your patient’s teammate.
Practical tips for clinicians when talking with patients about peptides:
1. Be curious and ask open-ended questions.
2. A simple, sincere question like, “What are you hoping this will achieve?” can go a long way. Listen to the answer, rather than immediately getting into a discussion about their decision.
3. Educate yourself. Knowing the basic regulatory status of a specific supplement, especially injectable ones, is a good start. Are they being sold as “research chemicals” or “dietary supplements”? Has the FDA issued a warning or is the peptide? Are there any concerns on recalls on products?
4. Check for drug interactions. Even if the peptide’s exact profile is hard to find, look at the mechanism of action and consider interactions with what your patient is already taking. For example, if the peptide is thought to affect growth hormone release, how might that interact with a patient who is on insulin?
5. Help patients understand the importance of sourcing. There’s little to no quality control in the over-the-counter supplement world. Purity matters when injecting anything. Help your patients understand the potential dangers of unregulated sourcing.
Curious and careful
We will most likely have more and more of these encounters with hopeful patients. We can complain about the wellness industry, or we can get ahead of the issue. Use these patient encounters as an opportunity to learn. Be curious with your patients, and, most importantly, be careful for your patients.
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This piece expresses the views solely of the author. It does not necessarily represent the views of any organization, including Johns Hopkins Medicine.