Peptide Therapy
Over the past several years, patients in Albuquerque and across the country have become increasingly interested in peptide therapy. At Functional Family Medicine, our patients frequently ask about peptides they have read about online or heard discussed on podcasts. We believe those questions deserve a thoughtful, medically-grounded answer — not a marketing pitch, and not a dismissal.
What are Peptides?
Peptides are short chains of amino acids — the same building blocks that make up proteins. The human body produces thousands of peptides naturally, and they play a role in many of the body’s signaling processes, including hormone regulation, tissue communication, and immune function.
In a clinical setting, “peptide therapy” typically refers to the administration of specific peptide molecules, often through compounded preparations prescribed by a licensed medical provider. Peptides used therapeutically are regulated as drugs, not as dietary supplements, and their use requires evaluation and oversight by a qualified clinician.
Peptides commonly asked about by patients and discussed in popular media include BPC-157, CJC-1295, Ipamorelin, and Thymosin Alpha-1, among others. Each of these molecules has a different proposed mechanism of action, a different regulatory status, and a different evidence base. Because of these differences, there is no single answer to the question of whether “peptide therapy” is right for a given patient — it depends entirely on the individual molecule under discussion, the patient’s specific situation, and the current regulatory environment.
How FFM Approaches Peptide Therapy
We believe peptide therapy is an area that requires more conversation, not less. Every patient’s situation is different, and the right answer for one person is not necessarily the right answer for another. Our approach is built around three principles.
- Consultation First. We do not prescribe peptides without a thorough evaluation. A consultation includes review of your health history, any relevant lab work, your goals, and an honest discussion of what the current clinical evidence does and does not support.
- Regulatory Awareness. We work only with licensed, credentialed compounding pharmacies that meet applicable federal and state regulatory standards. We follow FDA guidance closely, and we are transparent with our patients about the regulatory status of any peptide we discuss.
- Informed Consent. Patients who pursue peptide therapy through our practice do so with a clear understanding of the benefits, the known risks, the alternatives, and the open questions in the current medical literature. We do not oversell, and we do not make guarantees.
Current Regulatory Status:
What You Should Know
Peptide therapy exists within an evolving regulatory landscape. Many of the peptides patients ask about — including BPC-157, CJC-1295, Ipamorelin, and Thymosin Alpha-1 — are not FDA-approved drug products for the uses being discussed in popular media. In 2023, the FDA placed a number of these peptides into a regulatory category that restricted their use in traditional pharmacy compounding.
In April 2026, the FDA announced it would be removing several of those peptides from that restricted category and reviewing them for potential inclusion on an approved compounding list through advisory committee meetings scheduled for 2026 and early 2027. This is an active and changing area of regulation.
We share this context not to promote or discourage any particular therapy, but because we believe patients deserve the facts before making decisions about their health. During a consultation, we will discuss the current regulatory status of any peptide relevant to your situation, including any that are not currently available for compounding. You will always know where things stand before deciding whether to move forward.
Who Might Consider a Consultation?
A peptide therapy consultation at FFM may be a useful next step for patients who:
- Have specific health goals they want to discuss with a licensed medical provider
- Have read about peptides online or in the media and want balanced, factual information
- Are interested in understanding how peptides might — or might not — fit within a broader primary care or functional medicine plan
- Prefer working with a medical provider rather than self-sourcing peptides from online vendors
A consultation is not a commitment to any particular course of treatment. It is a conversation — one that may conclude with a peptide protocol, a different recommendation entirely, or simply the information you came for.
What Happens in a Consultation?
During an initial peptide therapy consultation at Functional Family Medicine, you can expect:
- A review of your complete health history and current health goals
- Discussion of relevant lab work — either labs you have had recently, or labs we may recommend
- An honest, plain-language conversation about what the current medical literature does and does not support for the specific peptides relevant to your situation
- Information about the regulatory status of any peptide discussed
- A clear explanation of any associated costs, risks, and available alternatives
- No pressure to commit to anything during the consultation itself
Frequently Asked Questions
Is peptide therapy covered by insurance?
Functional Family Medicine is a cash-pay Direct Primary Care practice, which means we do not bill insurance. Peptide therapy consultations and any subsequent prescriptions are paid directly by the patient. We believe the cash-pay model supports more honest and complete conversations between patients and providers, without the time pressure that insurance-based visits often create.
Are peptides the same as hormones?
They are not the same, although there is some overlap. Some peptides influence hormone-related pathways, but hormones themselves are typically larger, more complex molecules. Our bio-identical hormone therapy program is a separate service from our peptide therapy consultation.
Can I use peptides I have purchased online?
We strongly discourage self-administering peptides purchased from online research-chemical websites or international vendors. The quality, purity, and identity of those products is rarely verifiable, and adverse outcomes have been reported in the medical literature. If you have questions about sourcing, please discuss them during your consultation.
Is peptide therapy right for everyone?
No. There are patients for whom peptide therapy is not an appropriate option, whether because of specific medical contraindications, because their goals would be better addressed through other interventions, or because of personal preference. Part of the purpose of a consultation is determining, together, whether peptides are a fit for your situation.
Do you offer peptides for athletic performance or bodybuilding?
No. Functional Family Medicine is a primary care and functional medicine practice. Our peptide consultations focus on general health and wellness questions within our scope of practice. We do not work with patients whose goals are limited to competitive athletic or bodybuilding performance.
Schedule a Consultation
If you are considering peptide therapy and want a thoughtful, medically-grounded conversation with a licensed provider, we welcome the opportunity to meet with you. Consultations can be booked through our patient portal or by calling our office.
Important Information. This page is for educational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. No statement on this page has been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. The information provided is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease or medical condition.
Many peptides discussed in popular media are not FDA-approved drug products for the uses described. Regulatory status changes over time, and what is or is not available through licensed compounding pharmacies may change during or after your consultation. The information presented here reflects our understanding of regulatory guidance as of the date this page was published.
Any peptide-based treatment at Functional Family Medicine is provided only following a medical consultation, informed consent, and the specific clinical judgment of a licensed provider. Individual results, if any, vary substantially, and no specific outcome is promised or guaranteed.
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Disclaimer: All information presented in this website is intended for informational purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice.
Statements made on this website have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.
The information within this page is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease or medical condition.