Healthcare, pharmacy and telehealth ads are restricted on Meta and restricted on Google. Meta requires online pharmacies and telehealth providers to be actively certified with LegitScript." After certification they must also request authorization from Meta. The phrases most likely to cause trouble include "Brand Rx names in non-eligible countries (Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, Botox)", ""Do you have diabetes?"", "cure".
Restricted. Authorization required for prescription drugs.
Sources: transparency.meta.com · transparency.meta.com
Restricted. Google certification is required.
Sources: support.google.com · support.google.com · support.google.com
12 phrases that often lead to rejection, limited delivery or regulator action. High means the phrase or claim is named in a policy or ruling. Medium means it's our reading of a rule.
| Phrase | Why it's risky | Rule or source | Risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brand Rx names in non-eligible countries (Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, Botox) | Promotional Rx terms are banned outside the US, Canada and New Zealand. Prescription-only medicines cannot be advertised to the public in the UK, EU or UAE. | Google: Prescription drug terms (2025) · CAP12 12.12 · EU medicines directive · Art. 88 · UAE Media Council content standards support.google.com · asa.org.uk | High |
| "Do you have diabetes?" / "Are you depressed?" | Asserts a personal health attribute | Meta: Personal attributes transparency.meta.com | High |
| cure / cures [diabetes, cancer, thyroid, psoriasis, HIV, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's] | Meta has an exhaustive list of incurable diseases that ads cannot claim to cure. Google bans "Miracle cures". | Meta: Health and wellness · Google: Unreliable claims transparency.meta.com · support.google.com | High |
| permanent relief | Cited by India's Supreme Court in the Patanjali case | India Drugs and Magic Remedies Act · Patanjali case indiacode.nic.in | High |
| guaranteed / absolutely safe / no side effects | Banned for medicines. The DHA also bans "has no side effects". | CAP12 12.9 · 12.19 · Dubai Health Authority ad rules asa.org.uk · gulfnews.com | High |
| miraculous / magic / the best / 100% / assured success | Listed as banned terms in the DHA 2026 standards | Dubai Health Authority ad rules gulfnews.com | High |
| same as Ozempic / generic Mounjaro / same active ingredient as Wegovy | The FDA called sameness claims for compounded drugs misleading | FDA Sept 2025 and Mar 2026 letters | High |
| FDA approved (for compounded drugs or supplements) | Compounded drugs are not FDA-approved. The FDA "is not authorized to approve dietary supplements". | FDA dietary supplement rules · FDA 2025 letters fda.gov | High |
| online diagnosis / diagnose by email | Medicinal product ads must not offer diagnosis or treatment by correspondence | CAP12 12.2.1 asa.org.uk | High |
| doctor-recommended (celebrity or health professional endorsing a medicine) | Health professionals and celebrities may not endorse medicines | CAP12 12.18 asa.org.uk | High |
| stem cell therapy / experimental treatment | Google bans speculative and experimental treatments | Google: Healthcare and medicines support.google.com | High |
| no prescription needed (for Rx drugs) | Unlicensed or unlawful pharmacy signal. Fails certification. | Google: Healthcare and medicines · Meta: Drugs and pharmaceuticals (inference) support.google.com · transparency.meta.com | High |
Before and after examples. Swap the bracketed parts for your real details.
Do you have diabetes? Get our meds today
Diabetes care support from licensed clinicians. Book a consultation.
Cure your anxiety in 2 weeks
Talk to a licensed provider about options that may help manage anxiety.
Ozempic delivered, no prescription needed
Licensed telehealth consultations. Medication only if a clinician prescribes it. (US, CA and NZ only, with certification)
100% safe, no side effects
All treatments carry risks. Your clinician will discuss them with you.
Same as Wegovy, half the price
Compounded medications are not FDA-approved. Ask our clinicians about options.
The best clinic in Dubai, guaranteed results
DHA-licensed clinic. Results vary by individual.
Google forfeits $500M to the DOJ over Canadian online pharmacy ads aimed at US users. It had known of the issue since 2003.
Google restricts addiction-treatment ads. US advertisers need LegitScript certification.
Google lets certified telemedicine providers promote online pharmacy services in the US and Canada.
Meta removes detailed targeting tied to health causes such as "lung cancer awareness" and "chemotherapy".
Google allows French government entities to run addiction-services ads.
Meta states "an active LegitScript certification is required to run prescription drug (Rx) ads."
Meta begins "rolling out additional restrictions" on health websites and apps using Business Tools. This limits custom conversions and lower-funnel optimization.
Meta Rx policy revised: LegitScript or Meta internal review, a consult disclaimer, and onboarding.
Google allows LegitScript-certified addiction services in Canada.
Google begins enforcing the policy that allows promotional Rx drug terms in the US, Canada and New Zealand.
The adShared sensitive health data with third parties for advertising. Misled users on cancellation.
OutcomeOrder bans use of health data for most ads. More than $7M.
LessonDo not use pixels or health data for ad targeting in telehealth.
The ad"permanent relief" and cures for diabetes, BP, asthma and other conditions
OutcomeContempt notice on 27 Feb 2024 and an ad restraint. Public apologies. Self-declarations required before broadcast ads (7 May 2024).
LessonDisease-cure claims for Schedule diseases are illegal in India.
The adAdWords ads from Canadian pharmacies aimed at US users
Outcome$500M forfeiture
LessonPlatforms are liable for pharmacy ads. This is why LegitScript and NABP gating exists.
Rx ads are allowed on Meta and Google only with LegitScript (or NABP for Google pharmacies) plus platform authorization. The FTC requires "competent and reliable scientific evidence" for health claims. Source: FTC_HPCG.
"Prescription-only medicines or prescription-only medical treatments may not be advertised to the public" (CAP 12.12). Medicines must not be endorsed by health professionals or celebrities (12.18).
Member States "shall prohibit the advertising to the general public of medicinal products which ... are available on medical prescription only" (Dir. 2001/83 Art 88). Source: EU_2001_83_A88.
Federal Law 8/2019 Art 39 bans advertising of prescription-only drugs. All medical product ads need prior MOHAP review (Cabinet Res. 7/2007, Ministerial Res. 430/2007). Unauthorized online ads carry AED 100k to 200k fines. The DHA's 2026 social media standards ban "miraculous", "100 per cent", "has no side effects" and similar claims, and require written patient consent. Sources: UAE_CMS, DHA_2026.
The Drugs and Magic Remedies Act 1954 bans ads for treating 54 Schedule conditions, including diabetes, cancer, heart disease, high or low BP, obesity, "Stature of persons" and "Sexual impotence". Source: IN_DMR.
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This tool is a pre-launch screen, not legal advice. Meta and Google do not publish banned-word lists, so each flag is a risk signal tied to a published rule, regulator ruling or court case. Policies change often. Data last checked 5 October 2026.