Legal status · United States
Is Mifepristone legal in the United States?
Written by Aaron CuhaReviewed Sep 2026
Direct answer
Yes. Mifepristone is an approved medicine in the United States. Its legal category is "FDA-approved, prescription only". The approval covers the use on its label. It is given out on prescription, not sold over the counter. Products labeled "research use only" are not covered by that approval, and that label does not make them legal to use in people. On the evidence, 2 completed human trials are cited on its profile.
- People given it
- 320
- Found nothing
- 0
Legal category
FDA-approved, prescription only
Two separate approvals. One is for high blood sugar in Cushing's syndrome. The other is for ending a pregnancy with medicine, and that use is only supplied through a restricted program. No approval for ageing.
Reviewed Sep 2026. This is a legal category, not legal advice.
A "research use only" label on a vial does not make it legal to use on people.
Mifepristone in the United States at a glance
| Legal category | FDA-approved, prescription only |
|---|---|
| Note | Two separate approvals. One is for high blood sugar in Cushing's syndrome. The other is for ending a pregnancy with medicine, and that use is only supplied through a restricted program. No approval for ageing. |
| FDA approval status | FDA-approved as Korlym for high blood sugar caused by too much cortisol in Cushing's syndrome. Also FDA-approved as Mifeprex to end a pregnancy with medicine. Not approved for any ageing use. |
| Studies in people | 2 of 3 sources on the profile |
| Reviewed | Sep 2026 |
The legal category and note come from the Mifepristone profile. We checked them against U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) listings on the reviewed date.
What this means
- 01
FDA has approved Mifepristone for at least one use named on its label. So a proper pharmacy-grade product exists in the United States, and pharmacies hand it out on prescription.
- 02
Approval covers only the uses named on the label. Any other use is a prescriber's call. The approval itself does not cover it.
- 03
Unlicensed vials sold online, including those labeled "research use only", are not the approved product. The approval does not cover them.
What Mifepristone is
In people, mifepristone is approved for high blood sugar in Cushing's syndrome and for ending early pregnancy. Nobody has tested it for ageing. Blocking cortisol was a serious idea for slowing ageing, because years of too much cortisol damage muscle, bone and brain. In mice, the NIA lifespan test found nothing in either sex.
The reason anyone tested this is worth stating, because it is a good idea. Cortisol, the stress hormone, rises with age.
How it works: Mifepristone sits on the cortisol receptor and blocks it, so cortisol cannot switch on its genes. It also blocks the progesterone receptor, which is the basis of its use in pregnancy.
Approval history: FDA-approved as Korlym for high blood sugar caused by too much cortisol in Cushing's syndrome. Also FDA-approved as Mifeprex to end a pregnancy with medicine. Not approved for any ageing use.
How FDA treats this kind of product
Approves prescription drugs, each for a named use. It also acts against unapproved products, including peptides sold online. Compounding pharmacies, which mix drugs to order, may make some compounds with a prescription. That only applies when the FDA puts the compound in a category of bulk ingredients it allows.
The legal category above is how The Longevity Archive reads U.S. Food and Drug Administration listings for Mifepristone on the reviewed date. It is not a legal opinion. Rules change. Bringing a compound into the country, prescribing it and owning it can each be treated differently. Check with the agency before you act on anything here.
Mifepristone in sport and the military
Whether Mifepristone is banned in sport is set by the World Anti-Doping Code and by military rules, not by its legal status in the United States. Before you compete or get tested, look up Mifepristone by name on the Prohibited List, or look up a named product in Global DRO. Under the World Anti-Doping Code, category S0 bans, at all times, any drug-like substance that meets two tests. No other section of the List covers it. And no government health regulator anywhere has a current approval for it as a treatment in people. Many substances that are approved somewhere are banned by name in another section. So approval does not mean a substance is allowed in sport.
- WADA Prohibited List
- Global DRO (check a named product)
- USADA (US athletes)
- Operation Supplement Safety (US service members)
The rules you compete or serve under decide this, not this page.
Mifepristone in other countries
Frequently asked questions
Is Mifepristone legal in the United States?
Yes. Mifepristone is an approved medicine in the United States. Its legal category is "FDA-approved, prescription only". The approval covers the use on its label. It is given out on prescription, not sold over the counter. Products labeled "research use only" are not covered by that approval, and that label does not make them legal to use in people. On the evidence, 2 completed human trials are cited on its profile. Note: Two separate approvals. One is for high blood sugar in Cushing's syndrome. The other is for ending a pregnancy with medicine, and that use is only supplied through a restricted program. No approval for ageing.
Can I buy Mifepristone in the United States?
Only with a prescription. In the United States, Mifepristone has the legal category "FDA-approved, prescription only". Pharmacies hand it out with a prescription, for the use it is approved for. Buying it from unlicensed sellers online, or as a "research chemical", is outside that system. You get none of the protection the regulator gives. Note: Two separate approvals. One is for high blood sugar in Cushing's syndrome. The other is for ending a pregnancy with medicine, and that use is only supplied through a restricted program. No approval for ageing.
Is Mifepristone FDA approved?
Yes. FDA status: FDA-approved as Korlym for high blood sugar caused by too much cortisol in Cushing's syndrome. Also FDA-approved as Mifeprex to end a pregnancy with medicine. Not approved for any ageing use.. Current US legal category: "FDA-approved, prescription only". On the evidence, 2 completed human trials are cited on its profile.
Related compounds in the United States
Full research profile
How Mifepristone works, the studies we cite, FDA status and the full legal summary are all on its compound profile.
Mifepristone profileThis page is general information about the legal status of Mifepristone in the United States, current as of Sep 2026. It is not legal advice. Legal status changes. For your own situation, check with U.S. Food and Drug Administration or ask a lawyer. Educational use only. This database summarizes published research and is not medical advice. Where a dose appears it is a record of what a trial or clinic ran, or what people describe doing, with its source attached. Nothing here is a recommendation for personal use. Sellers named on the price pages are ranked by certificate tier, then price, and any affiliate income is disclosed there. Naming a seller is not a recommendation to buy or use anything.