GLP‑1 questions, answered
One question per page, answered in a few hundred words from published sources. Each answer links to the guide with the full picture.
Written for Australia: the PBS and private scripts, Australian labels and TGA warnings, and 000 for emergencies. We don't publish medicine prices or name sellers.
All answers
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Is Wegovy on the PBS?
No. As of October 2026, Wegovy (semaglutide) is not listed on the PBS for any use, so a Wegovy script is paid in full.
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Is Mounjaro on the PBS?
No. Mounjaro (tirzepatide) is not on the PBS for diabetes, weight or sleep apnoea as of October 2026.
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How much is Mounjaro in Australia?
Mounjaro (tirzepatide) is not on the PBS, so in Australia you pay the full private price, which differs by strength.
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How much is Wegovy in Australia?
Wegovy (semaglutide) is not on the PBS, so in Australia you pay the full private price, which differs by strength.
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Can I get Ozempic for weight loss in Australia?
Not as a registered use. In Australia, Ozempic (semaglutide) is registered for type 2 diabetes, including kidney disease in type 2 diabetes, and its PBS subsidy covers type 2 diabetes only.
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Can my GP prescribe Mounjaro?
Yes. Mounjaro (tirzepatide) is a prescription-only medicine in Australia, and we found no rule limiting it to specialists, so a GP can write the script.
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What BMI do I need for Wegovy or Mounjaro in Australia?
For weight management, the Australian labels for Wegovy (semaglutide) and Mounjaro (tirzepatide) cover adults with a BMI of 30 or more, or 27 to under 30 with at least one weight-related condition.
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Does private health insurance cover Mounjaro?
Sometimes, in part. Mounjaro (tirzepatide) is not on the PBS, and some private health policies pay a benefit toward prescription medicines that aren't on the PBS.
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Is compounded semaglutide legal in Australia?
No. Since 1 October 2024, pharmacists in Australia may not compound semaglutide, tirzepatide or any other GLP-1 medicine, in any dosage form.
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Is the Wegovy pill available in Australia?
No. As of October 2026, no Wegovy (semaglutide) tablet for weight management is on Australia's register of medicines; the only semaglutide tablet registered is Rybelsus, for type 2 diabetes.
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Is retatrutide legal in Australia?
No. Retatrutide is an experimental medicine that is not approved in Australia or by any comparable regulator, the TGA said in September 2026, and it should be used only in clinical trials.
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Is Saxenda still available in Australia?
No. Novo Nordisk discontinued Saxenda (liraglutide 3 mg) in Australia, and it has not been sold here since December 2025.
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Do GLP‑1 patches or drops work?
Not as GLP-1 medicines. In March 2026 the TGA tested 10 imported products sold as GLP-1 drops, oral liquids and a microneedle patch, and found no GLP-1 or GLP-1 analogue in any of them.
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How long can Mounjaro be out of the fridge?
Once in use, a Mounjaro (tirzepatide) KwikPen can stay out of the fridge for up to 30 days at temperatures not above 30°C, the Australian label says.
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Where do I throw away used pens?
Put used needles straight into a sharps container, then take the full container to a public sharps bin, a hospital, a community health centre or a participating pharmacy.
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Is Ozempic still in shortage?
No. Diabetes Australia said in July 2025 that Ozempic (semaglutide) stocks had recovered enough for doctors to start new patients again, ending a shortage that began in 2022.
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Is Zepbound available in Australia?
No. Zepbound is Eli Lilly's US brand of tirzepatide for weight, and it isn't on Australia's register of medicines.
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Is there a generic semaglutide in Australia?
No. As of October 2026, every semaglutide product on Australia's register belongs to Novo Nordisk: Ozempic, Wegovy, Rybelsus and two newer brand names, Plosbrio and Poviztra.
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How do I report a side effect to the TGA?
Report it online to the TGA through its Adverse Event Management System, or ask your GP, nurse practitioner, midwife or community pharmacist to help you report it.
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When should I call 000 on a GLP‑1?
On Mounjaro (tirzepatide), Wegovy or Ozempic (semaglutide), call triple zero (000) for signs of a severe allergic reaction, such as a swollen tongue or trouble breathing, or for collapse.
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How these answers work
Each answer opens with a short reply of 40 to 60 words, then 2 to 4 short sections with a source on every fact. We edit an answer when the fact changes, and the date at the top moves only then. How we write
Want the full picture? Start with the 9 guides
- 01Weight and healthUnderstand
- 02What GLP‑1 medicines doUnderstand
- 03Your options, and where medicines fitDecide
- 04Should I consider a GLP‑1?Decide
- 05Side effects and risksDecide
- 06Getting a prescription, and the medicinesDo it safely
- 07Choosing where to get a GLP‑1Do it safely
- 08Life on a GLP‑1Live with it
- 09Stopping and the long termLive with it