Do GLP‑1 patches or drops work?
Not as GLP-1 medicines. In a March 2026 safety advisory, the TGA reported testing 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. In Australia, real GLP-1 medicines are prescription-only, and the ones registered for weight are injections.
What did the TGA test?
The TGA's laboratory tested 10 imported products labelled as GLP‑1 and “confirmed that the products contain no GLP‑1 or any GLP‑1 analogues”.1
They were oral solutions, liquids, ampoules, drops and a microneedle patch, several of them labelled with GLP‑1 or tirzepatide. The TGA treats them as counterfeit, and none is on the Australian register.1 An earlier warning, in September 2025, described “GLP‑1 peptide” drops sold with fake health-professional and celebrity endorsements.2
If they contain no GLP‑1, are they harmless?
No. The TGA says such products may contain undisclosed and potentially harmful ingredients, and may “provide no medical benefit”.1
They also don't meet Australian standards for quality and safety, and they can cost you money for nothing.1 Counterfeit products can't be imported under the Personal Importation Scheme, and the TGA asks Border Force to seize them.1 Many are sold through social media, and the TGA says not to buy unregistered GLP‑1 products there or on other digital platforms.1
What do real GLP‑1 medicines look like?
Semaglutide, tirzepatide and liraglutide are prescription-only in Australia.1 The registered products are injections, apart from Rybelsus tablets for type 2 diabetes.3,4,5
The TGA advises buying prescription medicines only from a local registered pharmacy.1 If you've already bought one of these products, its advice is not to use any GLP‑1 product unless a health professional has advised or prescribed it, and to talk to your health practitioner if you have concerns.1 If you feel unwell after using one, you can report it to the TGA: see How do I report a side effect to the TGA? More on fakes is in Guide 5.
Read the full picture
Related questions
Sources
- TGA. Counterfeit weight loss products claiming to contain GLP-1. Safety advisory, 2 Mar 2026. tga.gov.au
- TGA. Imported unregistered GLP-1 weight-loss products. Safety advisory, 29 Sep 2025. tga.gov.au
- TGA. Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG), search for 'semaglutide': 35 results, checked 12 Oct 2026. tga.gov.au
- TGA. ARTG search for 'tirzepatide': 18 results, all Mounjaro, checked 12 Oct 2026. tga.gov.au
- TGA. ARTG search for 'liraglutide': 11 results, checked 12 Oct 2026. tga.gov.au
Last checked 12 Oct 2026 · Next review due 12 Oct 2027 · Report an error
How this answer was made. Written by the GLP Guidebook team from the sources above, all checked on 12 Oct 2026. We don't publish medicine prices, and we don't name, rank or link to sellers or telehealth services. It's general information, not medical advice, and nothing here is an offer to supply any medicine. Talk to a GP, pharmacist or other qualified prescriber before starting, stopping or changing any medicine. How we write