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Can I get Ozempic for weight loss in Australia?

GLP Guidebook teamUpdated 12 Oct 202613 sourcesWritten from published sources
The short answer

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. Wegovy is the semaglutide brand registered for weight management. The TGA says promoting Ozempic for weight loss is illegal, even to health professionals.

Before you go further
  • Every GLP‑1 medicine is prescription-only in Australia, so a prescriber has to assess you first.1
  • We explain the rules; we don't name, rank or link to sellers or telehealth services.
  • Nothing here promises any result, and nothing here is for sale.

What is Ozempic registered for in Australia?

Ozempic's Australian label covers adults with type 2 diabetes, and adults with type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease; weight loss is not on it.2

Its doses run from 0.25 mg up to 2 mg a week.2 Wegovy contains the same medicine, semaglutide, at up to 2.4 mg a week. It is registered for weight management in adults with a BMI of 30 or more, or 27 or more with a weight-related condition.3 It is also registered to lower the risk of heart attack and stroke in adults with established cardiovascular disease and a BMI of 27 or more.4 Wegovy isn't on the PBS either, so a script for weight is private whichever brand is used.5

Can a doctor still prescribe it for weight?

The TGA says it is illegal to advertise Ozempic for weight loss “even to health professionals”, and regulators are watching prescribing closely.6

In September 2026 Ahpra said it may investigate practitioners with high rates of prescribing any scheduled medicine, even without a complaint.7 Any Ozempic script for weight would be private. The PBS listing is for type 2 diabetes only, and the first script needs an authority approval.8,9

Why did this matter during the shortage?

An unexpected rise in demand drove an Ozempic shortage that began in 2022, and the TGA says illegal promotion contributed.6,9

During the shortage the TGA advised against starting new patients on Ozempic.10 The TGA also let overseas-labelled Ozempic be supplied under temporary approvals, the last of which lapsed in January 2026.11 Diabetes Australia said in July 2025 that supply had recovered enough for new patients to start again.9 See Is Ozempic still in shortage? How the two brands compare is in Guide 2.

RisksThe risks, in brief
  • Common effects. The most common side effects of Ozempic are diarrhoea and nausea, its Australian leaflet says.12
  • Serious effects needing urgent help include a swollen pancreas (severe stomach and back pain that doesn't go away), a severe allergic reaction, loss of vision and a blocked bowel.12
  • Pregnancy. Semaglutide is pregnancy category D in Australia.13
Full detail in Guide 5: Side effects and risks →

Read the full picture

Related questions

Is Ozempic still in shortage? Is Wegovy on the PBS? Is there a generic semaglutide in Australia? How much is Wegovy in Australia? Can my GP prescribe Mounjaro?
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Sources

  1. TGA. Counterfeit weight loss products claiming to contain GLP-1. Safety advisory, 2 Mar 2026. tga.gov.au
  2. Novo Nordisk. Ozempic (semaglutide) Australian Product Information, date of revision 25 Sep 2026, sections 4.1 and 4.2. Australian label. medsinfo.com.au (PDF)
  3. Novo Nordisk. Wegovy (semaglutide) Australian Product Information, date of revision 22 Jun 2026, sections 2, 4.1, 4.2, 4.8 and 6.4. Australian label. medsinfo.com.au (PDF)
  4. newsGP (RACGP). Wegovy approved for cardiovascular disease in overweight and obesity, 17 Feb 2025. racgp.org.au
  5. PBS. Medicine status: semaglutide (Wegovy), established cardiovascular disease with obesity, document 1460. Page last updated 23 Jul 2026. pbs.gov.au
  6. TGA. Advertising Ozempic and GLP-1 receptor agonists is prohibited. Updated 11 Mar 2025. tga.gov.au
  7. newsGP (RACGP). Ahpra launches new guidance in peptide prescribing, 16 Sep 2026. racgp.org.au
  8. PBS. Type 2 diabetes pharmacotherapy diagram, at 1 Dec 2024. pbs.gov.au (PDF)
  9. Diabetes Australia. Ozempic supply returning to normal in Australia, 23 Jul 2025. diabetesaustralia.com.au
  10. newsGP (RACGP). Wegovy launches in Australia, Aug 2024. racgp.org.au
  11. TGA. Search results for 'Ozempic supply' (section 19A approvals for overseas-labelled Ozempic). tga.gov.au
  12. Novo Nordisk. Ozempic (semaglutide) Consumer Medicine Information, prepared August 2026. Australian leaflet. medsinfo.com.au (PDF)
  13. Australian Diabetes Society, ANZOS, ANZMOSS and RACGP. Australian Obesity Management Algorithm, July 2024. diabetessociety.com.au (PDF)

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