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Home/Guides/Should I consider a GLP-1?
Guide 4 of 9 · Stage: Decide

Should I consider a GLP-1 medicine? And when not to

Who the Australian product information covers, what the PBS subsidises, who should not take these medicines, and how to prepare for an honest talk with a doctor.

GLP Guidebook teamUpdated 12 Oct 202615 min read33 sourcesWritten from published sources
The short answer

In Australia, GLP-1 medicines are approved for type 2 diabetes, and for obesity or overweight that affects your health. The PBS only subsidises them for type 2 diabetes, so for weight you pay the full price. Meeting a number does not mean you should take one. Some people should not take them at all. Talk to a doctor before starting, stopping or changing any medicine.

Key facts

Names you'll see
Wegovy and Ozempic contain semaglutide. Mounjaro contains tirzepatide (sold as Zepbound in the US). In Australia, Ozempic is approved for type 2 diabetes, not for weight loss.1,6,7
Product information
Adults with a BMI of 30 or more, or 27 to 29.9 with at least one weight-related condition6,7
On the PBS
Only Ozempic and Trulicity, only for type 2 diabetes that meets set criteria. Nothing for weight yet8,9
That is not a yes
The product information says the medicine goes alongside a reduced-calorie diet and more activity, and a doctor weighs it up with you6,7
Never take it if
You're allergic to it or you're pregnant. The US label also rules it out if you or family had medullary thyroid cancer, or you have MEN2: tell your doctor3
Results vary
In the main trials, 9 to 14 in 100 people lost less than 5% of their weight; about 31 in 100 if they had type 2 diabetes19,20,21
When you stop
Most of the weight lost tends to come back within a year22
Prescription
Always. Prescription-only medicines, after a real-time consultation with a doctor29
On this page
  1. What do doctors look at?
  2. What does the PBS cover?
  3. Who should not take a GLP-1?
  4. What about pregnancy, PCOS and the pill?
  5. Teens, older adults, kidneys, liver, other medicines, surgery
  6. What if I only want to lose a few kilos?
  7. What results can I honestly expect?
  8. A way to think it through
  9. What to bring to the doctor
  10. What support comes with it?
  11. Questions people ask

What do doctors look at?

Doctors look at your weight, your health conditions, and what you've already tried. A BMI number alone does not decide it.

BMI (body mass index) is your weight in kilograms divided by your height in metres squared. Two different sets of numbers get mixed up online. One set describes your weight. The other is where a doctor may start to think about medicine. They are not the same thing.

Describes your weight Australian BMI ranges

Australian guidance uses: healthy 18.5 to 24.9, overweight 25 to 29.9, obesity 30 or more. For Asian people, and as recommended for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, it uses lower numbers: overweight from 23, obesity from 27.5.2 Waist size matters too. Guide 1 explains this.

Where a doctor may consider medicine The product information

Wegovy and Mounjaro are approved for weight management in adults with a BMI of 30 or more. Or 27 to 29.9 with at least one weight-related condition, like high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes or sleep apnoea.6,7 The product information uses the same numbers for every background.6,7

Meeting a number does not mean you should take it. The product information is the outer limit of what a prescriber may consider, not a promise. In September 2026, Ahpra, which regulates doctors, said it may look into doctors who prescribe these medicines at high rates, and the Medical Board's chair put it simply: "a patient may want peptides, but that doesn't mean they need peptides."30

Type 2 diabetes is a separate reason. Ozempic is approved in Australia to control blood sugar in type 2 diabetes, with no weight cut-off.1 On the PBS it's usually added after metformin and an SGLT2 inhibitor (a tablet that makes you pass sugar in your urine), when HbA1c stays above 7%.8 Your doctor will look at your HbA1c (a blood test of your average sugar level over about 3 months) and your other medicines.

Other approved uses exist. In December 2024, the TGA registered Wegovy to lower the risk of serious heart problems in adults with heart disease and excess weight.16 Wegovy is also provisionally approved for a type of fatty liver disease with scarring (MASH), and Mounjaro for sleep apnoea in adults with obesity.6,17

Who can prescribe. They are prescription-only, and a GP can prescribe them. The Medical Board doesn't support prescribing without a real-time consultation, in person, by video or by phone; an online questionnaire or chat isn't enough.29,32 Guide 6 explains the routes.

What does the PBS cover?

Only type 2 diabetes, for now. The PBS (Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme) is the government subsidy for medicines, and it doesn't subsidise any GLP-1 medicine for weight.8,9

Type 2 diabetes: Ozempic and Trulicity

These two are on the PBS for type 2 diabetes. To qualify, an SGLT2 inhibitor must have not worked well enough, not suited you or not been tolerated, and your HbA1c must still be above 7% on metformin, a sulfonylurea or insulin. The first script needs an authority approval from the government, which your doctor requests by phone or online.8,13 You then pay the PBS co-payment, which is lower with a concession card.14

Mounjaro is not on the PBS. The PBAC, which advises the government on subsidies, recommended it for type 2 diabetes in 2026, but its maker turned down the price terms and stopped the listing process.11

Weight: no subsidy yet

In November 2025 the PBAC recommended subsidising Wegovy for adults who have already had a heart attack, stroke or similar problem and have a BMI of 35 or more, or 32.5 or more for Asian, Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander people.10 As of July 2026 it had not been listed.9 The PBAC wants a "slow and managed" rollout, starting with groups such as people with heart disease, and says broad prevention would need a programme outside the PBS.12

Your situationWhat we found
Type 2 diabetesOzempic or Trulicity on the PBS if you meet the criteria above.8 Other uses are a private script.
Heart disease and a high BMIWegovy recommended for the PBS, but not listed as of July 2026.9,10 Until then, a private script.
Weight, without diabetesA private script: you pay the full price. Some private health extras policies pay part of a non-PBS script, within limits, and some exclude weight-loss medicines.15 Ask your pharmacist and your health fund.

PBS decisions are changing. Checked 12 Oct 2026.

Who should not take a GLP-1?

Some people should never take these medicines. Others need extra care, and a doctor may decide it isn't safe for them.

Every label rules out anyone with a serious allergy to the medicine.3,6,7 The US labels add a second group: anyone with a personal or family history of medullary thyroid cancer (MTC), or a rare inherited condition called MEN2 (multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2).3,5 The Australian labels don't list it as a reason not to take the medicine, but tell your doctor if it applies to you.6,7

The thyroid warning comes from animal studies. Semaglutide caused thyroid tumours in rodents. Nobody knows yet whether it does the same in people.3

The table below lists the main conditions. "Do not take" means the label lists it as a firm reason not to use the medicine. "Not recommended" means the label advises against it. "Caution" means a doctor may still prescribe, but watches you more closely. "Tell your doctor" means the US labels list it as a reason not to take the medicine, but the Australian labels don't.

ConditionWhy it mattersWhat it means
You or a close relative had medullary thyroid cancer, or you have MEN2Thyroid tumours seen in animal studies; human risk unknown3Tell your doctor A reason not to take it on the US labels, not on the Australian labels3,5,6
Allergy to the medicine or its ingredientsSevere allergic reactions have been reported3Do not take3
Pregnant, or trying to get pregnantMay harm the baby3Stop Stop semaglutide at least 2 months before trying6
BreastfeedingSemaglutide should not be used while breastfeeding4Do not use per the European label4
Past pancreatitis (swollen pancreas)Pancreatitis, sometimes fatal, has happened on these medicines3Caution European label advises caution4
Severe gastroparesis (very slow stomach) or bowel diseaseStomach side effects can be more severe3,4Not recommended if severe Caution with inflammatory bowel disease4
Gallbladder problemsGallstones are more common on these medicines3Tell your doctor Mention any past gallstones3
Type 1 diabetesWegovy has not been studied in people with type 1 diabetes6Not recommended (Australian product information)6
Severe kidney diseaseLittle experience; vomiting and diarrhoea can dry you out and harm kidneys3,4Specialist decision See kidneys below
Severe liver diseaseLittle experience in severe liver impairment4Not recommended for weight (European label)4
Diabetic eye disease (retinopathy)Eye complications reported in people with type 2 diabetes3Caution Needs eye check-ups3
Severe heart failureNot studied in the most severe stage6Not recommended (Australian product information)6
Eating disorder, now or in the pastStrong appetite effects may make disordered eating worse26Tell your doctor Not on the labels, but researchers flag it26

From the US Wegovy and Zepbound labels, the European Wegovy label and the Australian product information. Your own pack leaflet, the Consumer Medicine Information (CMI), is the Australian version; read it before you start.

What about pregnancy, PCOS and the pill?

Don't take a GLP-1 while pregnant. If you could get pregnant, plan contraception with your doctor before you start.

These medicines stay in the body for a while after the last dose. So the Australian product information says to stop them before a planned pregnancy: at least 2 months before for semaglutide (Wegovy, Ozempic), and at least 1 month before for tirzepatide (Mounjaro).1,6,7 In Australia both are pregnancy category D.2

Tirzepatide can make the contraceptive pill less reliable. It slows the stomach, which can affect how well the pill is absorbed. The effect is largest after the first dose.5

If you take the pill with Mounjaro, its product information advises switching to a non-pill method or adding a barrier method, such as a condom, for 4 weeks after starting and for 4 weeks after each dose increase.7 Methods that aren't swallowed, like a hormonal coil (IUS), are not affected.5

Semaglutide is not expected to make the pill less effective, according to its Australian product information.6

PCOS note. If you have PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome) and take the pill, the advice above applies to you.5,7 Tell your doctor before starting, especially on Mounjaro, and plan contraception at the same visit.

Teens, older adults, kidneys, liver, other medicines and surgery

These groups can sometimes use GLP-1 medicines. But each one needs extra checks, and some need a specialist.

Teenagers

In Australia, Wegovy is approved for weight management from age 12, for teens with obesity who weigh over 60 kg (132 lb), alongside diet and activity. Its product information says to stop and rethink if a teen's BMI hasn't dropped by at least 5% after 12 weeks on the full dose.6 Gallstones were more common in teens than adults on Wegovy.3 Mounjaro is approved for weight in adults only, but for type 2 diabetes from age 10 in children weighing 50 kg (110 lb) or more.7

Older adults

Older people can lose muscle along with fat, which raises the risk of frailty. Direct evidence in older adults is scarce.27 In a large Wegovy trial, people aged 75 and over had more hip and pelvis fractures than on a dummy injection.3 Dehydration from vomiting or diarrhoea can harm the kidneys, so drinking enough matters.3

Kidney disease

Kidney injury has been reported, mostly in people who got dehydrated from stomach side effects.3 The European label does not recommend Wegovy if kidney function is very low (an eGFR blood-test result below 30).4 But in people with type 2 diabetes and kidney disease, Ozempic is approved in Australia to lower the risk of kidney decline.1 So this is a decision for your kidney or diabetes doctor.

Liver disease

Wegovy has a provisional approval in Australia for a type of fatty liver disease with scarring (MASH).6 It is not recommended in severe liver impairment, and needs caution in milder cases.4

If you take insulin or a sulfonylurea

Sulfonylureas are diabetes tablets like gliclazide and glimepiride. Taken with a GLP-1, they and insulin raise the risk of low blood sugar (a hypo), including severe hypos.3 Your doctor may lower their dose when you start, and should explain the signs of a hypo.3

Before surgery or an endoscopy (camera test)

GLP-1 medicines slow your stomach. Rarely, food has stayed in the stomach despite fasting, and been breathed into the lungs under anaesthetic.3 Always tell the surgeon and anaesthetist you take one.3

Australian anaesthetists (ANZCA, with diabetes, gut and endoscopy groups) advise most people to keep taking it before a procedure. They recommend clear fluids only for the 24 hours before, then the usual 6-hour fast.18 US guidance from 2024 is similar.23 Your hospital team may have its own advice; follow theirs.

What if I only want to lose a few kilos?

These medicines are not meant for a few kilos before a wedding or a holiday, or for losing fat for bodybuilding. You'd take on the same risks with no proven benefit.

It's not what they are approved for. The approved uses for weight cover obesity, or overweight with a weight-related condition.6,7 The big trials only included people with obesity or overweight with a condition.19,20

The risks don't shrink because your goal is small. Stomach side effects, gallstones and pancreatitis can still happen.3

The weight tends to come back. A year after stopping semaglutide, people had regained about two-thirds of what they'd lost.22 A short course before an event is likely to be undone afterwards.

Some of what you lose is muscle. In studies, muscle made up as much as a quarter of the weight lost.27 That works against a gym goal.

Fakes are a real risk in Australia. The TGA has found counterfeit Ozempic pens here.24 In 2026 it found that "GLP-1" drops and patches sold online contained no GLP-1 medicine, and that a product sold as "retatrutide" held about 8 times the approved level of semaglutide; the person who used it was hospitalised.25,28 Pharmacy-made (compounded) versions have been banned since October 2024.31

What to read instead. Guide 3: Your options covers food, activity and other routes. The few-kilos path pulls it together.

What results can I honestly expect?

Most people in trials lost a meaningful amount of weight. But results vary a lot, side effects are common, and the weight returns if you stop.

Before the numbers, how these trials work:

  • People are put into groups at random.
  • One group gets the medicine. The other gets a dummy injection (a placebo) that looks the same but has no medicine in it.
  • Both groups get the same advice on diet and activity.
  • The gap between the groups is what the medicine added.

Trials use losing 5% of body weight as a key marker.19,20 For someone who starts at 90 kg (198 lb), that's 4.5 kg (about 10 lb). Out of every 100 people in each trial, this is how many reached it:

STEP 1Semaglutide 2.4 mg (Wegovy), weekly

Adults without diabetes, 68 weeks.19

Semaglutide86 in 100
Dummy injection31 in 100
SURMOUNT-1Tirzepatide 15 mg (Mounjaro), weekly

Adults without diabetes, 72 weeks.20

Tirzepatide91 in 100
Dummy injection35 in 100
STEP 2Semaglutide 2.4 mg (Wegovy), weekly

Adults with type 2 diabetes, 68 weeks.21

Semaglutide69 in 100
Dummy injection28 in 100

These are separate trials with different people, so they can't be compared with each other.

Put the other way, about 1 in 7 people on semaglutide and 1 in 11 on tirzepatide lost less than 5%. With type 2 diabetes, it was nearly 1 in 3.19,20,21

If you stop, most of it comes back. A year after stopping semaglutide, people had regained about two-thirds of the weight they'd lost.22

Side effects make some people stop. In the semaglutide trial, 4.5 in 100 people quit because of stomach side effects, against 0.8 in 100 on the dummy. This count includes only stomach side effects.19 On tirzepatide 15 mg, 6.2 in 100 stopped because of any side effect, against 2.6 in 100.20 So the two numbers measure different things.

People with diabetes tend to lose less. The average was 9.6% of body weight in the diabetes trial, against 14.9% in people without diabetes.19,21

Expect regular checks. The Australian algorithm sets weight-loss targets with you, often 10–15%, and says to change the plan if they aren't reached.2 The Australian product information has no adult stopping rule based on weight.6

Think of it as long-term. The study on stopping concluded that ongoing treatment seems needed to keep the benefits.22 The Australian algorithm also says weight-loss medicines will usually be needed long term.2 Guide 9 covers stopping.

For weight, you pay every month. There's no PBS subsidy for weight.9 Guide 6 explains who pays, and your pharmacist can tell you what a script costs.

A way to think it through

Use this to sort your thoughts before a doctor visit. It does not give you a yes. Only a doctor who knows your health can.

1Is it for a health reason? Type 2 diabetes, or weight that affects your health?
If noA few kilos, or an event? These medicines aren't for that. Read Guide 3.
2Does anything in the "should not" table apply to you?
If yesDon't start. Tell the doctor; it may rule the medicine out.
3Are you pregnant, breastfeeding, or planning a baby soon?
If yesNot now. Plan timing and contraception with a doctor.
4Are you ready for long-term use, the side effects and, for weight, paying for it every month?
If unsureRead Guide 5 and Guide 6 first.
Talk it through with your GP or another qualified prescriber.Take the checklist below. The prescriber decides whether a medicine fits you, and which one.

Questions to ask yourself

There's no score here. These questions help you know what you want, and what you're ready for.

  • Why do I want this now? Is it my health, or pressure from others?
  • What have I tried before? What worked, even for a while?
  • Could I keep taking a medicine for years, not months?
  • For weight there's no PBS subsidy: could I keep paying for a year or more?
  • How would I cope with feeling sick or having an upset stomach for a few weeks?
  • Am I planning a pregnancy in the next year or two?
  • Have I ever struggled with an eating disorder, like bingeing or starving myself?
  • Who will support me with food changes and activity?

What should I bring to the doctor?

Bring your history, your medicines and any recent test results. Then ask the questions below. You can print this card.

My GLP-1 doctor visit

Bring

  • Your weight history: highest weight, recent changes, past attempts
  • Your waist size, if you've measured it
  • Your background, if you're Asian, Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander (lower BMI cut-offs)
  • A list of every medicine and supplement you take, with doses
  • Recent test results, if you have them: HbA1c, cholesterol, liver, kidney and thyroid tests
  • Family history: thyroid cancer, MEN2, pancreatitis, diabetes
  • Your own history: pancreatitis, gallstones, stomach problems, eating disorders, eye disease
  • Pregnancy plans, and the contraception you use
  • Any surgery or endoscopy (camera test) you have planned

Ask

  • Is a medicine right for me, or should I try something else first?
  • Would this be on the PBS for me, or a private script?
  • Is this medicine approved in Australia for my condition?
  • How will we check if it's working, and when?
  • What should I do about my other medicines?
  • Which side effects mean I should call you, healthdirect (1800 022 222) or 000?
  • What happens if I stop?
  • Who do I contact between visits?

From GLP Guidebook, Guide 4. General information, not medical advice.

Your GP is usually the first step, and our doctor visit checklist (opens in a new tab) helps you prepare. If you see a doctor online, the Medical Board expects a real-time consultation by video or phone, not a questionnaire alone.29 Guide 6 explains the routes and who pays.

What support comes with it?

It should. Australian guidance treats diet, activity and regular review as part of every plan that uses a medicine.2

A 2026 Australian heart consensus says these medicines complement behaviour change rather than replace it.33 Ahpra has raised concerns about services "designed solely to provide customers with access to a predetermined medicine", so ask any service what support and follow-up it gives, not just what it prescribes.32

Whatever route you take, it helps if someone at home knows what you're taking, which side effects to expect, and when to get help.

Questions people ask

My BMI is 28. Can I get a GLP-1?

There's no automatic "yes". The Australian product information lets a prescriber consider Wegovy or Mounjaro from a BMI of 27 if you also have a weight-related condition, like high blood pressure or type 2 diabetes.6,7 For weight, it wouldn't be on the PBS.9 Either way, it's a decision a prescriber makes with you, after weighing the risks.

Does my background change anything?

For how your weight is described, yes. Australian guidance uses lower BMI cut-offs for Asian people, and recommends them for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.2 The PBAC's recommended Wegovy criteria for heart disease also use a lower BMI for these groups.10 The product information uses the same numbers for everyone.6,7

Can I take it if my mother had thyroid problems?

Most thyroid problems, like an underactive thyroid, are not on the "do not take" list. The US labels rule it out for a personal or family history of medullary thyroid cancer, or MEN2; the Australian labels don't list it.3,6 Tell your doctor exactly what your relative had.

Is it safe with metformin?

Metformin is not one of the medicines the labels flag for low blood sugar. That warning is about insulin and sulfonylureas like gliclazide.3 Your doctor will still review all your medicines together.

How long would I need to take it?

Often for a long time. In the stopping study, most of the weight came back within a year, and researchers said ongoing treatment seems needed.22 The Australian algorithm says weight-loss medicines will usually be needed long term.2

Can I stop before I try for a baby?

Plan it with your doctor. The Australian product information says to stop semaglutide at least 2 months, and tirzepatide at least 1 month, before a planned pregnancy.6,7

I'm having surgery next month. Should I stop?

Don't decide alone. Tell your surgeon, anaesthetist and the person who prescribed it. Australian anaesthetists advise most people to keep taking it, with clear fluids only for the 24 hours before.18

Before you move on

  • A BMI number is where a doctor may start thinking, not a reason to take a medicine.
  • The PBS only subsidises them for type 2 diabetes; for weight you pay the full price.
  • Never take one in pregnancy. A personal or family history of MTC, or MEN2, rules it out on the US label: tell your doctor.
  • On Mounjaro, add a condom to the pill for 4 weeks after starting and 4 weeks after each dose increase.
  • They're not for a few kilos, and weight usually returns after stopping.
  • You have a checklist to take to your GP or prescriber.
Your optionsGetting a prescriptionStoppingFor a family member
Was this guide easy to understand?

Sources

  1. Novo Nordisk. Ozempic (semaglutide) Australian Product Information, revised 25 September 2026 (sections 4.1, 4.2, 4.6, 6.3). medsinfo.com.au
  2. Markovic TP, Proietto J, Dixon JB et al. The Australian Obesity Management Algorithm. Australian Diabetes Society, with ANZOS, ANZMOSS and the RACGP, July 2024. diabetessociety.com.au
  3. Novo Nordisk. Wegovy (semaglutide) US prescribing information, revised June 2026: boxed warning, sections 4, 5, 8. PDF
  4. European Medicines Agency. Wegovy summary of product characteristics: sections 4.1, 4.2, 4.4, 4.5, 4.6. PDF
  5. Eli Lilly. Zepbound (tirzepatide) US prescribing information, revised August 2026: sections 4, 7, 8.3, 8.4. PDF
  6. Novo Nordisk. Wegovy (semaglutide) Australian Product Information, revised 22 June 2026 (sections 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4, 4.6, 4.8, 6.4). medsinfo.com.au
  7. Eli Lilly. Mounjaro (tirzepatide) Australian Product Information, version A14.0, October 2026 (sections 4.1, 4.3, 4.5, 4.6, 6.4). medsinfo.com.au
  8. Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme. Type 2 diabetes mellitus pharmacotherapy diagram, at 1 December 2024 (GLP-1 RA subsidised after an SGLT2 inhibitor is contraindicated, not tolerated or not effective, with HbA1c above 7% on metformin, a sulfonylurea or insulin). pbs.gov.au
  9. Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme. Medicine status: semaglutide (Wegovy), document 1460 ("Medicine listed on PBS: Has not yet occurred"), updated 23 July 2026. pbs.gov.au
  10. newsGP (RACGP). Wegovy recommended for PBS listing (established cardiovascular disease; BMI 35 or more, or 32.5 or more for Asian, Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander patients). 19 December 2025. racgp.org.au
  11. newsGP (RACGP). Mounjaro manufacturer rejects PBS recommendation ("price conditions proposed by the Australian Government are unrealistic and unviable"). 28 April 2026. racgp.org.au
  12. Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme. PBAC advice: equitable access to GLP-1 obesity treatments ("a slow and managed roll-out of access to PBS-subsidised GLP-1 treatments"). pbs.gov.au
  13. Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme. Semaglutide (Ozempic) item 12075M: type 2 diabetes, first prescription "Authority Required". pbs.gov.au
  14. Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme. What are the current patient fees and charges? (the co-payment set from 1 January 2026, lower with a concession card, and the safety net). pbs.gov.au
  15. HIF. Can you claim for weight loss drugs on your extras cover? ("Benefits can only be paid on non-PBS prescription items"; "The cost of the item must exceed the current PBS co-payment"). 30 July 2026. Insurer article. hif.com.au
  16. newsGP (RACGP). Wegovy approved for cardiovascular disease in overweight and obesity (TGA registration 19 December 2024). 17 February 2025. racgp.org.au
  17. newsGP (RACGP). Mounjaro approved to treat sleep apnoea. 4 June 2025. racgp.org.au
  18. ANZCA, with the Australian Diabetes Society, GESA and NACOS. Clinical practice recommendations regarding patients taking GLP-1 receptor agonists ("continue these medications"; 24-hour clear-fluid diet, then the standard six-hour fast). anzca.edu.au
  19. Wilding JPH et al. Once-weekly semaglutide in adults with overweight or obesity (STEP 1). NEJM, 2021;384:989–1002. DOI
  20. Jastreboff AM et al. Tirzepatide once weekly for the treatment of obesity (SURMOUNT-1). NEJM, 2022;387:205–216. DOI
  21. Davies M et al. Semaglutide 2.4 mg once a week in adults with overweight or obesity, and type 2 diabetes (STEP 2). Lancet, 2021;397:971–984. DOI
  22. Wilding JPH et al. Weight regain and cardiometabolic effects after withdrawal of semaglutide: the STEP 1 trial extension. Diabetes Obes Metab, 2022;24:1553–1564. DOI
  23. American Society of Anesthesiologists. New multi-society GLP-1 clinical practice guidance released. 29 October 2024. Declared interests: in the guidance paper, 2 of 10 authors declare consulting or speaking fees from Novo Nordisk (paper's own declaration). Link
  24. Therapeutic Goods Administration. Ozempic (semaglutide) safety collection, including counterfeit Ozempic pens detected (30 September 2024, 3 April 2025) and counterfeit semaglutide vials (25 May 2023). tga.gov.au
  25. Therapeutic Goods Administration. TGA tests counterfeit retatrutide product following serious adverse event report (contained undeclared semaglutide, "approximately 8 times higher" than approved levels). Safety advisory, 14 September 2026. tga.gov.au
  26. The dual role of GLP-1 receptor agonists in weight management and eating disorders: potential benefits and risks. J Psychiatr Res, 2026. DOI
  27. GLP-1 receptor agonist therapy and skeletal muscle: a narrative review with implications for older adults. JAR Life, 2026. DOI
  28. Therapeutic Goods Administration. Counterfeit weight loss products claiming to contain GLP-1 (laboratory testing found "no GLP-1 or any GLP-1 analogues"). Safety advisory, 2 March 2026. tga.gov.au
  29. Medical Board of Australia. Guidelines: Telehealth consultations with patients, in effect 1 September 2023 ("Prescribing … without a real-time direct consultation, whether in-person, via video or telephone, is not good practice and is not supported by the Board"). medicalboard.gov.au
  30. newsGP (RACGP). Ahpra launches new guidance in peptide prescribing ("We may investigate the practice of practitioners with high rates of prescribing or compounding of any scheduled medicine, even if we have not received a complaint"). 16 September 2026. racgp.org.au
  31. Therapeutic Goods Administration. Update: glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) pharmacy compounding changes (no compounding of any GLP-1 RA from 1 October 2024). Media release, 18 June 2024. tga.gov.au
  32. Ahpra and National Boards. Joint statement on prescribing and dispensing ("services designed solely to provide customers with access to a predetermined medicine"). 3 June 2024. ahpra.gov.au
  33. newsGP (RACGP). Critical role of GLP-1s addressed in Australian-first consensus (Heart Foundation statement: incretin medicines "complement, not replace" behaviour change). 18 May 2026. racgp.org.au

Last checked 12 Oct 2026 · Next review due Jan 2027 · Report an error

How this guide was made. Written by the GLP Guidebook team from the sources above: Australian, US and European product information, Australian guidance, TGA, PBS and Ahpra documents, and published trials. It's general information, not medical advice. Talk to your GP or another qualified prescriber before starting, stopping or changing any medicine. In an emergency, call triple zero (000). For health advice any time, call healthdirect on 1800 022 222. Report suspected side effects to the TGA. How we write