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How do I report a side effect in Canada?

GLP Guidebook teamUpdated 12 Oct 20266 sourcesWritten from published sources
The short answer

Report it to Health Canada's Canada Vigilance Program online, by calling 1-866-234-2345, or with the Side Effect Reporting Form by fax or mail. Anyone can report, for Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro or any GLP-1, and you don't need to be sure the medicine caused it. A report is not a way to get medical help.

How do you send a report?

There are four ways: online, by phone on 1-866-234-2345, or with the Side Effect Reporting Form by fax or by mail.1,2

  • Online through Health Canada's MedEffect Canada pages (canada.ca/medeffect).2
  • Phone 1-866-234-2345, toll-free.1
  • Fax 1-866-678-6789.1
  • Mail to the Canada Vigilance Program, Health Canada, Address Locator 1908C, Ottawa ON K1A 0K9.2

Health Canada says not to send reports by email.2 In French the program is the Programme Canada Vigilance, part of MedEffet Canada.

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What should you report?

Health Canada says "anyone can report a side effect", as soon as possible, even if you're not sure the product caused it.3

It asks especially for unexpected or serious side effects, and for reactions to products on the market less than five years. Generic semaglutide is one of those. Overdoses and a medicine not working also count.2 Give the brand, DIN, lot number and dose, and every other medicine you take, and keep the pen and box.2 Suspected fake or unauthorized GLP‑1 products should be reported to Health Canada too.4

What happens to your report?

Health Canada looks for "signals", patterns across reports, which can lead to label changes or other action.3

One report is rarely enough on its own, and a signal is "not proof" that the product caused the problem.3 Health Canada also says reporting a side effect "does not constitute an admission" that a health professional or the product caused it.2 The program "does not provide medical advice", as the Ozempic leaflet notes, so tell your prescriber or pharmacist too.5 You may also report to the maker.2 More on side effects is in Guide 5.

Get help now: call 9-1-1 for severe, ongoing pain in the stomach area, which could be an inflamed pancreas, or for breathing problems or swelling of the face, lips, tongue or throat. The Ozempic leaflet says to get immediate medical help for these.5 For advice that isn't an emergency, most provinces have a nurse line on 8-1-1.6

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Related questions

Was my Dr. Reddy's semaglutide pen recalled? Can I get Ozempic online in Canada? How long can Ozempic be out of the fridge? Is Apo-Semaglutide the same as Ozempic?
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Sources

  1. Health Canada. Canada Vigilance Program (reports by "health professionals and consumers on a voluntary basis"; "online, by phone or by submitting the Side Effect Reporting Form by fax or mail"; telephone 1-866-234-2345; fax 1-866-678-6789). Checked 12 Oct 2026. canada.ca
  2. Health Canada. Side Effect Reporting Form, April 2018 (what to report, including "unexpected" and "serious" effects and reactions to products "on the market less than five years"; overdose and lack of effect count; "Do not send reports by e-mail"; you may also report to the maker). canada.ca
  3. Health Canada. Report a side effect ("Anyone can report a side effect"; report "even if you are not sure" the product caused it). Page dated 8 Sep 2023, checked 12 Oct 2026. canada.ca
  4. Health Canada. Thinking about buying GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic or Mounjaro? Beware of fake or unauthorized products. Advisory, 21 Jan 2026 ("Only buy prescription drugs from licensed pharmacies"; check the "eight-digit Drug Identification Number (DIN)"; sellers "both in stores and online"; misused logos and "fake endorsements"; report suspected counterfeit products). recalls-rappels.canada.ca
  5. Novo Nordisk Canada. Ozempic (semaglutide injection) Product Monograph, 13 Jul 2026 (made "by recombinant DNA technology in Saccharomyces cerevisiae"; storage: before first use 2–8 °C, after first use 8 weeks below 30 °C or refrigerated, "Do not freeze… do not use… if it has been frozen", keep the cap on; adverse reactions Table 2: nausea 17.0% on 0.5 mg and 19.9% on 1 mg vs 6.3% on comparator; low blood sugar with a sulfonylurea or insulin; retinopathy complications 3.0% vs 1.8%; stop at least 2 months before a planned pregnancy; disposal and Canada Vigilance wording). pdf.hres.ca (PDF)
  6. Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada. Medical services by phone (811 health lines by province and territory, including Info-Santé 811 in Quebec). Checked 12 Oct 2026. heartandstroke.ca

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. Prices are official list or formulary prices, never a seller's, savings-card or coupon price, and we don't name or rank sellers. Availability, coverage and recall facts are dated because they change. Figures marked as our arithmetic are worked out from those sources. It's general information, not medical advice, and not an advertisement for any medicine. Talk to a doctor, nurse practitioner or pharmacist before starting, stopping or changing any medicine. How we write