MHRA urges women using GLP-1s to use effective contraception

Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) urges women who are taking GLP-1 medicines for weight loss and diabetes - such as Ozempic, Mounjaro, Wegovy, Saxenda and Victoza - to use effective contraception. Effective contraception includes oral (the pill) and non-oral (the implant, coil or condoms) forms of contraception.

However, Mounjaro may reduce the effectiveness of oral contraceptives in those who are overweight. Therefore, those taking Mounjaro who are overweight and are using an oral form of contraception are advised to also use a non-oral form of contraception. This only applies to those taking Mounjaro and is especially important for the four weeks after starting Mounjaro and after any dose increase.

The Agency said it had received 26 pregnancy-related reports for Mounjaro, eight reports relating to pregnancy in those taking semaglutide and nine reports for liraglutide.

These medicines must not be taken during pregnancy, while trying to get pregnant, or during breastfeeding. Anyone who gets pregnant while using them should speak to their healthcare professional and stop the medicine as soon as possible. This is because there is not enough safety data to know whether taking the medicine could cause harm to the baby.

Alongside advice on contraceptive use, the MHRA reminds patients that these medicines should not be bought from unregulated sellers such as beauty salons or via social media, or taken without a prior consultation with a healthcare professional. Not only does this expose people wanting to lose weight to serious health risks, it is also against the law to sell these medicines in this way. The only way to guarantee receiving a genuine GLP-1 medicine is to obtain it from a legitimate pharmacy. 

The guidance also reminds patients of the symptoms to look out for in the event of acute pancreatitis which, although uncommon, can be serious. The main symptom of this is severe pain in the stomach that radiates to the back and does not go away. Anyone who experiences this should seek immediate medical help.

To access this guidance, please click here