Published: 4 November 2026

Safety Information

Alert communication

The risks of unapproved peptide products

4 November 2026

The availability and use of unapproved peptide products continues to increase in New Zealand and internationally. This update provides the latest information about the risks associated with these products and developments since our previous alert communication.

These products may pose serious risks to your health because their contents, quality, and safety are unknown. The high number of hospitalisations of people taking these products in other countries (eg, in Australia) has also put their health systems under unnecessary pressure.

Importing and supplying unapproved peptide products is illegal
Lab testing doesn't make a product safe
Why using unapproved peptide products is harmful
Summary of reports to the NZ pharmacovigilance database
Links to reliable information

Importing and supplying unapproved peptide products is illegal

Ordering or buying unapproved peptide products without the approval of an authorised prescriber is illegal. Products identified as unapproved peptide products by border agencies will be detained and destroyed.

Many sellers label these products as ‘for research purposes only’. This wording has no legal effect and does not permit sale, supply, or use in people.

Lab testing doesn’t make a product safe

Some importers and sellers promote laboratory testing results as evidence that their peptide products are safe, high quality, or legitimate. People should be extremely cautious of these claims. They can be misleading and should not be relied upon when making decisions about your health.

Lab testing of medicines is a very specialised and sophisticated procedure when undertaken to ensure a medicine is safe. Medsafe can assesses labs to check they can test medicines to a suitable standard. Currently, Medsafe is not aware of any labs in New Zealand that can test unapproved peptide products to standards required for use as a medicine.

Medsafe has concerns that peptide suppliers can use laboratory testing to give customers false assurance about safety.

Even if testing shows a product is free of contaminants, the peptide itself may be dangerous, and the result only relates to the specific sample tested. Therefore, it is not possible to assume that the results from testing one vial will also apply to any other vials marketed under the same name.

If you have purchased an unapproved peptide product, you can visit a free and confidential drug checking service. You can find information about times and locations of clinics on The Level. These clinics are legal and free to access. While drug checking cannot identify if peptides are present in your sample they can screen your sample for unexpected substances. They can also provide you with confidential advice about reducing potential harms.

Why using unapproved peptide products is harmful

There are several reasons why using unapproved peptide products is harmful to you and others around you.

1. What is in the vial?

Unapproved peptide products are often not clearly labelled with the active ingredient, strength or dose. They may be made in non-sterile, poor-quality manufacturing conditions, contain harmful or undisclosed ingredients, or be contaminated with foreign substances.

2. How to administer and how much to use?

Obtaining unapproved peptide products that have not been prescribed by a doctor or sourced from a pharmacy means there is no medical advice on whether the product is right for you, how much to use or whether it can be used with other medicines. We are aware that some products are supplied with complicated dosing and reconstitution instructions that are hard to follow.

Using an injectable product also requires additional considerations. Needle exchange services can provide confidential advice on injecting substances, including peptides. If you are going to inject peptides it is important that you do not share or reuse needles and syringes, and that you safely dispose of used injecting equipment. There are specific peptide injecting kits available from pharmacies enrolled in the needle exchange programme.

3. What happens after use?

There is a high risk of overdose because there is no scientific evidence for how much to use.

Using an unapproved peptide product may result in severe nausea and vomiting, infections, allergic reactions, flu-like illness, blurred vision, musculoskeletal injuries, and many other side effects. These reactions may be life-threatening and require hospitalisation.

Repeated self-injections at the same sites increases the risk of skin damage which can lead to abscess (a red, swollen pocket of pus), lipohypertrophy (a lump of fatty tissue under your skin), or scarring.

Be mindful that the long-term harms of using unapproved peptide products are not yet known.

4. What happens when things go wrong?

Health information shared on social media by non-healthcare professionals is usually not accurate, balanced, or appropriate for your circumstances. Taking their advice could be dangerous. Health decisions should be based on advice from qualified healthcare professionals.

Before using an unapproved peptide product, consider the uncertainty around its contents, quality, safety, and potential long-term effects.

5. Who should you trust?

If you have used an unapproved peptide product and feel unwell, seek medical advice immediately.  Tell your doctor, nurse, pharmacist, or other healthcare professional about any peptide products you have used. This information may help them identify the cause of symptoms and provide appropriate care.

You or your healthcare professional can report any side effects to the New Zealand pharmacovigilance database.

Summary of reports to the NZ pharmacovigilance database

As of 21 October 2026, there are 10 adverse reaction reports for unapproved peptides in the New Zealand pharmacovigilance database. In these 10 reports:

  • Where reported, age ranged from 16 to 54 years.
  • The majority of reports concerned females who thought they were taking retatrutide.
  • In five cases, the patient was noted to have been hospitalised or the report came from a hospital.
  • The majority of reports described gastrointestinal issues such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, bloating, and abdominal pain.
  • Half of the reports mentioned a potential effect on the heart such as chest pain, palpitations, and hypertension.
  • There was one case of allodynia (pain caused by something that doesn’t normally hurt) which we have previously warned about with approved peptides for weight loss.
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