MHRA Press Release on weight loss drugs!
On 5th June 2025, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) issued a press release to remind women with diabetes also taking the popular medicines for weight loss to use safe and effective contraception. In some cases, it is advised that women stop the medication at least two months before trying to get pregnant.
The GLP-1 medicines brand names include Ozempic, Mounjaro, Wegovy, Saxenda and Victoza and the key points are:
- They should 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.
- Women taking Mounjaro, who are overweight and using an oral form of contraception, are advised to also use a non-oral form (the implant, coil or condoms). Mounjaro may reduce the effectiveness of oral contraceptives in those who are overweight.
This advice is already in the patient leaflets that come with the medicine and is just one of the reminders in the latest guidance from the MHRA on the safe use of “GLP-1 medicines”. However, the UK regulator is concerned that some people are not using these medicines for weight loss safely.
The full advice can be found on the MHRA website: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/glp-1-medicines-for-weight-loss-and-diabetes-what-you-need-to-know
