Emergency visits linked to unapproved peptides surge in New South Wales

NSW Health says monthly cases rose from five to more than 217 in just over a year, and is urging people to see a GP first.

Confirmed

More people in New South Wales are ending up in hospital emergency departments after using unapproved peptides, NSW Health says. Peptides are chains of amino acids. Some are sold online as weight-loss or fitness products, but they have not been approved for use in Australia. NSW Health counted 1,180 emergency visits linked to them between July 2025 and September 2026. In July last year there were five patients in a month. By September this year there were more than 217. About 18 per cent of patients were admitted to hospital. A weight-loss peptide called retatrutide was mentioned in 833 cases. Most patients were aged 16 to 44. "It almost becomes a game of Russian roulette," Dr Darren Roberts of the NSW Poisons Information Centre told The Sydney Morning Herald. NSW Health says to talk to your GP first. Only use products registered with the Therapeutic Goods Administration. If you are worried about a reaction, call the Poisons Information Centre on 13 11 26.