Emergency departments in New South Wales have recorded a sharp rise in presentations associated with unapproved peptides sold online for weight loss and wellness, with monthly presentations increasing from five in July 2025 to 217 in September 2026.

NSW Health said 1,180 presentations were associated with the products between 1 July 2025 and 30 September 2026. None of the named peptides is approved in Australia for any purpose.

Unapproved Peptides Behind Sharp Rise in NSW Emergency Visits

The figures were published on Monday 19 October 2026 and describe a trend that was previously very rare. A quarter of patients were aged 16 to 24, while men made up 51 per cent of cases, suggesting the habit is hardly confined to one group.

Retatrutide, an experimental obesity drug, accounted for 71 per cent of presentations. Peptides are short chains of amino acids, and some, such as insulin, are approved medicines.

Patients arrived with abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, chest pain and anaphylaxis, among other allergic reactions. Hunter New England Health recorded 86 presentations over 15 months, according to local reporting.

Doctors and Ministers Warn of Liver and Kidney Damage

Health Minister Ryan Park said unapproved peptides could cause liver and kidney damage, allergic reactions and severe vomiting. 'People can get very unwell, very quickly as a result of these products,' he said. NSW Health said clinicians were also reporting kidney damage and liver injury through calls to the NSW Poisons Information Centre.

The products are promoted through social media, online retailers and overseas suppliers. NSW Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant said a professional-looking website, label or influencer endorsement was 'not proof of what is inside the product'. Dr Chant added that contents and strength may differ between products carrying the same label.

Dr Tim Jones, of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, said products often did not contain the listed ingredients or came in vastly different doses.

Victoria's health department separately reported six cases of acute liver injury since January 2026 among people who used an unapproved product labelled retatrutide. It said the toxicity was possibly linked to a contaminant.

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Regulators Step Up Action Against Suppliers and Influencers

On 20 July 2026, the Therapeutic Goods Administration warned suppliers and promoters of unapproved peptide products that unlawful advertising, importing, manufacturing and supply could trigger enforcement action.

It said influencers and content creators could be held accountable for unlawful advertising, even if they were not selling the goods directly. The regulator has cited concerns over quality, sterility and dosing accuracy, and earlier added peptides to its compliance priorities after detecting more unlawful importation, supply and advertising.

Mr Park said the scale of the increase would be discussed with health ministers over the coming months. Dr Jones feared the figures were only part of the picture because some effects are delayed, and said at least half the young people he sees are aware of or have considered accessing peptides.

NSW Health advises people to discuss their health goals with their doctor and use only approved peptide medicines prescribed by a qualified health practitioner. Patients should check that the medicine is registered with the TGA.

Anyone already using unapproved peptides was urged to speak to a health professional before their next dose, and to tell treating staff before any surgery.

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