Taipei: The Taiwan Food and Drug Administration (TFDA) on Saturday asked the public to refrain from procuring GLP-1 and GIP weight-loss medications from unknown sources, after the United Kingdom issued a heightened warning about the drugs last week.

According to Focus Taiwan, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency of the U.K. enforced a strengthened warning on January 29 for all Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists and dual GLP-1/glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) receptor agonists. This warning highlights the risk of acute pancreatitis, which includes necrotising and fatal cases, associated with both receptor agonists.

In a news release, the TFDA echoed the U.K.'s observations, stating that Taiwan documented 21 cases from early 2023 to the end of 2025 involving side effects from using GLP-1 and GIP-based weight-loss drugs, known locally as the "slimming injection." Reported side effects in Taiwan include gastrointestinal disorders, hypoglycemia, nausea, vomiting, and discomfort around the injection sites.

The TFDA noted that while GLP-1 and GIP receptor agonists are legal and include tirzepatide, semaglutide, and liraglutide, they are regulated as prescription drugs in Taiwan. The administration urged the public to avoid purchasing these medications from online or unknown sources to prevent acquiring defective or counterfeit versions.

The TFDA stated it will continue to monitor the safety and usage of these drugs both internationally and within Taiwan to assess if further regulatory measures are necessary.