Ozempic prescription rules in Brazil amid surge in US poison‑center calls

Brazil's health regulator Anvisa implemented Instruction Normative 360/2025 in June 2025, requiring a special two‑part white prescription for GLP‑1 agonists such as semaglutide (Ozempic) and liraglutide. The prescription must be retained by the pharmacy, is valid for 90 days, and aims to curb off‑label use and related adverse events.

A separate study of the U.S. National Poison Data System found that after the FDA approved semaglutide for chronic weight‑loss in 2021, poison‑center calls involving GLP‑1 drugs roughly doubled, reaching about 8,000 calls in 2023. Most incidents were linked to therapeutic errors—daily injections instead of the recommended weekly schedule and initiating treatment at higher-than‑recommended doses. The authors highlight the need for clearer patient education and physician oversight to ensure safe use of these popular weight‑loss medications.