South Korea issues safety guidelines for GLP-1 obesity drugs

South Korea’s Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, in collaboration with the Korea Institute of Drug Safety & Risk Management, has released updated safety guidelines for GLP-1 class obesity treatments. The revised manual expands upon previous adult-centric instructions to include specific safety information for adolescents and pregnant women.

For adolescents aged 12 to 17, prescriptions of semaglutide and liraglutide are permitted only for those with a BMI of 30 kg/m² or higher and a body weight exceeding 60 kg. Due to the critical nature of growth and development during this period, officials advise starting with low doses and closely monitoring for side effects such as dehydration from vomiting or acute pancreatitis.

Regarding reproductive health, patients who are pregnant, breastfeeding, or planning pregnancy must discontinue use immediately. Because safety data for use during pregnancy is insufficient, those planning to conceive should observe a contraceptive period of at least one to two months after stopping the medication to account for residual drug presence in the body.

Additional warnings include the risk of hypoglycemia when combined with diabetes medications and the necessity of proper refrigeration. The Ministry emphasized that these are prescription-only drugs and warned against the risks of purchasing products through overseas direct purchases or unauthorized private distribution.