Retatrutide is a once-weekly weight loss injection that targets three hormones: GLP-1, GIP and glucagon. This “triple G” effect is what makes retatrutide one of the most advanced treatments in development. In clinical trials, it led to greater weight loss than any currently available medication.
But retatrutide is still being tested to see if it’s safe to use. This means it’s not yet been approved for use in the UK, or anywhere else. Here’s the safety information we have so far.
Is retatrutide safe to take?
It’s not safe to take retatrutide just yet. The clinical trials happening at the moment are looking into the short-term and long-term side effects of taking retatrutide. Until these trials are finished, retatrutide is not safe to use. This is why it isn’t available to buy privately, or on the NHS.
You might still see retatrutide advertised for sale online, as well as on social media sites like Reddit and TikTok.
This could be retatrutide that is meant to be used by scientists in clinical trials, but it should never be bought for self-injection. That’s because, as well as being illegal, there’s also no way of knowing for sure which chemicals are in these products, or how they’ve been made and stored.
Buying anything that claims to be retatrutide is dangerous and could make you seriously ill.
Until we know more about the safety of retatrutide, you should only take approved weight-loss medications that have been prescribed to you.
Are there any known side effects of retatrutide?
From the trials that have happened so far, we can see that retatrutide side effects are similar to other weight-loss injections, such as Mounjaro and Wegovy.
The most common symptoms seen in these trials have been digestive problems, such as feeling sick, being sick, diarrhoea, and constipation. These symptoms seem to increase as people increase their dose.
Some people taking part in the trials have also experienced an increased heart rate, but this seems to go back to normal after a few months, even if they stay on the drug.
It’s likely that some people will also experience more serious side effects from taking retatrutide, like they have with other weight-loss medications. However, until the trials are finished, we can’t know for sure all of the side effects that retatrutide might cause, and how serious they might be.
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Who should not take retatrutide?
Until it’s approved, nobody should take retatrutide. But, even if it does become available in the UK, there’s a good chance that retatrutide won’t be right for everyone.
We know that other weight-loss medications are not always suitable if you have a history of certain medical conditions, such as:
- kidney problems
- severe liver disease
- severe gastrointestinal disease
- pancreatitis
- thyroid disease
It’s also not likely to be approved for use in children under 12.
However, we can’t know for sure who can and can’t take retatrutide until the clinical trials are finished.
Is retatrutide safe for women?
Retatrutide will only be considered safe once it’s been fully tested and approved.
Until we have all of the trial results we won’t know if there are any gender differences in side effects. From the data we have so far, it doesn’t seem that there will be.
However, based on the advice for other weight-loss medications, it seems unlikely you’ll be able to take retatrutide if you’re pregnant, trying to conceive, or breastfeeding.
We do know that other GLP-1 medications seem to help people with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) to lose weight.
If this is something you’re interested in, it’s worth looking into whether weight-loss medications that have already been approved, such as Wegovy, might be a good option for you.
Are there safe alternatives to retatrutide?
Absolutely. Although retatrutide isn’t available at the moment, there are plenty of other weight-loss medications that might work for you.
As part of our science-backed weight-loss programme, you can get Mounjaro or Wegovy weight-loss injections, or orlistat weight-loss capsules, posted to you each month. Plus, personalised support from our team of coaches. Take our quick quiz to help find your perfect plan.
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