A Malaysian woman in a light blue hijab talking with a female doctor at a clinic desk, with a plain unbranded injection pen and a weighing scale nearby

Suntikan Kurus & Ubat Kurus: Liraglutide, Semaglutide & Orlistat

Suntikan kurus (weight loss injections) such as liraglutide and semaglutide, and ubat kurus (weight loss pills) such as orlistat and phentermine, are prescription medicines for obesity, not quick slimming fixes. Malaysia’s obesity guideline recommends them only for adults with a BMI of 30 or more, or 27 or more with a weight-related condition such as diabetes or high blood pressure, together with diet, exercise and medical supervision. In large trials, weekly semaglutide helped people lose about 15% of their weight. Common side effects are nausea and diarrhoea. Weight usually returns after stopping. Do not use them in pregnancy, and never buy them online without a prescription.

In this guide we use the generic (medicine) names. For reference, the main brand names in Malaysia are: liraglutide (Saxenda), semaglutide (Wegovy for weight management; Ozempic and Rybelsus for diabetes), tirzepatide (Mounjaro), orlistat (Xenical) and phentermine (Duromine).

Ringkasan: Suntikan Kurus & Ubat Kurus

  • Suntikan kurus (liraglutide, semaglutide, tirzepatide) dan ubat kurus (orlistat, phentermine) ialah ubat preskripsi, bukan produk kecantikan.
  • Garis panduan KKM: untuk dewasa dengan BMI 30 ke atas, atau 27 ke atas dengan penyakit berkaitan seperti kencing manis atau darah tinggi.
  • Ubat mesti digunakan bersama diet, senaman dan perubahan tabiat, dengan pemantauan doktor.
  • Kesan sampingan biasa: loya, muntah, cirit-birit dan sembelit. Sakit perut teruk yang menjalar ke belakang perlu rawatan segera.
  • Berat badan biasanya naik semula selepas berhenti ubat.
  • Jangan guna semasa mengandung, merancang hamil atau menyusu. Gunakan kaedah perancang keluarga yang berkesan.
  • Jangan beli dalam talian tanpa preskripsi. Semak nombor MAL di laman web NPRA.

Sumber: Garis Panduan Amalan Klinikal (CPG) Pengurusan Obesiti KKM 2023; NPRA; KKM; MHRA; NHS.

Apa itu suntikan kurus dan ubat kurus?

“Suntikan kurus” and “ubat kurus” are everyday Malay terms for prescription medicines that treat obesity. Malaysia’s Clinical Practice Guidelines (CPG) on the Management of Obesity, updated in 2023, describe obesity as a chronic disease, and say medicines can help when diet, exercise and behaviour change alone have not been enough (Malaysian CPG).

Obesity is common in Malaysia. The National Health and Morbidity Survey 2019 found that 32.3% of adults were overweight and 33.7% had obesity, using the BMI cut-offs for Asians (Malaysian CPG). Asians tend to develop diabetes and heart disease at a lower BMI, so Malaysia classifies weight as follows:

Category BMI (kg/m²) Risk of related diseases
Underweight Below 18.5 Low, but other health problems possible
Normal 18.5 to 22.9 Lowest
Pre-obese (overweight) 23.0 to 27.4 Increased
Obese I 27.5 to 32.4 High
Obese II 32.5 to 37.4 Very high
Obese III 37.5 and above Extremely high

Source: Malaysian CPG Management of Obesity, 2nd edition (2023). BMI = weight in kg divided by height in metres squared.

Weight loss medicines work in two main ways (Malaysian CPG): some reduce appetite so you eat less (liraglutide, semaglutide and phentermine), and one reduces how much fat your gut absorbs (orlistat).

Siapa yang layak menggunakan ubat kurus?

Malaysia’s obesity guideline recommends that weight loss medicines (Malaysian CPG):

  • are used only together with diet, exercise and behaviour change, and never alone;
  • are for adults with a BMI of 30 or more, or a BMI of 27 or more with a weight-related condition such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol or obstructive sleep apnoea;
  • are used with medical supervision and careful monitoring, with face-to-face reviews monthly for the first 3 months and then at least every 3 months;
  • are stopped if you have not lost more than 5% of your weight after 3 months, or if side effects are a problem, so another approach can be tried.

Medicines may help you stick to a lower-calorie diet, lose more weight than with diet alone, and keep weight off after losing it (Malaysian CPG). They are not meant for people with a healthy weight who want to slim down for an event. If you are not sure about your BMI or risks, start with a check-up at a klinik kesihatan or your GP. For the basics of weight loss, see our guides on how to lose weight in Malaysia and choosing a weight loss program.

Jenis ubat kurus di Malaysia

The 2023 guideline said the weight loss medicines available in Malaysia were orlistat, phentermine, high-dose liraglutide and semaglutide (Malaysian CPG). Tirzepatide has since been registered too. Here is how they compare:

Medicine How it is taken How it works Average weight loss in trials Common side effects
Semaglutide 2.4 mg Injection once a week; dose increased every 4 weeks over 16 weeks GLP-1 medicine; reduces appetite About 15% of body weight over 68 weeks, vs 2.4% on placebo (Wilding 2021) Nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, constipation
Tirzepatide Injection once a week Acts on GLP-1 and GIP hormone receptors; reduces appetite 15% to 21% over 72 weeks depending on dose, vs 3.1% on placebo (Jastreboff 2022) Stomach and gut side effects, mostly while the dose is being increased
Liraglutide 3 mg Injection once a day GLP-1 medicine; reduces appetite About 8.4 kg over 56 weeks, vs 2.8 kg on placebo (Pi-Sunyer 2015) Nausea, vomiting, faster resting heart rate
Orlistat 120 mg Capsule 3 times a day with meals Blocks about 30% of dietary fat from being absorbed About 5.8 kg over 4 years, vs 3.0 kg on placebo (Torgerson 2004) Oily stools, wind with oily spotting, urgent bowel movements
Phentermine Capsule once a day, short-term only (3 months) Stimulant that reduces appetite About 3.6 kg more than lifestyle change alone (Malaysian CPG) Insomnia, palpitations, dry mouth, raised blood pressure

Registration in Malaysia. When we searched the National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency (NPRA) product database on 11 November 2026, products containing all five medicines above were registered. Several liraglutide products from different companies are registered. The Ministry of Health says registered GLP-1 products are approved only for specific medical uses, doses and conditions of use (KKM), and some products are registered for diabetes rather than weight management. Your doctor will choose the right product and dose.

Two other combination pills in the guideline, phentermine with topiramate and naltrexone with bupropion, were not among the weight loss medicines listed as available in Malaysia in 2023 (Malaysian CPG).

Suntikan kurus (GLP-1): cara kerja dan hasil

GLP-1 receptor agonists copy a natural gut hormone called GLP-1. In people with type 2 diabetes they help control blood sugar, and they also reduce appetite so you eat fewer calories (Malaysian CPG). Doses used for weight management are higher than the doses used for diabetes: up to 3 mg a day for liraglutide and 2.4 mg a week for semaglutide (Malaysian CPG). Tirzepatide acts on GLP-1 and a second hormone receptor, GIP (Jastreboff 2022).

What the large trials found:

  • Semaglutide (STEP 1): almost 2,000 adults without diabetes lost 14.9% of their body weight over 68 weeks, compared with 2.4% on placebo. Half (50.5%) lost 15% or more (Wilding 2021).
  • Tirzepatide (SURMOUNT-1): over 72 weeks, weight fell by 15.0%, 19.5% and 20.9% on the 5 mg, 10 mg and 15 mg doses, compared with 3.1% on placebo (Jastreboff 2022).
  • Liraglutide (SCALE): 63.2% of people lost at least 5% of their weight, compared with 27.1% on placebo, over 56 weeks. Most participants (78.5%) were women (Pi-Sunyer 2015).
  • Heart health: in people with heart disease and overweight or obesity but no diabetes, weekly semaglutide 2.4 mg lowered heart attacks, strokes and heart deaths (6.5% vs 8.0%) over about 3 years. However, twice as many people stopped the medicine because of side effects (16.6% vs 8.2%) (Lincoff 2023).

Most trial participants were not Asian, and every trial combined the medicine with diet and exercise advice. GLP-1 medicines also help blood sugar and blood pressure in people with type 2 diabetes; see our guides to kencing manis (diabetes) and hati berlemak (fatty liver).

Apa jadi selepas berhenti?

Weight loss medicines treat obesity while you take them; they do not cure it. In the STEP 1 extension, people who stopped weekly semaglutide regained about two-thirds of the weight they had lost within a year, and the improvements in blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol faded too (Wilding 2022).

Malaysia’s guideline says that because obesity is a chronic disease, medicines should be considered long-term, and that short courses of 6 months or less do not lead to lasting weight loss (Malaysian CPG). Before starting, talk to your doctor about how long you might need treatment, the cost of long-term use, and a plan for eating and activity that you can keep up.

Kesan sampingan dan amaran

Common side effects of GLP-1 injections are nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea and constipation (Malaysian CPG). They are mostly mild to moderate or short-lived, but can sometimes cause severe dehydration that needs hospital care (MHRA). They tend to happen while the dose is being increased (Jastreboff 2022).

Less common but serious problems (Malaysian CPG; MHRA):

  • Inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis). Rare cases have been serious or fatal. Get urgent medical help for severe stomach pain that spreads to your back and does not go away (MHRA).
  • Gallbladder problems, such as gallstones (Malaysian CPG); see our guide to batu hempedu (gallstones).
  • Low blood sugar if used together with insulin or some diabetes tablets (Malaysian CPG).
  • Kidney problems. There have been reports of sudden kidney injury or worsening kidney disease, so take care if you have kidney disease (Malaysian CPG).
  • Surgery risk. These medicines slow how quickly your stomach empties, so tell your surgeon and anaesthetist before any operation or sedation (MHRA).

Who should not use GLP-1 injections: people with a personal or family history of medullary thyroid cancer or a condition called MEN2, and women who are pregnant (Malaysian CPG). People with diabetes and eye disease (retinopathy) need closer eye checks when starting semaglutide (Malaysian CPG).

If you have side effects, tell your doctor or pharmacist. The public can also report side effects directly to NPRA using the consumer side effect reporting form (ConSERF) (KKM).

Wanita: kehamilan, menyusu dan pil perancang

Many women using weight loss medicines are of childbearing age, so this section matters. The UK medicines regulator (MHRA) advises:

  • Do not use GLP-1 medicines during pregnancy, while trying to get pregnant or while breastfeeding. There is not enough safety data, and some animal studies showed harm to the unborn baby (MHRA).
  • Use effective contraception while taking them. If you think you may be pregnant, speak to a doctor straight away (MHRA).
  • Tirzepatide and the pill: tirzepatide may make the oral contraceptive pill less effective in women who are overweight. Add a condom for 4 weeks after starting and for 4 weeks after every dose increase, or switch to a coil or implant (MHRA).

How long to stop before trying for a baby (MHRA):

Medicine Stop at least this long before trying to get pregnant
Semaglutide (injection or tablet) 2 months
Tirzepatide 1 month
Liraglutide Just before trying (it leaves the body quickly)

Orlistat and phentermine are also not used during pregnancy or breastfeeding (Malaysian CPG). With orlistat, severe diarrhoea, or diarrhoea lasting more than 24 hours, can stop the combined pill from working, so use condoms as well (NHS). If you are planning a pregnancy, see our guide to cara cepat hamil. Women with PCOS often struggle with weight, so ask your doctor about a plan that covers both weight and fertility.

Orlistat dan phentermine

Orlistat is a capsule that reduces fat absorption. It works only on fat in your meals, and it is the only weight loss medicine that does not act on the rest of the body (Malaysian CPG). Tips for using it:

  • Take one capsule 3 times a day, just before, with or up to 1 hour after a main meal. If a meal has no fat in it, or you skip a meal, skip the capsule (NHS).
  • Keep each meal lower in fat. Oily stools, wind with oily spotting and diarrhoea are less likely with a balanced, lower-fat diet (NHS).
  • Orlistat reduces absorption of vitamins A, D, E and K, so a multivitamin may be needed if you take it for more than 12 months (Malaysian CPG).
  • It can affect other medicines, including thyroxine, warfarin, ciclosporin and some epilepsy medicines (Malaysian CPG). Check with your pharmacist.
  • If you have not lost 5% of your weight after 3 months, it is not recommended to continue (NHS).

Phentermine is a stimulant that reduces appetite. In Malaysia it is registered as a weight loss medicine but should only be used for up to 3 months at a time, sometimes in repeated courses (Malaysian CPG). Side effects include insomnia, palpitations, a faster heart rate, dry mouth and raised blood pressure, and there is a risk of misuse and dependence. It should not be used by people with heart disease, uncontrolled high blood pressure, an overactive thyroid, anxiety disorders or seizures, or during pregnancy or breastfeeding (Malaysian CPG). See our guide to darah tinggi (high blood pressure).

Bahaya membeli suntikan kurus dalam talian

Weight loss injections are widely sold on social media and e-commerce sites in Malaysia, often without a prescription. The Ministry of Health (KKM) has acted against this:

  • From January to June 2026, KKM carried out about 30 raids on illegal weight loss products, with seizures worth RM477,142, and removed 209 online advertisements (KKM, via The Star).
  • Between 2025 and September 2026, KKM seized 697 units of products claiming to contain retatrutide and 62 units of semaglutide sold illegally (Bernama).
  • As of August 2026, no product containing retatrutide (“reta”) was registered in Malaysia. It is an experimental medicine still in clinical trials and had not been approved by any regulator in the world (KKM, via The Star).
  • Selling unregistered medicines is an offence under the Sale of Drugs Act 1952, with fines of up to RM50,000 for a first offence (KKM, via The Star).

Medicines from unregulated sellers may be fake, contain the wrong dose, or not be sterile. The MHRA has received reports of people having severe side effects from fake GLP-1 medicines, and warns against buying them from beauty salons or social media (MHRA). Using these injections without examination or monitoring by a doctor can cause serious complications (KKM, via The Star).

How to protect yourself:

  1. Get weight loss medicines only after seeing a doctor, from a clinic, hospital or registered pharmacy.
  2. Check the MAL registration number on the pack using the “Product Search” on the NPRA website (KKM).
  3. Be wary of very cheap prices, testimonials and promises of fast, dramatic weight loss (KKM, via The Star).

Slimming coffees, teas and sachets carry their own risks; some have been found to contain the banned drug sibutramine. See our guide to weight loss supplements and slimming pills.

Sebelum anda bermula

Questions to ask your doctor before starting a weight loss medicine:

  • Is my BMI and health risk high enough for medicine to be worth it?
  • Which medicine suits me, and is it registered in Malaysia for weight management?
  • What side effects should I watch for, and when should I seek urgent help?
  • How long will I need it, what will it cost, and what happens when I stop?
  • Does it affect my other medicines or my contraception, and what if I plan to get pregnant?
  • What diet and activity plan should I follow alongside it?

Whatever you decide, the basics still matter. Malaysia’s guideline recommends at least 150 minutes a week of moderate activity, building up to 300 minutes, and including both strength and aerobic exercise (Malaysian CPG). For practical ideas, see our 7-day Malaysian diet plan for weight loss.

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

Apa itu suntikan kurus (what are weight loss injections)?

Weight loss injections are prescription medicines called GLP-1 receptor agonists, such as liraglutide (a daily injection) and semaglutide (a weekly injection), and the related medicine tirzepatide. They reduce appetite, so you eat fewer calories (Malaysian CPG). They are meant for people with obesity, together with diet, exercise and behaviour change, under medical supervision. They are not cosmetic slimming jabs.

Siapa boleh guna ubat kurus (who can use weight loss medicines)?

Malaysia’s obesity guideline says weight loss medicines are for adults with a BMI of 30 or more, or 27 or more with a weight-related condition such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol or sleep apnoea. They should only be used alongside diet, exercise and behaviour change, and with medical supervision (Malaysian CPG). They are not for people who just want to lose a few kilos.

Berapa banyak berat boleh turun dengan suntikan kurus (how much weight can I lose)?

In large trials lasting about 1 to 1.5 years, people lost on average about 15% of their body weight with weekly semaglutide 2.4 mg (Wilding 2021), 15% to 21% with tirzepatide depending on the dose (Jastreboff 2022), and about 8 kg with daily liraglutide 3 mg (Pi-Sunyer 2015). People on placebo with lifestyle advice lost about 2% to 3%. Results vary from person to person.

Ubat kurus mana yang berdaftar di Malaysia (which weight loss medicines are registered in Malaysia)?

When we checked the NPRA product database in November 2026, products containing semaglutide, liraglutide, tirzepatide, orlistat and phentermine were registered in Malaysia. Registration covers specific approved uses and doses (KKM), so your doctor will decide which medicine suits you. As of August 2026, no product containing retatrutide was registered; it is still an experimental medicine (KKM).

Apa kesan sampingan suntikan kurus (what are the side effects of weight loss injections)?

The most common side effects are nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea and constipation (Malaysian CPG; MHRA). They are usually mild to moderate, but can sometimes lead to severe dehydration. Rarer problems include gallstones and inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis). Get urgent help for severe stomach pain that spreads to your back and does not go away (MHRA).

Berat naik semula ke lepas berhenti suntikan (will the weight come back after stopping)?

Often, yes. One year after stopping weekly semaglutide, people in a large trial had regained about two-thirds of the weight they had lost, and their blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol improvements also faded (Wilding 2022). Malaysia’s guideline says obesity is a chronic disease and medicines should be considered long-term, because short courses lead to rebound weight gain (Malaysian CPG).

Boleh guna suntikan kurus semasa mengandung atau menyusu (can I use them while pregnant or breastfeeding)?

No. GLP-1 medicines should not be used during pregnancy, while trying to get pregnant or while breastfeeding, because there is not enough safety data (MHRA). Use contraception while taking them. Stop semaglutide at least 2 months and tirzepatide at least 1 month before trying to get pregnant; liraglutide can be stopped just before (MHRA). Orlistat and phentermine are also not used in pregnancy (Malaysian CPG).

Suntikan kurus menjejaskan pil perancang ke (do they affect the contraceptive pill)?

Tirzepatide may make the pill less effective in women who are overweight. Add a condom for 4 weeks after starting and for 4 weeks after each dose increase, or switch to a coil or implant (MHRA). With orlistat, severe diarrhoea or diarrhoea lasting more than 24 hours can also stop the combined pill from working, so use extra protection such as condoms (NHS).

Selamat ke beli suntikan kurus online (is it safe to buy weight loss injections online)?

No. The Ministry of Health warns against buying weight loss medicines online or through social media without a doctor’s examination, prescription and monitoring, and has seized hundreds of thousands of ringgit worth of illegal products (KKM). Fake or unregistered pens may not contain what they claim and may not be sterile. Get them only from a doctor or a registered pharmacy, and check the MAL number on the NPRA website.

Bagaimana orlistat berfungsi (how does orlistat work)?

Orlistat is a capsule taken 3 times a day with meals that contain fat (NHS). It blocks an enzyme in the gut so that about 30% of the fat you eat passes out in your stools instead of being absorbed (Malaysian CPG). This causes oily stools, wind and urgent bowel movements, especially after fatty meals. Over 4 years, people on orlistat lost about 5.8 kg compared with 3.0 kg on placebo (Torgerson 2004).

Disclaimer

This article is for general information only and is not a substitute for advice from a doctor or pharmacist. Weight loss medicines must be prescribed and monitored by a doctor. Do not start, stop or change any medicine on your own, and do not use weight loss medicines if you are pregnant, trying to get pregnant or breastfeeding. Drann does not sell or recommend any prescription medicine.

References

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