Pretend weight loss merchandise and counterfeit medicines are a “rising downside” within the UK market as value will increase have resulted in additional prospects searching for cheaper choices on-line, an expert has warned.
A Freedom of Data (FOI) request obtained by Chemist4U revealed that greater than 18,000 unlawful and counterfeit weight loss and diabetes medicines had been seized at UK borders between January 2024 and June 2025.
The value of Mounjaro, some of the in style weight-loss medicine used world wide, increased in September for UK buyers, with some trade consultants warning this might result in a rise in counterfeit merchandise within the coming months.
“The Mounjaro value hike is more likely to push many individuals to hunt cheaper alternate options, however shopping for from unverified sellers on-line, magnificence retailers or social media is extraordinarily harmful,” stated Jason Murphy, a weight loss injection specialist and Head of Pharmacy at Chemist4U.
“Our FOI information exhibits that the black marketplace for weight reduction injections is already thriving within the UK. Sufferers have to be cautious. We urge them to solely use regulated pharmacies to guard their well being.”
Right here’s what it is advisable know.
What are faux weight reduction merchandise?
It seems that faux weight reduction merchandise are actually flooding the UK market, with shoppers searching for weight reduction merchandise on-line that won’t truly be secure to be used.
Pretend merchandise will be any unlicensed treatment that has not been permitted by regulators or totally examined for safety and efficacy.
These merchandise might declare miraculous weight reduction cures, however their elements will be considerably obscure.
Or, they’ll declare to work as successfully as registered medicine like Mounjaro with out truly doing so. There are additionally dangers related to doses being too excessive, micro organism being current, or impurities within the treatment.
In accordance with Lloyds Pharmacy, these medicine “will be harmful and even doubtlessly deadly.”
Chemist4U discovered that 2,472 unregulated weight reduction and diabetes medicine had been seized by the border management between January and Could of this 12 months alone. The 12 months prior additionally recorded at the very least 15,844 seizures throughout the 12 months.
Mr Murphy added: “Counterfeit medicines are a rising downside, and the surge in smuggled weight reduction injections exhibits how criminals are exploiting rising demand,”
“These unlicensed merchandise usually are not topic to the rigorous safety checks required within the UK, which implies sufferers do not know what they’re actually injecting.
“Shopping for weight reduction injections on the black market is like enjoying Russian roulette along with your well being. Pretend pens aren’t simply unlawful, they may very well be contaminated, expired or utterly ineffective.”
A spokesperson from Border Pressure stated: “Border Pressure works across the clock to intercept drug provide chains and can proceed working intently with our abroad counterparts to determine and stop the brand new strategies criminals take to smuggling unlawful medicine, together with unregulated weight reduction merchandise.”
Learn how to spot faux weight reduction medicine?
In accordance with Mr Murphy, there are some tell-tale indicators that weight reduction treatment is faux.
One of the simplest ways to examine is to make sure the web site you’re shopping for merchandise from has the respectable credentials and to seek the advice of a physician earlier than taking treatment.
- The web pharmacy explains that registered on-line pharmacies in England, Wales and Scotland are anticipated to show the GPhC’s web pharmacy brand on their web site. Alongside the GPhC brand, the pharmacy ought to show its distinctive registration quantity, which can be utilized to confirm a pharmacy’s credentials.
- The Head of Pharmacy additionally urges individuals to keep away from taking treatment altogether with out consulting a healthcare skilled first. It’s important to work with an authorized prescriber who can totally evaluate an individual’s medical historical past and supply skilled steerage earlier than prescribing remedies.
- Folks must also double-check their prescription particulars and make sure the info on injection pens matches what their healthcare supplier has prescribed.
- Most significantly, if prospects consider they’ve purchased faux Mounjaro or Wegovy drugs, it’s crucial that they chorus from utilizing the drugs and report it instantly to the Medicines and Healthcare merchandise Regulatory Company (MHRA).
