Pretend weight loss merchandise and counterfeit medicines are a “rising drawback” within the UK market as worth will increase have resulted in additional clients searching for cheaper choices on-line, an expert has warned.
A Freedom of Info (FOI) request obtained by Chemist4U revealed that greater than 18,000 unlawful and counterfeit weight loss and diabetes drugs have been seized at UK borders between January 2024 and June 2025.
The value of Mounjaro, probably the most in style weight-loss medicine used around the globe, increased in September for UK buyers, with some business consultants warning this might result in a rise in counterfeit merchandise within the coming months.
“The Mounjaro worth 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,” mentioned Jason Murphy, a weight loss injection specialist and Head of Pharmacy at Chemist4U.
“Our FOI knowledge reveals 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’s essential know.
What are pretend weight reduction merchandise?
It seems that pretend 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 may be any unlicensed remedy that has not been accepted by regulators or completely examined for safety and efficacy.
These merchandise might declare miraculous weight reduction cures, however their substances may be considerably obscure.
Or, they will 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 remedy.
In accordance with Lloyds Pharmacy, these medicine “may be harmful and even probably deadly.”
Chemist4U discovered that 2,472 unregulated weight reduction and diabetes medicine had been seized by the border management between January and Might of this yr alone. The yr prior additionally recorded a minimum of 15,844 seizures throughout the yr.
Mr Murphy added: “Counterfeit medicines are a rising drawback, and the surge in smuggled weight reduction injections reveals 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 don’t 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 could possibly be contaminated, expired or utterly ineffective.”
A spokesperson from Border Pressure mentioned: “Border Pressure works across the clock to intercept drug provide chains and can proceed working carefully with our abroad counterparts to establish and stop the brand new strategies criminals take to smuggling unlawful medicine, together with unregulated weight reduction merchandise.”
Tips on how to spot pretend weight reduction medicine?
In accordance with Mr Murphy, there are some tell-tale indicators that weight reduction remedy is pretend.
One of the simplest ways to verify is to make sure the web site you’re shopping for merchandise from has the reputable credentials and to seek the advice of a physician earlier than taking remedy.
- 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 remedy altogether with out consulting a healthcare skilled first. It’s important to work with a licensed prescriber who can completely overview an individual’s medical historical past and supply skilled steerage earlier than prescribing remedies.
- Folks also needs to double-check their prescription particulars and make sure the info on injection pens matches what their healthcare supplier has prescribed.
- Most significantly, if clients consider they’ve purchased pretend Mounjaro or Wegovy medication, it’s important that they chorus from utilizing the drugs and report it instantly to the Medicines and Healthcare merchandise Regulatory Company (MHRA).
