Pretend weight loss merchandise and counterfeit medicines are a “rising drawback” within the UK market as worth will increase have resulted in additional prospects looking 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 had been seized at UK borders between January 2024 and June 2025.
The value of Mounjaro, probably the most well-liked weight-loss medicine used world wide, 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 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 knowledge reveals that the black marketplace for weight reduction injections is already thriving within the UK. Sufferers should be cautious. We urge them to solely use regulated pharmacies to guard their well being.”
Right here’s what it’s good to know.
What are faux weight reduction merchandise?
It seems that faux weight reduction merchandise at the moment are flooding the UK market, with shoppers looking for weight reduction merchandise on-line that will not really be secure to be used.
Pretend merchandise might be any unlicensed remedy that has not been authorised by regulators or completely examined for safety and efficacy.
These merchandise might declare miraculous weight reduction cures, however their elements might be considerably obscure.
Or, they’ll declare to work as successfully as registered medicine like Mounjaro with out really doing so. There are additionally dangers related to doses being too excessive, micro organism being current, or impurities within the remedy.
In line with Lloyds Pharmacy, these medicine “might 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 at the least 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 will not be 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 might 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 establish and forestall the brand new strategies criminals take to smuggling unlawful medicine, together with unregulated weight reduction merchandise.”
spot faux weight reduction medicine?
In line with Mr Murphy, there are some tell-tale indicators that weight reduction remedy is faux.
One of the simplest ways to verify is to make sure the web site you’re shopping for merchandise from has the legit credentials and to seek the advice of a health care provider earlier than taking remedy.
- The net 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 folks 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 evaluation an individual’s medical historical past and supply skilled steering earlier than prescribing therapies.
- Folks also needs to double-check their prescription particulars and make sure the data on injection pens matches what their healthcare supplier has prescribed.
- Most significantly, if prospects consider they’ve purchased faux Mounjaro or Wegovy medication, it’s important that they chorus from utilizing the medication and report it instantly to the Medicines and Healthcare merchandise Regulatory Company (MHRA).
