Faux weight loss merchandise and counterfeit medicines are a “rising drawback” within the UK market as worth will increase have resulted in additional clients in search of 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 drugs have been seized at UK borders between January 2024 and June 2025.
The worth of Mounjaro, one of the widespread weight-loss medication 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 worth hike is prone to push many individuals to hunt cheaper alternate options, however shopping for from unverified sellers on-line, magnificence shops or social media is extraordinarily harmful,” stated Jason Murphy, a weight loss injection specialist and Head of Pharmacy at Chemist4U.
“Our FOI information 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 you’ll want to know.
What are faux weight reduction merchandise?
It seems that faux weight reduction merchandise are actually flooding the UK market, with customers in search of weight reduction merchandise on-line that will not really be protected to be used.
Faux merchandise will be any unlicensed medicine that has not been accredited by regulators or completely examined for safety and efficacy.
These merchandise could declare miraculous weight reduction cures, however their substances will be considerably imprecise.
Or, they’ll declare to work as successfully as registered medication 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 medicine.
In response to Lloyds Pharmacy, these medication “will be harmful and even doubtlessly deadly.”
Chemist4U discovered that 2,472 unregulated weight reduction and diabetes medication had been seized by the border management between January and Could of this yr alone. The yr prior additionally recorded not less than 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 aren’t topic to the rigorous safety checks required within the UK, which suggests sufferers don’t know what they’re actually injecting.
“Shopping for weight reduction injections on the black market is like taking part in Russian roulette along with your well being. Faux pens aren’t simply unlawful, they might be contaminated, expired or fully ineffective.”
A spokesperson from Border Power stated: “Border Power works across the clock to intercept drug provide chains and can proceed working intently with our abroad counterparts to determine and forestall the brand new strategies criminals take to smuggling unlawful medication, together with unregulated weight reduction merchandise.”
Learn how to spot faux weight reduction medication?
In response to Mr Murphy, there are some tell-tale indicators that weight reduction medicine is faux.
The easiest way to examine is to make sure the web site you’re shopping for merchandise from has the official credentials and to seek the advice of a health care provider earlier than taking medicine.
- 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 medicine altogether with out consulting a healthcare skilled first. It’s important to work with a licensed prescriber who can completely 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 data on injection pens matches what their healthcare supplier has prescribed.
- Most significantly, if clients consider they’ve purchased faux Mounjaro or Wegovy medication, it’s crucial that they chorus from utilizing the drugs and report it instantly to the Medicines and Healthcare merchandise Regulatory Company (MHRA).
