A Liverpool woman has spoken out after a single injection of an unregulated weight loss drug left her fighting for her life in intensive care.
'Chloe', whose real name has been withheld, purchased the so-called "skinny jab" through a friend of a friend and suffered catastrophic consequences within hours.
"I did at one point think 'I'm dying, I'm dying,'" she recalled of the terrifying ordeal.
The dress size eight woman, who suffers from an eating disorder, collapsed upon arriving at A&E and was rushed directly into resuscitation, where medical staff treated her for approximately 18 hours.
Chloe endured days of uncontrollable vomiting before she eventually rushed to A&E
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She endured days of uncontrollable vomiting so severe it caused burns to her stomach, oesophagus and nasal passages.
The mother was subsequently unable to work for more than three months following the incident.
GLP-1 weight loss medications such as Wegovy and Mounjaro have surged in popularity since arriving in Britain in 2023 as treatments for obesity.
These drugs function by mimicking a gut hormone that signals fullness to the brain, suppressing appetite and reducing cravings for fatty foods.
Clinical trials have demonstrated remarkable results, with patients shedding more than a fifth of their body weight over 18 months.
However, the injections were designed specifically for those classified as obese, not for cosmetic weight loss.
Social media platforms are awash with advertisements promising "snatched" physiques, targeting women seeking quick results before holidays or special events.
Under British law, GLP-1 medications can only be legally obtained with a prescription from a pharmacist, and solely by individuals with a BMI exceeding 30.
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Those falling below this threshold frequently turn to illicit sources, often beauticians operating outside the law.
The campaign group Save Face has uncovered alarming evidence about the contents of these black market products.
Some illicit "skinny jabs" have been found to contain windscreen wash fluid, while others show no trace whatsoever of the active GLP-1 peptide they purport to contain.
Ashton Collins, director and founder of Save Face, warned that sellers importing these products from China and Korea have absolutely no knowledge of what they contain.
"When these people are buying products from places like China and Korea and importing them, they literally have no idea what's in them," she said.
The dangers extend beyond contaminated substances, with Liverpool GP and obesity specialist Dr Nicki Mazey highlighting additional risks.
She has encountered cases where buyers received steroids instead of Mounjaro, whilst others share injection pens, creating serious transmission risks for HIV and hepatitis.
The stringent NHS criteria have created a perfect storm, driving desperate individuals toward dangerous alternatives.
While NICE guidelines theoretically permit Mounjaro for those with a BMI of 35 or above with one related health condition, the NHS deemed the potential cost of £3.9 billion annually unsustainable.
Access was consequently restricted to patients with a BMI of 40 and four related health conditions from a specified list.
Dr Mazey revealed she has encountered patients with a BMI of 100 who were refused NHS prescriptions because they lacked all four required conditions.
"It's not safe," she cautioned, adding that even genuine products pose risks when improperly stored.
The pens require specific temperature conditions and cannot be used beyond 30 days once opened. Private prescriptions can cost up to £300 monthly, placing them beyond reach for many.
Save Face is demanding that authorities take decisive action against those profiting from this dangerous trade.
"We need to see the regulators, the police, the MHRA really clamping down on these people, making real examples and punishing these people with the full force of the law," Mr Collins stated.
Some illicit 'skinny jabs' have been found to contain windscreen wash fluid
| PAChloe's type 1 diabetes caused complications from the drug that may have resulted in permanent liver damage. The ordeal has left her family fearful she might repeat such behaviour.
"When I was awake, when I was thinking 'am I going to die', I was thinking, 'my kids, my kids, my husband'. I saw the devastation that it caused," she said.
Her message to others considering black market jabs is unequivocal: "Just don't do it. It's not worth it."
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