Health experts have issued an urgent warning about counterfeit weight loss medications being sold through fake online pharmacies, putting British patients at serious risk of life-threatening complications.
The Royal Pharmaceutical Society has raised alarm over unregistered websites targeting vulnerable patients by selling contaminated versions of popular weight loss jabs like Ozempic.
Officials say there is "no way of knowing what is really in them", with some patients suffering seizures and falling into life-threatening comas after using these counterfeit medications.
Britain's drugs watchdog has confirmed these fraudulent operations are being run by organised criminal gangs.
Health officials have seized more than 600 potentially fake Ozempic pens across the UK since early 2023, with some patients requiring hospitalisation after using the counterfeits.
Former Royal Pharmaceutical Society chair Thorrun Govind revealed these fake medicines often contain dangerous substances including rat poison, cement, mercury and arsenic.
Health officials have seized more than 600 potentially fake Ozempic pens across the UK since early 2023
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Many counterfeit versions don't contain semaglutide - the active ingredient that limits hunger - at all. Instead, they are often just insulin pens repackaged to look like genuine medication.
This insulin content can cause a dangerous rapid drop in blood sugar levels when injected, which experts warn could potentially be fatal.
Dr Leyla Hannbeck, CEO of Independent Pharmacies Association, warned that medicine shortages are leading fraudsters to target desperate patients.
"Serious side effects of these fake drugs include hypoglycaemic shock and coma," she told MailOnline, adding that regulators must tackle these fake websites "robustly."
Experts have also reported cases of patients suffering heart palpitations and confusion after taking counterfeit weight loss jabs.
The Royal Pharmaceutical Society urged people to verify pharmacies on pharmacyregulation.org before making purchases.
Experts have also reported cases of patients suffering heart palpitations and confusion after taking counterfeit weight loss jabs
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"It is vital that people do not use unregulated, illegally operating websites to obtain medicines," said Roz Gittins, chief pharmacy officer at the General Pharmaceutical Council.
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is actively working to combat these illegal operations, according to deputy director Andy Morling.
"We work tirelessly with partners to tackle those responsible for selling medicines illegally and causing harm," he said, emphasising that patient safety remains their top priority.
The Advertising Standards Authority has also stepped up enforcement, removing up to 100 social media posts daily that advertise prescription-only medicines.
It is illegal in the UK to advertise any prescription medication, including sponsored content on social media.
The MHRA continues to collaborate with police and Border Force to identify, disrupt and dismantle these criminal networks.
Legitimate Ozempic has been available on the NHS since 2019 for type 2 diabetics to manage blood sugar levels.
A related drug, Wegovy, was approved for weight loss in 2022, while Mounjaro received approval more recently.
These medications, known as GPL-1 agonists, have been shown to help users lose up to 33lbs (15.3kg) over 68 weeks by tricking the brain into feeling full.
NHS guidelines specify that Wegovy should only be prescribed to patients with a BMI over 35, or those with a BMI of 30 plus a weight-related health condition like high blood pressure.
Private prescribers must still follow professional guidelines to ensure appropriate patient access.
