HOW TO SPOT FAKE WEIGHT-LOSS JABS – AND WHAT THEY COULD DO TO YOUR BODY

As the popularity of weight-loss jabs rises in the UK, so does the availability of fakes. Counterfeit versions of medicated treatments are being sold on social media and beauty salons nationwide.

Medics have warned that using fake weight-loss injections can seriously harm your health – but how can they be detected?

GPs and pharmacists have told The i Paper that unusually low prices and a missing key ingredient are sure signs of fake weight-loss jabs, which can be life-threatening.

The Medicines and Healthcare Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has warned patients not to purchase medicines from unregulated suppliers, such as beauty salons and social media.

What fake weight-loss jabs could do to your body

Professor Franklin Joseph of Dr Frank’s Weight Loss Clinic said the online sale of fake weight-loss jabs is a “growing concern”, with counterfeit products not only being ineffective but also “potentially dangerous”.

He said patients must exercise caution and ensure they only obtain medications from licensed, regulated providers, adding that there are several red flags to watch for when purchasing weight-loss jabs online.

“These include sellers offering medications without requiring a prescription, vague or missing details about the prescribing clinician, or websites that lack clear evidence of registration with healthcare regulators.

“Overly cheap prices are another warning sign, as they often indicate counterfeit products,” Prof Joseph said.

“Legitimate providers will always use secure payment systems and provide transparent information about the medication’s source, safety, and potential risks.

“It’s also essential to avoid sellers that rely solely on online questionnaires without conducting a two-way consultation to properly assess your suitability for treatment.”

Prof Joseph said a proper medical consultation is crucial before starting any weight-loss medication to ensure the treatment is appropriate, safe, and tailored to the individual’s needs, while also minimising the risk of side effects.

Purchasing counterfeit products can lead to severe health issues such as allergic reactions, dangerous contamination, or incorrect dosing.

He said: “For example, contaminated products may contain harmful substances that damage the liver or kidneys, while incorrect dosing can result in extreme nausea, dehydration, or severe blood sugar imbalances.

“In some cases, counterfeit medications have been linked to life-threatening conditions such as heart complications or pancreatitis.

“To avoid these risks, it is critical for patients to only trust verified suppliers and ensure their medications come from reputable, regulated sources.”

Weight-loss jabs are ‘not suitable for everyone’

Dr Bhavini Shah, a GP at LloydsPharmacy Online Doctor, said: “Wegovy and Mounjaro are not suitable for everyone. These medicines are not a short-term weight-loss solution intended for those with a healthy weight wanting to lose weight.

“In the UK, you need a prescription for both semaglutide [the active ingredient in Wegovy] and tirzepatide [the active ingredient in Mounjaro]. It’s illegal to distribute either medication without a prescription.”

In contrast to unregulated sellers, such as high street beauty salons and social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram, safe prescribers put strict prescribing criteria in place to ensure patient safety and offer ongoing professional support to help patients through their weight-loss journey, Dr Shah said.

He warned fake weight-loss medications do not contain the active ingredient stated, while others contain another undeclared active ingredient. The results could be life-threatening, Dr Shah said.

“Taking these medications puts individuals at risk of everything from allergic reactions to uncontrolled blood sugar levels, which could cause blurred vision, palpitations, seizures, or loss of consciousness. The potential contamination also poses a risk of infection that can range from mild to severe, and even be life-threatening.

“Patients should be wary of unusually low prices. Patients should also always check packaging and expiry dates of medicines, and only use medication as prescribed. Wegovy, for example, should be stored in the refrigerator.”

Pharmacists issue warning

The warning follows that of pharmacy leaders over the online sale of weight-loss jabs, saying there is still a risk to patient safety.

The National Pharmacy Association (NPA) has written to regulators calling for tougher rules following reports some online sellers have set targets for clinicians to process more than 20 patients every hour.

The NPA said it was also aware of people being wrongly prescribed the drugs who have previously had eating disorders, or whose body weight is already low.

The body, which represents thousands of independent community pharmacies, said a two-way consultation with the patient lasting at least 20 to 30 minutes is always needed rather than relying on online questionnaires to access drugs such as Wegovy or Mounjaro.

A person’s medical history should also be examined before sellers decide whether or not to dispense a weight-loss injection, and regular reviews must take place, it added.

Nick Kaye, chairman of the NPA, said: “It is important that consultations with patients are thorough, allowing a clinician to gain a full picture of someone’s suitability for weight-loss injections as well as ensuring the patient fully understands the nature of the treatment and any potential side-effects it may cause.

“It is also important to ensure that clinical decisions regarding weight-loss injections are not influenced by financial targets or incentives.”

It said the regulator must require pharmacies to conduct a full two-way consultation, including gathering important medical information, for example through GP records. The consultation between prescriber and patient could be via a face-to-face conversation or on the telephone, it suggested.

A spokesperson for the General Pharmaceutical Council said: “We require all pharmacies, including those operating online, to ensure that the way in which pharmacy services are delivered safeguards the health, safety and wellbeing of patients and the public.

“We have published guidance specifically for the safe and effective provision of pharmacy services at a distance which we expect online pharmacies in Great Britain to follow. We will be issuing an updated version shortly, which will set out additional safeguards around high-risk medicines, including medicines used for weight management.

“We have listened carefully to feedback we had on key changes to the updated guidance. Our guide for the public on how to keep safe when getting medicines or treatment online gives tips for people going online for medicines, to help them identify legitimate online pharmacies or clinics.”

2025-01-28T06:19:48Z