The MHRA continues to warn about the serious risks linked to buying weight-loss products from unregulated websites or through social media. Products sold illegally may be fake, contaminated, incorrectly dosed, or\u00a0contain\u00a0powerful ingredients not listed on the packaging. These can lead to dangerous side effects, including heart problems, psychological\u00a0effects\u00a0and dangerously low blood sugar.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Some medicines used for weight management\u00a0\u2013\u00a0including\u00a0all\u00a0GLP-1 medicines, sometimes referred to as \u201cskinny jabs\u201d\u00a0\u2013\u00a0are prescription-only. They should only\u00a0ever\u00a0be supplied following a proper assessment by a qualified healthcare professional to ensure the treatment is\u00a0appropriate\u00a0and safe.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The MHRA advises:\u00a0<\/p>\n
Do not buy prescription-only medicines without a prescription.\u00a0GLP-1 medicines and other treatments for weight management should only be supplied after a clinical assessment.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
Only buy medicines from registered UK pharmacies or legitimate retailers.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
For pharmacies in Great Britain, you can check registration on the\u00a0General Pharmaceutical Council website.<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/li>\n For pharmacies in Northern Ireland, refer to the\u00a0Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland (PSNI) website.<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Avoid weight-loss products promoted on social media, especially those promising \u201cquick fixes\u201d,\u00a0\u201cmiracle results\u201d,\u00a0or unusually low prices\u00a0\u2013\u00a0these are common signs of illegal sellers.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Report suspicious websites or products to the\u00a0MHRA\u2019s Yellow Card scheme<\/a>\u00a0so action can be taken to protect others.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n Health Minister Dr\u00a0Zubir\u00a0Ahmed\u00a0said:\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cAs a practising doctor and patient safety minister, I want to be\u00a0absolutely clear\u00a0– please do not buy weight loss medications from unregulated sources.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cThese products are made with no regard for safety or quality and pose a major risk to unwitting customers.\u00a0Don\u2019t\u00a0line the pockets of criminals who\u00a0don\u2019t\u00a0care about your health.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0\u201cSafe, appropriate, licensed obesity drugs can greatly benefit those with a clinical need but should be obtained from a registered pharmacy against a valid prescription.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Jenn\u00a0Matthissen, from the MHRA\u2019s Safety and Surveillance team, said:\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cPeople often look for ways to support their health at this time of year, but buying medicines from illegal online sellers can put your health at real risk. Always make sure you are using authorised products from legitimate sources and speak to a healthcare professional for advice on safe, evidence-based options.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n If you are considering weight-loss treatment, talk to your GP,\u00a0pharmacist\u00a0or another qualified healthcare professional. More information on what you need to know about weight-loss medicines is available on the\u00a0MHRA\u2019s dedicated page on the GOV.UK website<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n Notes to editors\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA)\u00a0is responsible for\u00a0regulating all medicines and medical devices in the UK by ensuring they work and are acceptably safe.\u202f All our work is underpinned by robust and fact-based judgements to ensure that the benefits justify any risks.\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/li>\n The MHRA is an executive agency of the Department of Health and Social Care.\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/li>\n\n