Sales of fake weight-loss drugs sold online such as ‘Ozempic’ are soaring – but the public is being warned they are potentially extremely dangerous.
The Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) has said people should source such medicines from a registered pharmacy only, with a prescription from their doctor.
It said it has taken down or amended 431 websites, social media profiles and e-commerce listings purporting to sell Ozempic this year – twice the number it tackled last year.
It has also seized 1,401 units of illegal semaglutide – the drug contained in Ozempic – and other similar medicines, a rise from 568 units in 2023 and just 40 units in 2022.
A spokesperson said: “The HPRA states that there can be no guarantees as to what substances these online products actually contain and taking them poses a significant risk to consumers’ health.
“Products detained come in various forms including tablets and pens presented as both branded and …