The MHRA's Criminal Enforcement Unit works to identify and
prevent the illegal sale of weight-loss medicines online.
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is
reminding the public this New Year not to buy weight-loss
medicines without a healthcare professional's prescription from
beauty salons or via social media. Not only does this expose
people wanting to lose weight to serious health risks – it is
also against the law to sell medicines in this way.
Andy Morling, MHRA Deputy Director of Criminal
Enforcement, said:
At this time of year, with many of us thinking about shedding a
little excess weight, we see people offering weight loss
medicines for sale as a quick fix, without a healthcare
professional's prescription, from beauty salons, websites and on
social media. These are not cosmetic treatments; they are
powerful medicines that can only be legally and safely dispensed
against a prescription issued by a healthcare professional.
The MHRA's Criminal Enforcement Unit works closely with social
media platforms and technology companies to identify and prevent
the illegal sale of weight-loss medicines online without a
prescription. This can lead to the removal of social media posts
illegally selling medicines and, where necessary, the suspension
of accounts and the taking down of websites. The MHRA can also
use the full range of its investigative powers to bring offenders
to justice in the courts.
If you are thinking of buying a weight-loss medicine,
speak with your GP or a healthcare professional first
The only way to guarantee you receive a genuine weight-loss
medicine is to obtain it from a legitimate pharmacy, including
those trading online, against a prescription issued by a
healthcare professional. If you're offered a weight-loss medicine
in any other circumstances, whether online or offline, they are
putting your health at serious risk and breaking the law.
The MHRA continually monitors the safety of all licensed
weight-loss medicines, which are known clinically as GLP-1
Receptor Agonists (RAs) and current evidence shows the benefits
outweigh the risks when they are used for their licensed
indications.
Dr Alison Cave, MHRA Chief Safety Officer said:
The decision to start, continue or stop treatments should be made
jointly by patients and their prescribing healthcare professional
– such as a GP or pharmacist – based on full consideration and
discussion of the benefits and risks.
No medicine is completely without risk. All medicines can cause
side effects, and these are outlined in the product information
for each medicine, so it's important to read the patient
information leaflet that includes advice about the known
side-effects.
We encourage patients and healthcare professionals to report
suspected side effects from GLP-1 RAs, such as semaglutide or
tirzepatide, through our Yellow Card scheme.
Be aware of fake pharmacy websites and social media posts
offering weight-loss medicines illegally without a
prescription
Andy Morling, MHRA Deputy Director of Criminal
Enforcement, said:
Criminals go to great lengths to make their website storefronts
look authentic and convincing, so before you buy any medicine
online you should exercise caution. For online pharmacies based
in Great Britain you can check on the General Pharmaceutical
Council's (GPhC) website that it is properly registered.
Fake pharmacy websites and social media sellers illegally supply
medicines that are not approved for use in the UK. These may
contain toxins and other ingredients that could cause real harm,
and you may even end up in hospital. We work with our partners,
including the police and Border Force, to tackle those selling
medicines illegally and causing harm. As the tactics of these
organised criminal gangs evolve, so do our methods to identify,
disrupt and dismantle them.
Our role at the MHRA is to ensure the medicines you take are
acceptably safe and effective. We are here to protect your
health. Stay safe this New Year.
