Nearly 900,000 illegal medicines that 'can cause serious health issues' seized last year

Grainne Power, Director of Compliance at the HPRA, said: “Anabolic steroids can cause serious physical and psychological health issues.' Photo: Chris Bellew / Fennell Photography

The surging numbers of people trying to change their appearance by buying fake botox or anabolic steroids online are risking serious illness and even death, the health products regulator has warned. 

They were among almost 900,000 falsified or illegal units medicines seized by the Health Products Regulatory Authority last year. The haul also included large amounts of fake weight-loss drugs and erectile dysfunction medication.

More than a quarter of a million units of illegal anabolic steroids were seized, a 20% rise compared to the previous year. The HRPA said steroid seizures have been increasing over several years.

Grainne Power, the HPRA's director of compliance, said: “Anabolic steroids can cause serious physical and psychological health issues. 

"The potential physical side-effects alone include heart failure, liver issues, kidney damage, and infertility.” 

Ms Power also pointed to tragic references in inquest reports to use of anabolic steroids as worrying.

Also among the 874,945 units seized were:

• 1,748 of Botulinum toxin (botox). That compares to just 26 units seized in 2020.
• 1,329 units of Melanotan 2, sold as tanning agent. That is up from six in 2020.
• 286 units of semaglutide, the ingredient in legitimate diabetes drugs also being used for weight-loss such as Ozempic. That is up from 32 in 2022.

Ms Power warned “once consumers step outside of the regulated supply chain” they do not know what these substances contain.

They cannot tell if basic precautions such as refrigeration were used, she added.

She acknowledged shortages of Ozempic, but cautioned: “There is no way that turning to the internet and looking to get that product through the illegitimate supply chain is the answer”.

The interest in fake botox is also concerning, she said, emphasising: "These are prescription medicines." 

Many products seized are available through social media or websites looking like ordinary e-commerce sites.

“This is part of a criminal underworld if you like, there’s serious money to be gained and the people involved don’t have any interest in people’s health, it’s all about finance,” she warned.

The Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) today warned the online supply of prescription products into and within Ireland is illegal and for consumers there is no guarantee of the safety or quality of medicines they are seeking to buy outside of the regulated pharmacy supply chain. Pictured is Grainne Power, Director of Compliance at the HPRA. Photo: Chris Bellew / Fennell Photography

Overall sedative medicines accounted for 34% of products seized, followed by anabolic steroids at 29%.

Counterfeit erectile dysfunction medicines accounted for one in 10 of the items seized.

Last year, two prosecution cases were initiated, and 2,348 websites, e-commerce listings or social media pages were amended or shutdown.

Ms Power highlighted a Circuit Court case in February linked to supplying anabolic steroids.

A man was sentenced to two years in prison and his wife given a two-year suspended sentence. 

This followed an investigation involving the HPRA, customs officers and gardaí.