Warning after seizures of black market drugs, including Ozempic knock-offs, triple

Up to 706,881 dosage units of all types of unverified medicines were seized in the first six months of the year.

Seizures of black market weight-loss drugs, including knock-offs of the celebrity-endorsed Ozempic, have more than tripled so far this year.

With more than 60% of the country overweight or obese, the rise in popularity of drugs, such as Ozempic, Rybelsus, and Wegovy, has altered the treatment of diabetes and obesity.

The injections, or tablets, are shown to suppress appetite in addition to lowering blood sugar levels, and are being increasingly prescribed for weight-loss in some countries.

However, the costs of prescribed treatments — as high as $1,000 in parts of the United States — have led to a spike in the production of knock-off medicines, many of which are unregulated.

The World Health Organization (WHO) last month issued a safety alert after falsified versions of the weight-loss drugs were discovered in the US, Britain, and Northern Ireland.

New data published by Ireland's Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) has found a “sharp increase” in the volume of illegal medicines detained here in the first half of 2024 when compared to the same period in 2023.

Up to 706,881 dosage units of all types of unverified medicines were seized in the first six months of the year, compared to 551,582 last year.

Across all medication types, the most significant categories of illegal products seized were:

• Anabolic steroids (23% or 160,134 units detained); 
• Painkillers (14% or 96,481 units detained); 
• Sedatives (11% or 80,773 units detained) and;
• Erectile dysfunction medicines (10% or 72,555 units detained). 

Side-effects of anabolic steroids include heart failure, liver issues, kidney damage, and infertility.

However, the HPRA also detained almost three times the volume of illegal units of semaglutide, the term for prescriptions given to those who are suffering from diabetes or other conditions (more commonly known as Ozempic, Rybelsus, and Wegovy.) 

The HPRA cautioned the public of the serious health risks posed by prescription medicines being purchased online from unauthorised sources.

In the first six months of this year, 783 units of semaglutide were seized by the HPRA compared to 286 units for the entirety of 2023.

Announcing its figures, the HPRA cautioned the public of the serious health risks posed by prescription medicines being purchased online from unauthorised sources.

In particular, it stressed there is absolutely no guarantee as to the safety or quality of illegal medicines purchased outside of the regulated pharmacy setting.

In the first six months of this year, the key enforcement actions taken include:

• 1,603 e-commerce listings and/or social media pages amended or shut down;

•  One prosecution has been initiated and four voluntary formal cautions have been issued.

Director of compliance at the HPRA Gráinne Power noted the increase in 2024 data pointed to people’s willingness to access unregulated drugs, regardless of the “significant risks” they pose to their health.

She emphasised the type of units detained also showed a growing tendency among some consumers to jeopardise their health for aesthetic, cosmetic, and body image purposes by seeking out illegal or unapproved substances.

"One such example is the amount of illegal anabolic steroids detained," she said. 

"We believe young men, in particular, may be sourcing anabolic steroids for body enhancement while being unaware of the serious health complications posed by these products. Anabolic steroids can cause serious physical and psychological health issues.” 

Ms Power said it was “crucial not to compromise your health by taking such risks". 

She added: “We strongly advise anyone who has bought prescription medications from unauthorised sources to cease using them immediately and to consult their healthcare provider with any concerns about their wellbeing."

The Irish Pharmacy Union said investigations into counterfeit medicines had shown “people could be ingesting anything from rat poison, floor polish, talcum powder or cement powder to banned substances".