Pharmacy leaders are issuing a warning about weight loss jabs

Pharmacy chiefs have urged people not to buy fake weight loss jabs online as they say shortages of Ozempic are expected to continue into next year.

The National Pharmacy Association (NPA) has warned of a “potential explosion in the sale of unregistered medicines online”, where people are putting their lives at risk by buying Ozempic and Wegovy (semaglutide) without proper checks.

Weight loss injections have become very popular, with social media showing before and after pictures of fat loss, and some celebrities endorsing their use.

Ozempic is available on the NHS for people with type 2 diabetes, while Wegovy can be prescribed for weight loss through specialist weight management services, with strict guidelines on whether it is who can get drugs.

Entrepreneurs have a shortage of Ozempic, fueled by high demand and the fact that some doctors do not prescribe it for obese people.

Ozempic, made by Novo Nordisk, helps people with type 2 diabetes control blood sugar levels but its ability to suppress appetite has also led people to use it for weight loss of the body.

This has caused a shortage of medicine for those with diabetes while also fueling the rise of artificial jabs.

The NPA, which represents more than 5,000 independent community pharmacies, urges patients to speak to their pharmacist or GP rather than buying medicines online from unregistered and regulated UK suppliers.

It also warned that problems with obtaining Ozempic are likely to continue next year.

Nick Kaye, chairman of the NPA, told PA news agency: “Businesses are increasingly concerned that the problem of drug shortages could lead to an explosion in the sale of unregistered drugs online.

“Stocks of Ozempic are very low in community pharmacies in the UK, and it is important that they remain available to those who need them most.

“Due to the uncertain supply situation of these and other essential medicines, there is a high risk of people wanting to buy goods from unscrupulous online sellers.

“Wegovy’s stock is not too bad at the moment, it’s Ozempic that has problems.

“We have been told that stocks will not be back in doses of 0.25 (mg), 0.5mg or 1mg until December 27.

“This is the date currently planned from the producers themselves.

“In all our experience, it’s less likely to be before that date and more likely to be later.”

People usually start Ozempic at the lowest dose of 0.25mg before moving up to higher doses as needed.

In January, the Department of Health and Social Care told healthcare providers not to offer off-label drugs for weight loss, and said the stock was it should be reserved for patients with type 2 diabetes.

It said “supply issues are due to increased demand for these products for both licensed and unlicensed brands” and supply “is not expected to return to normal until at least the end of 2024”.

Mr Kaye said, “We don’t know how common labeling is but we know (it happens).

“And we are very concerned about fakes in the supply chain.

“People want to get these drugs and if they can’t because they are out of stock, they may end up going elsewhere.

“In the UK, we have control and secure internet provision in places.

“We are not saying that everything on the internet (sales) should be banned but we want to make sure that it is the right type of organization and that it is legally registered.”

Mr Kaye says people can check to see if an online provider is registered and regulated by the General Pharmaceutical Council or the Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland.

The NPA also wants to see the reintroduction of laws making it mandatory for the list of UK regulated online pharmacies to be publicly available.

It said such rules were scrapped in the UK after Brexit.

Mr Kaye said: “We think this move will help improve patient safety.

“Medicines are not like ordinary goods sold online, they must be handled with great care because they have the power to harm and heal.

“We encourage anyone who is unsure about a drug they have bought online to speak to their local pharmacist for advice.”

In June, the World Health Organization issued a medical product alert regarding fake semaglutide stocks found in Brazil, the UK and the US.

It said there have been increasing reports of fake semaglutide since 2022.

Meanwhile, in the United States, the Food and Drug Administration has warned against overdoses, with reports of some people suffering from severe nausea, vomiting, headaches, dehydration , pancreatitis and gallstones.

A spokesman for the Department of Health and Social Care said: “We strongly advise the public not to buy controlled medicines from unauthorized online sellers or beauty salons as they can be dangerous .

“The Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency continues to identify people who sell drugs illegally and will use its powers to take appropriate action, including, where necessary , to prosecute those who endanger people’s lives.

“In addition, we are taking action to tackle obesity – shifting our focus from treatment to prevention – which will reduce pressure on the NHS and help people live healthier lives for longer.”