Pharmacists have warned people not to buy fake weight-loss jabs online as a shortage of Ozempic is expected to stretch into next year. The National Pharmacy Association (NPA) suggested there could be a possible "explosion in the unlicensed sale of medication online" as a result. Weight-loss injections have been popularised with celebrity endorsements and before and after pictures online, but fake versions can be dangerous.
Ozempic is a brand of semaglutides which help people with type 2 diabetes regulate their blood sugar levels, but are increasingly being prescribed for weight loss in some countries. Currently there is a shortage of Ozempic due to high demand and some doctors prescribing off-label, as it is not licensed for weight loss. While Ozempic, available on the NHS, helps people with type 2 diabetes, its ability to suppress appetite has led to people using it to lose weight.
This has led to a shortage of the drug as well as an increase in counterfeit jabs. Wegovy, another brand of semaglutide, is licensed for weight management and is also available on the NHS. The NPA, which represents 5,000 independent community pharmacies across the UK, is urging people to speak to a pharmacist or GP instead of buying medicines online from sellers who are not registered or regulated in the UK.
It also warned the shortage of Ozempic, made by pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk, is likely to continue into next year. NPA chairman Nick Kaye said: “Pharmacists remain deeply concerned t.