Over the last few months, weight loss treatments like Ozempic, Wegovy and Mounjaro have received a lot of attention in the media. This has led to a huge surge in public demand for these drugs. Unfortunately, some unscrupulous online businesses have been taking advantage of this, with potentially devastating consequences. Now, more than ever, it is vitally important to know how to safely buy medication online.
What is Mounjaro?
Mounjaro is the first dual-action weight loss drug to reach the market. Mounjaro is an injectable pen containing the active ingredient tirzepatide. Mounjaro is taken as a weekly injection injected into the abdomen, thigh or upper arm.
Mounjaro was originally a GLP-1 receptor agonist medication, used to help people with type 2 diabetes to control their blood sugar levels. Clinical trials have found it can also help people lose weight. Other similar weight loss medications work to reduce appetite through slowing the emptying of your stomach. Mounjaro works in the same way, but it also acts on the hypothalamus in your brain to help you feel fuller for longer. When combined with a healthy diet and increased physical exercise, Mounjaro can help you lose weight.
Mounjaro has only been available for treatment of type 2 diabetes but, as of February 2024, it is now available for weight loss treatment through private healthcare providers and online pharmacies such as Simple Online Pharmacy. However, it is important to know what to look out for when you buy Mounjaro, or any medication, online.
Buying Medication Online – Mounjaro in the UK
Buying medication online is convenient and often less expensive than other private prescriptions. For this reason, many people turn to online doctors and pharmacies to get their treatment. Unfortunately, it can be hard to differentiate legitimate businesses from less scrupulous retailers, but it’s important that you know that the medication you are buying is safe and prescribed appropriately. Here are our top tips to safely buying medication online:
- Always buy from a registered pharmacy – In the UK, all pharmacies are regulated by the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC). All online pharmacies should display clear evidence of their registration. This may be on an ‘About Us’ page or in the footer of the website. Look out for the green GPhC cross and the GPhC registration number. If you have any doubts about the authenticity of this information, you can cross-check the pharmacy on the GPhC website. At Simple Online Pharmacy, you can find all the information about our registration under ‘Pharmacy Information’ here and our registration number is linked directly to our record on the GPhC website.
- Never buy any medication through social media – Whilst some online pharmacies do advertise through social media, no legitimate pharmacy would allow you to make a purchase through social media directly. Instead, you should find a link in the ad or on their profile to their website. Here, you can check their registration and you will be required to fill in various personal details before purchasing prescription medication. If you do see someone selling prescription drugs on social media, please report them to the social media platform. This is often the quickest way to get their content taken down and to protect other people from purchasing potentially dangerous and illegal products. You may also wish to report the seller to the non-emergency police or CrimeStoppers so further action can be taken.
- Prescription medication needs a prescription – If a medication is usually only available on prescription through a doctor, then you will also need a prescription to buy online. Any retailer who is willing to issue the medication without a prescription should not be trusted. Online pharmacies typically require you to complete a health questionnaire which is reviewed by a doctor before your medication is prescribed. This is an important step to ensure that the treatment is safe and suitable for you. Some medications are available over the counter from a pharmacist at low doses, such as Hana (a type of contraceptive pill) and Viagra Connect (a low-dose Viagra). These do not require a prescription, but you would need to answer a few short questions before the medication is approved for your use.
- Beware of buying from online pharmacies abroad – You should avoid buying from an online pharmacy registered in another country unless you are familiar with their national pharmacy regulations and you know they hold high drug manufacture quality standards. There are strict regulations on which medications can be sent through international postage and it could be a criminal offence. You should check with the Drug and Firearms Licensing Unit if you intend to bring any medications prescribed abroad into the UK.
- Is the price too good to be true? – Medications can be very expensive. Does the price of this medication seem to be in line with other providers or is it significantly cheaper? A low price for a typically expensive drug is a red flag that the drug may not be what it claims.
- Is the medication usually really hard to get hold of? – There’s often a spike in fake medicines when there’s a national shortage of the drug. People struggle to get hold of the treatment through their usual channels, which leaves them more vulnerable to exploitation from people claiming to sell the drug. If the medication is hard to get hold of through usual channels, there’s a good chance that this medicine is a fake.
- Is the drug in date? – Sometimes the drug will be a genuine product, but it is actually out of date and therefore may not be safe for use. Never use a medication that has passed its expiry date.
- Does the packaging look legitimate? – Is the printing on the box clear? Is the manufacturer’s logo displayed on the box and any internal packaging? Do you have all the packaging components you would expect i.e. box, blister pack, patient information leaflet etc.?
- What does the medication look like? – Does the medication or packaging look damaged in anyway? Does it look different from medication from another supplier? Is there any evidence of improper storage of the medication? Are the markings on the medication what you would expect?
- Are there any labels that look suspicious? – To get around regulations, fake medicines sometimes carry labelling saying ‘not fit for human consumption’ or ‘for research purposes only’. Do not take any substance bearing those statements.
- Is the medication in the approved format? – Certain medications like Mounjaro, Wegovy, Saxenda and Ozempic are only supplied in pen injectors. This is because most members of the public have not been trained in how to administer medications via a syringe. If you are sent vials or medication and instructed to draw the medication up yourself, this is likely to be fake. A quick search online for the patient leaflet for your medication, should reveal the format you should expect.
- Mounjaro is a medication designed to help people with diabetes control their blood glucose levels, which can also be used for weight loss
- Mounjaro, combined with a reduced calorie diet and exercise, can help you lose weight
- As a weight loss injection, Mounjaro will need a prescription to be sold safely, which can be arranged through our online doctor service
- Some unscrupulous people will try to sell fake medication, or scam you out of your money – always look for the MHRA details of your online pharmacy
Looking Out for Fake Medicines
The greatest risk of buying medication online is that you could end up with a counterfeit product. Fake medicines can contain almost anything. There is no guarantee that they even contain the active ingredient and if they do, it may not be at a safe or effective dose. The medications may not have been manufactured to UK safety standards and may be contaminated with other substances. At best, fake medications can be ineffective, but at worse, they can cause serious side effects with potentially fatal results. Here’s our checklist to help you spot fake medicines:
If you do discover that you have a fake medication, please report it to help keep others safe. You can report a fake medication yourself through the MHRA Yellow Card scheme . This can flag up any potentially risky medications and helps to protect people from fake drugs.
Conclusion
Buying medication online can seem like a bit of a minefield, but it can also be very safe providing you know what to look out for. The most important first step is to check that an online pharmacy is registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council. Registered pharmacies are bound by various regulations ensuring professional practice and safety. This should help to keep you safe from fake drugs and unsuitable, potentially dangerous treatments.
