There has been a lot of talk about online pharmacies in the media, especially in light of the rise in demand for weight loss injections like Mounjaro and Wegovy. Online pharmacies can be a helpful and convenient way for people to access the medication they need in a timely way, reducing the pressure on GP services and reducing waiting times, but there are concerns.

Many people do not realise the dangers of buying medication online. We are hearing more and more stories of patients being harmed as a result of buying from an unregistered pharmacy or being prescribed incorrectly.

Most common are the stories of people buying weight loss injections online when they do not meet the criteria. People mistakenly think that because a medication is being prescribed online, it does not have the potential to cause them harm. Of course, all medication has the potential to cause harm if it is not prescribed correctly or is used irresponsibly.

The problem with weight loss injections has arisen because of how some online pharmacies obtain patients’ details in order to check safety and suitability before prescribing. They allow patients the opportunity to enter inaccurate information or withhold their medical history unchecked, and this has been abused by patients who know they would not be prescribed without lying.

Cases of people with eating disorders getting hold of weight loss injections have emerged after they uploaded edited or fake photos of themselves and withheld their true weight. There have also been cases of people withholding important medical information, such as liver conditions or sleep apnea, because they know they would not have been prescribed weight loss injections with their medical history. This has obviously led to some serious medical consequences for them.

New rules for online prescribing

In response, tougher rules have been introduced to ensure safe and appropriate use of weight loss medications when prescribed online.

Prescribers must now independently verify a person’s weight, height and BMI before prescribing. This could be through ‘timely two-way communication’, like a video call or face-to-face consultation, or by accessing the person’s clinical records or contacting their GP. Decisions cannot solely be based on information provided through an online questionnaire.

Fake medications

Another big concern about buying medication online is the risk of fake or unsafe medications getting into patients’ hands. Many ‘pharmacy’ websites are not legitimate or registered and sell fake medicines or fail to carry out a proper medical assessment before supplying medication which could potentially cause harm.

Medication from an unregistered website could be out of date, diluted, the wrong dose or simply fake, making them extremely unsafe and even lethal. It is impossible to know what you are taking. Unfortunately, patients can be lured in by the heavily discounted prices or the lack of questions about their current or past medical conditions, especially when it comes to weight loss injections.

Patient safety is paramount, and we welcome and encourage tougher legislation for online prescribing and a hard clamp down on unregistered sites selling any form of medication. Always buy through a registered and reputable online pharmacy and provide accurate personal and medical information to ensure your own safety.

The General Pharmaceutical Council provides further information and advice about online pharmacies and a resource to check if your chosen pharmacy is registered and safe to use.