Consumers need to be vigilant about where they order from and what medication they receive
While there has been no shortage of Ozempic-related scams, a new study is exploring other risks consumers face when ordering weight loss drugs online.
Based on findings from the report that was recently published in JAMA, nearly 43% of all online pharmacies selling weight loss drugs were illegal operations.
This qualitative study found that semaglutide products are actively being sold without prescriptions by illegal online pharmacies, with vendors shipping unregistered and falsified products, the researchers wrote.
Know the risks
For the study, the researchers searched through both Google and Bing for websites that advertised weight loss drugs without prescriptions in the summer of 2023.
Once they narrowed down those sites, the researchers purchased semaglutide samples and put them to the test. They tested the products for active ingredients, sterility, as well as authenticity.
The team compared the products they received with the International Pharmaceutical Federations visual inspection checklist to determine if the packaging of the samples they received matched the name-brand packaging.
While nearly 320 online pharmacies popped up in the initial search, 134 sites were found to be illegal pharmacies. This translates to over 42% of sites turning out to be illegitimate.
The researchers went on to purchase six semaglutide samples, only half of which were delivered. The remaining three samples ended up being scam sites, where the vendors reached out to the researchers looking for more money before shipment.
Packaging and ingredient issues
When looking into the samples that showed up, the researchers identified issues with both the packaging and the ingredients. Not only were there errors in the labeling and authorization on the packaging, but the amount of semaglutide in each of the samples far exceeded the amount on the label.
The samples contained nearly 40% more semaglutide than was advertised on the packaging. Taking too much of the drugs can have adverse effects on consumers health and wellness.
This study highlights the importance of consumers receiving prescriptions from trusted medical professionals not from advertisements they come across online.
Photo Credit: Consumer Affairs News Department Images
Posted: 2024-08-09 11:05:37
