Urgent warning over fake Ozempic jabs found in UK as Brits hospitalised with life-threatening side effect

Fake versions of ‘game-changer’ slimming jabs have caused more than a dozen Britons to experience dangerous side effects, health chiefs warned today.

Diabetes drug Ozempic – shown to help users lose up to 33 pounds – and jabs claiming to be Saxenda are being hailed as ‘miracle’ weight-loss injections.

However, huge global demand has led to counterfeit versions flooding the market.

Officials had already admitted to seizing 369 possibly counterfeit Ozempic pens since the beginning of the year.

Counterfeit versions of Saxenda, obtained through ‘illegitimate routes’, had also been reported to the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).

Sixteen Britons have now reported suspected counterfeit products of semaglutide or liraglutide to the watchdog’s Yellow Card Scheme, which records side effects believed to be caused by medicines.

Up to five people have also been hospitalized with life-threatening side effects, it has been confirmed.

Wegovy and Ozempic work by causing the body to produce a hormone called GLP-1, which is released naturally from the intestines after meals.

In these cases, the Saxenda and Ozempic pens were confirmed to have been adulterated with insulin, the watchdog said.

Those who were hospitalized and required emergency care reported serious side effects, including hypoglycemic shock, where your blood sugar levels drop dangerously low.

If blood sugar levels remain low for too long, it can lead to seizures, a coma or, in severe cases, even be fatal.

‘For medicines purchased outside the legal supply chain, the contents may not match the ingredients on the label. Pens containing insulin, relabelled as Ozempic, have been intercepted in Britain,” the MHRA said.

All pharmacies in Britain, including those online, must be registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) and meet their standards.

Anyone concerned about their health should visit a GP or pharmacist for a correct diagnosis, the MHRA urged.

Healthcare professionals should also quarantine suspected counterfeit products and retain the product for testing, the watchdog said.

Dr. Alison Cave, MHRA Chief Safety Officer said: ‘Buying products such as Ozempic or Saxenda without a prescription from illegal suppliers significantly increases the risk of receiving something that is fake or not licensed for use in Britain.

‘Products purchased in this manner do not meet our strict quality and safety standards, and the use of such medications could significantly endanger your health.’

She added: ‘We advise all members of the public not to use pre-filled weight loss pens purchased online, and instead to report this to us so that we can investigate and take appropriate action.

‘If you suspect you have had a side effect from semaglutide, liraglutide or any other medicine, or suspect it is not a genuine product, you can report it to our Yellow Card system.’

Last month, bosses at the European Medicines Agency announced that counterfeit versions of Ozempic had hit the market.

The fake jabs had batch numbers, barcodes and unique serial numbers copied from genuine Ozempic packages.

But when scanned as part of an EU-wide electronic system, the serial numbers were found to be inactive, alerting authorities that they may be fake.

A separate alert from Germany’s Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices also stated that the fake versions came in packs of three and had an expiration date of July and December 2025.

It shared the serial and batch codes for the affected products, but warned that these had been copied from genuine Ozempic boxes.

As a result, it warned that it was almost impossible to distinguish the real and fake versions from the boxes they came in.

However, the fake injectable pens have a clear rather than gray lid, and the bottom of the pen is a slightly darker blue than the original. The label markings and dose are also slightly different.

Ozempic is available on the NHS as a treatment for controlling blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes. In May it was also approved for weight loss under the Wegovy brand and launched on the NHS in September for weight loss for overweight or obese patients with weight-related health problems

Despite being hailed as one of the most powerful pharmaceutical tools to date, studies have also shown that Wegovy users can quickly regain pounds once they stop taking the fat-fighting drug, and that it can cause a variety of nasty side effects . Users often complain of nausea, constipation and diarrhea after taking the medication

In September, MailOnline found sellers on Facebook Marketplace offering slimming shots for sale without the need for a prescription. One seller shows an image of a fridge full of medicines and lists the slimming jabs for £130, pictured on the left. Another seller mentions semaglutide, a drug found in both Ozempic and Wegovy, pictured at right

Semaglutide and liraglutide – the powerful ingredient behind the weight loss drugs Ozempic, Wegovy and Saxenda – have ushered in a new era in the war on obesity.

Studies show that semaglutide can help users lose an average of up to 30 pounds (15.3 kg) in 68 weeks, or about 12 percent of their body weight.

Wegovy, the weekly jab made by Danish pharmaceutical giant Novo Nordisk, is being offered by the NHS to help patients with type 2 diabetes control their blood sugar levels.

It is also available on the weight loss health care service for patients who are overweight or obese and have weight-related health problems.

Ozempic has been available in the UK for diabetes patients since 2019. However, it can be prescribed off-label for weight loss.

In addition to Saxenda, the treatments are already sold by some online sellers.

The treatments stimulate weight loss by mimicking the action of a hormone released in the intestines after eating, called GLP-1.

The GLP-1 hormone not only tells the pancreas to produce more insulin, but it also returns to the brain and makes users feel full.

But such drugs are not without side effects.

Users often complain of nausea, constipation and diarrhea after taking the medication.

In July, the Ministry of Health urged doctors and pharmacists to stop prescribing Ozempic to people who simply want to lose weight.

Health officials warned that the clamor to get their hands on it – and drugs like it – was fueling the national shortage, putting the lives of diabetics at risk.

Pharmacists have warned people not to buy slimming pills like Ozempic online because they fear they could cause serious harm and ‘damage major organs’.