THE NUMBER OF illegal or fake weight-loss drugs seized by the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) last year increased by 30%.

According to the State medicines watchdog, it seized a total of 763,027 units of illegal medicines in 2025. This is down from 1,000,984 dosage units the previous year. 

However, the HPRA said just under 14,000 individual packages were each linked to a separate purchase by a member of the public, a 180% increase of individual consignments since 2024. 

A “significant proportion” of these were presented as GLP-1 products, also known as weight-loss drugs, for personal use. 

The number of units of these medicines seized surged from 1,582 in 2024 to 48,752 last year. 

Authorised GLP-1 prescription-only medicines are intended for specific medical purposes such as diabetes or weight management under certain conditions.

Well-known varieties of these drugs include Ozempic, Mounjaro and Saxenda.

The HPRA said the majority of the detained products were promoted as containing semaglutide or tirzepatide and were presented primarily as GLP‑1 drops (27,329 items) or microneedle patches (17,170 items).

“Despite claims made in the promotion of these products, GLP‑1 drops or patches are not authorised as approved medical treatments and there is no evidence to support their use,” the medicines watchdog said.

Testing conducted by the HPRA on a sample of the transdermal patches detained last year found that they did not contain semaglutide, contrary to the claims on their packaging and promotional materials.

The remaining illegal GLP‑1 medicines detained were presented in other forms, including tablets, pens and vials of either powder or clear liquid.

Pregabalin was another product that saw a significant increase in detentions in 2025, rising from 23,442 in 2024 to 59,905.

“This represents the fifth consecutive year‑on‑year increase and reflects a wider global trend in the illegal, non‑medical use of this product,” the HPRA said. 

The prescription drug is used to manage a range of conditions including epilepsy, neuropathic pain and anxiety. 

However, it is also widely misused. It is taken by some people in addiction for its sedative properties and because it can enhance the euphoric effects of opiates such as methodone and heroin.

In the 12 months of 2025, the most significant categories of illegal products detained included sedatives (27%), erectile dysfunction medicines (14%), anabolic steroids (12%), diabetes/slimming (9%) and analgesics (5%). 

The HPRA also expressed concern about the risks people take when attempting to purchase prescription medicines from unauthorised suppliers.

“Sourcing prescription medicines outside of a registered pharmacy and without appropriate medical supervision poses a significant risk to your health,” compliance manager Jennifer McCartan said. 

“Products obtained through online or other unauthorised channels fall outside the regulated supply chain, meaning their quality, safety and origins cannot be assured.

“These medicines may be counterfeit, mislabelled, or contain harmful or ineffective ingredients. Using such products can result in serious adverse effects and represents a real but fully avoidable danger to public health.”

“While we welcome a decrease in overall detentions this year (763,027 units in 2025 compared to 1,000,984 dosage units in 2024), data for a single year should not be interpretated as an indication that demand for certain products has reduced. More than three‑quarters of a million dosage units of illegal medicines is really concerning and we are also seeing some evidence of packages containing smaller quantities of drops, patches or vials. This pattern is reflected in the overall consignment figures”.

McCartan said there are “numerous reasons” why people may turn to unregulated sources for prescription medicines.

“For many it is the knowledge or expectation that a healthcare professional may not consider these products clinically appropriate, while others may be motivated by privacy concerns, ease of access or perceived cost savings.”

The HPRA said it will initiate prosecution cases where it considers that there is a significant risk to public health or where there are persistent non-compliances.

It also said it supports prosecutions brought by the Director of Public Prosecutions in relation to the illegal supply of medicines.

Some 14 voluntary formal cautions were issued in 2025, while a prosecution relating to the manufacture and distribution of GLP-1 medicines was initiated. 

The HPRA also shut down or amended 4,762 websites, e-commerce listings and/or social media pages related to the sale of fake or illegal medicines last year.