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

Fake versions of “game-changing” slimming steps have caused dangerous side effects in more than a dozen Britons, health authorities warned today.

Diabetes drug Ozempic — which has been proven to help you lose up to 33 pounds — and vaccinations said to be from Saxenda are touted as “miracle” weight-loss shots.

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

Officials have already admitted to seizing 369 potentially counterfeit Ozempic pens since the start of the year.

Counterfeit versions of Saxenda obtained through “illegal means” have also been reported to the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).

Meanwhile, 16 Britons have reported suspected counterfeit semaglutide or liraglutide to the regulator’s Yellow Card scheme, which records side effects suspected to be caused by drugs.

It has been confirmed that up to five people have also been hospitalized with life-threatening side effects.

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

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

Those who have been hospitalized and required emergency care have 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, coma or, in severe cases, even death.

“For medicines bought outside the legal supply chain, the contents may not match the ingredients on the label. Insulin-containing pens rebranded as Ozempic have been intercepted in the UK,” the MHRA said.

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

READ MORE: Fake Ozempic jabs left Brits desperate to lose weight and in comas: Urgent warning: ‘Do not use or buy’ over fat-fighting injections sold online

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

Health workers must also quarantine suspected counterfeit products and store the product for testing, the regulator said.

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

The fake vaccinations had batch numbers, barcodes and unique serial numbers copied from real Ozempic packaging.

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

A separate warning from the Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices also said the counterfeit versions are available in packs of three and have an expiration date of July and December 2025.

It shared the serial and batch codes of the affected products, but warned that they were copied from Ozempic’s original packaging.

As a result, it has been warned that it is almost impossible to tell the real and fake versions apart based on the packaging they came in.

However, the fake injection pens have a clear cap instead of a gray one and the bottom of the pen is slightly darker blue than the original. The information on the label and the dosage are also slightly different.

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

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

Wegovy, the weekly poke from Danish pharmaceutical giant Novo Nordisk, is offered on the NHS to help patients with type 2 diabetes control their blood sugar levels.

It is also available through the Health Weight Loss Service for patients who are overweight or obese and have weight-related health problems.

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

Although Wegovy is considered one of the most effective pharmaceuticals to date, studies have also shown that Wegovy users can quickly regain the pounds when they stop taking the fat-fighting drug, and that it can cause a number of unpleasant side effects . Users often complain of nausea, constipation and diarrhea after taking the medication

In September, MailOnline found sellers on Facebook Marketplace who were offering slimming injections without a prescription. A seller shows a photo of a fridge full of medication and lists the slimming steps for £130 (pictured left). Another vendor mentions semaglutide, a drug found in both Ozempic and Wegovy (pictured right).

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

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

The treatments stimulate weight loss by mimicking the effects of a hormone called GLP-1, which is released in the gut after you eat.

The hormone GLP-1 not only instructs the pancreas to produce more insulin, but also returns to the brain and gives a feeling of fullness.

But such medications are not without side effects.

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

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

Health officials have warned that the call to get this drug and other similar drugs is exacerbating the nationwide shortage and putting the lives of diabetics at risk.

Pharmacists warned people not to buy slimming pills like Ozempic online because they fear it could cause serious harm and “damage vital organs”.