Michael McHale , 2025-04-30 10:26:00
Sedatives and anabolic steroids represented more than one third of illegal medicines seized last year, while almost three times as many obesity treatments were detained in 2024 compared to the previous year
The amount of illegal medicines seized by health authorities rose by 14 per cent last year, with more than one million units detained.
Announcing the figures, the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) warned of the serious health dangers posed by sourcing prescription medicines online and from unauthorised sources.
Its data found that, of the 1,000,984 dosage units of falsified and other illegal medicines detained last year, 203,088 were anabolic steroids, while a further 146,686 were sedatives.
Other commonly detained medications included erectile dysfunction treatments (119,289) and analgesic medicines (113,555).
The HPRA also noted an upward trend in detentions of obesity and diabetes treatment products including, predominantly, semaglutide (trading as Ozempic/Wegovy) and liraglutide (Saxenda). While overall numbers remain low, 1,582 units of GLP-1 products were detained in 2024 compared to 568 units in 2023 and just 40 units in 2022.
“While purchasing online is second nature for many of us, when it comes to prescription medicines, people need to ensure that the product is prescribed by a healthcare professional and sourced from a local pharmacy,” said Grainne Power, director of compliance with the HPRA.
“Your pharmacy has sourced medicines from authorised sources for your protection and is an expert in their use. Using these prescription medicines without medical supervision or from an unregulated source leaves people unprotected.
“The seizure of over one million dosage units of illegal medicines last year highlights the persistent extent of the threats posed by falsified and unauthorised prescription medicines,” she added.
“Our investigations and prosecutions have shown that those profiting from illegally supplied medicines have little or no regard for the health and safety of those who use them. While some websites may appear legitimate, many are simply fronts for unlawful activity, putting consumers at serious risk.”
The HPRA initiated two prosecution cases last year, which related to the importation or distribution of anabolic steroids and the weight loss product Saxenda. It also shut down or amended 2,553 websites, e-commerce listings and/or social media pages illegally advertising medicines.
“We understand that there are many reasons why members of the public seek out these illegally supplied products, such as privacy, ease of access, cost, or the belief that their doctor might not deem it appropriate medical use,” Ms Power said.
“However, regardless of the reason, it is never worth taking a risk when it comes to your health. We advise anyone who has purchased prescription medicines from unregulated sources to stop using them immediately and to contact their healthcare professional if they have any concerns about their health.”
