Rise in illegal medicines detained in first six months of 2024

In the first six months of 2024, over 700,000 units of illegal medicines were seized in Ireland, a significant increase compared to the same period in 2023. The Health Products Regulatory Authority reported a rise in falsified products detained, with the most common categories being anabolic steroids, analgesics, sedatives, and erectile dysfunction medicines. The regulator also took action against e-commerce listings and social media pages promoting prescription medicines, resulting in one prosecution and four voluntary cautions. Fake versions of the weight-loss drug Ozempic/Wegovy saw a rapid increase in detentions, raising concerns about Irish patients experiencing severe side effects from buying medications online.

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