British police have carried out raids and made arrests in a crackdown on the illegal sale of drugs commonly used to lose weight.
Ozempic is one of a group of “semaglutide” drugs that took social media by storm last year.
Due to high demand and low supply, regulators believe liquids containing this ingredient are being sold on the UK black market.
Manufactured by Novo Nordisk, Ozempic is actually intended to help people with type 2 diabetes manage their blood sugar levels.
But it’s also been used “off-label” to lose weight, including some famous people: Elon Musk He said the injections helped him lose weight.
In the UK, semaglutide, like Ozempic, is not legally available without a prescription.But regulators said BBC’s Newsbeat service A “small” black market for medicines is emerging, he said.
The store previously discovered that semaglutide was being sold on social media and at cosmetics retailers.
This week, police arrested a man suspected of selling the drug illegally online after raiding a house in northern England. Officers found a vial containing a liquid believed to contain the ingredient.
Andy Moring, deputy director of the criminal enforcement division at the country’s Medicines and Healthcare Regulatory Agency, said his team was planning further raids and was trying to remove online advertisements for semaglutide.
In the UK, it is illegal to advertise prescription-only medicines to the general public.
General side effects Medications may include nausea, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and nausea. However, it can also cause serious side effects, including kidney, gallbladder, pancreatic, and vision problems.
It is possible that semaglutide can cause thyroid tumors, including cancer, but this has only been observed in rodent studies.
Mooring told BBC Newsbeat: “The worst thing that can happen to you is to get scammed and lose your money…and the worst thing that can happen to you is to be hospitalized.”
Global demand for Ozempic has outstripped supply in recent months, and Britain expects supply shortages to continue until at least next year.
Back in July, campaigners warned that diabetics were missing out on the drug because doctors were prescribing it “off-label” for weight loss.
However, the other semaglutide is expected to be more widely used in the country as a slimming aid.
During SeptemberNovo Nordisk launches semaglutide Wigovy in the UK for weight loss, with the country’s government announcing a £40 million ($51 million) fund to improve access to the drug.
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said at the time that obesity was putting “huge pressure” on the country’s public health system, the National Health Service.
He said: “Using modern medicines to help people lose weight is a game-changer by helping to tackle dangerous obesity-related health conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes and cancer. ”, he said, adding that Wigoby and similar drugs could relieve the pressure. It reduces the burden on hospitals, helps people live longer and healthier lives, and helps reduce medical waiting lists.
NHS medical director Steve Powis said these drugs could help tackle obesity, whose high rates would have a “devastating impact on the health of the population” and put “significant pressure” on the health service. He said there is a possibility of giving.