There are countless Internet sites selling drugs and medicines, without prescription, that should only be available with a Doctor’s guidance and prescription.

The reasons people buy medicines from Internet sites can be just about saving money but can also be about anonymity, fear of approaching a doctor, ignorance of the dangers involved and so on.

There is a government campaign called #fakemeds with a website at https://fakemeds.campaign.gov.uk/

You can use this to check if a website you are thinking of buying from is registered to sell medicines and you can report suspected fake medicines and suppliers.

In 2016, Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) seized more than 4.6 million fake medical products and closed thousands of websites selling medicines illegally. Many potentially dangerous products seized by the MHRA had not tested for safety and in some cases were found stored in dirty, rat-infested warehouses and garden sheds.

The three key messages are

1. More than half of all medicines bought online are fake
2. Side effects can include heart attacks, strokes and death.
3. Buying from dodgy websites also increases the risk of being ripped off through credit card fraud or having your identity stolen.

The #fakemeds campaign is run by MHRA and a recent study in co-operation with Slimming World shows:-

• One in three slimmers have tried slimming pills purchased online.
• 77% were enticed by promises of rapid weight loss, more than half were attracted to being able to order discreetly and 44% ordered online because they didn’t want to speak to a GP or pharmacist.
• 63% suffered unpleasant side effects after taking slimming pills bought online. These side effects included diarrhoea, bleeding, blurred vision and heart problems. Worryingly, four out of five didn’t report these side effects to anyone.
• Four out of 10 respondents said they had used the slimming pills knowing there were health risks, with more than 62% doing so because they were ‘desperate to lose weight’.

Be careful buying medicine online and if you should get a prescription for the product then do speak to your doctor and do not risk your health on cheap dodgy products.

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