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The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has cautioned against buying weight-loss medicines without a prescription from beauty salons, unregistered pharmacy websites or social media platforms as such products could pose "serious health risks." Consumers are reminded that the only safe way to obtain genuine weight-loss medication is through a legitimate pharmacy, including licensed online pharmacies, with a prescription from a qualified healthcare professional. To combat the illegal sale of these medicines, the MHRA's Criminal Enforcement Unit is working closely with social media platforms, technology companies, the police and Border Force. Andy Morling, MHRA deputy director of Criminal Enforcement, highlighted the dangers of purchasing these medications from unverified sources: "At this time of year, with many of us thinking about shedding a little excess weight, we see people offering weight loss medicines for sale as a quick fix, without a healthcare professional's prescription, from beauty salons, websites and on social media. "These are not cosmetic treatments; they are powerful medicines that can only be legally and safely dispensed against a prescription issued by a healthcare professional."

The General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) has published updated guidance on online pharmacy services in Great Britain, introducing additional safeguards to prevent unsafe supply of high-risk medicines, including weight loss injections. Under the new rules, medicines used for weight-management and medicines requiring physical examination before a prescribing decision is made have been added to the list of high-risk medicines. When prescribing these medicines, prescribers can no longer rely solely on online questionnaires. Instead, they must independently verify patient information, either through timely two-way communication with the person, accessing the person's clinical records, or contacting the person's GP, their regular prescriber, or a third-party provider. These measures aim to prevent individuals from providing false information to obtain medicines that may not be clinically appropriate for them, reducing potential harm. The pharmacy regulator updated its guidance in response to concerns identified relating to unsafe prescribing and supply of medicines online.

A comprehensive cohort study has shed light on the benefits and risks associated with weight-loss drugs, offering valuable insights for clinical care and future research. Published in Nature Medicine on 20 January 2024, the study found the use of glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs)-used to treat diabetes and obesity-associated with a reduced risk of substance use disorders (including alcohol, cannabis, opioid and stimulant use disorders). Weight-loss drug use was also linked to decreased risks of psychotic disorders, seizures, neurocognitive disorders (including Alzheimer's disease and dementia), coagulation disorders, cardiometabolic disorders, infectious illnesses and several respiratory conditions. However, the use of GLP-1RAs was not without risks, as researchers identified an increased risk of gastrointestinal disorders, hypotension, syncope, arthritic conditions, nephrolithiasis, interstitial nephritis, and drug-induced pancreatitis associated with their use. The analysis, utilising the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs databases, compared 215,970 GLP-1 RA users with patients using sulphonylureas (n=159,465), DPP4 inhibitors (n=117,989), SGLT2 inhibitors (n=258,614), or a composite of the three (n=536,068).

The General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) is inviting feedback on proposed changes to its guidance for online pharmacies, aimed at enhancing patient safety. These changes are designed to tackle concerns associated with receiving medicines from online pharmacies, particularly those that may not be clinically appropriate and could potentially harm patients. GPhC has identified concerns relating to inappropriate supplies of weight loss medications that could pose risk to patients' health. Duncan Rudkin, Chief Executive of the GPhC, underscored the importance of addressing risks in online pharmacy services. "We know that there can be significant benefits for people using online pharmacy services to get medicines and treatment, but there are also additional risks that need to be managed, to make sure medicines and other pharmacy services are provided safely to patients and the public.

People are advised to be mindful of medications that may cause sun reactions, and to watch out for dodgy hay fever treatments and fake weight loss pens. For those traveling abroad, the MHRA advises considering the suitability of medicines available to reduce the risk of contracting tropical diseases. Dr Alison Cave, Chief Safety Officer at the MHRA, said: "The summer is an exciting time for many of us, as we take time off to travel and enjoy the warmer weather. "But it is important to understand what this time of year means for our medicines and medical devices, and take the precautions necessary to use products safely and protect ourselves." Watch out for dodgy hay fever treatments Millions of Britons suffer from hay fever symptoms in the summer. The MHRA advises consulting a healthcare professional to find the best treatment for your symptoms. People are also warned to be cautious of medicines advertised as hay fever treatments but not approved for use in the UK, such as Kenalog. This is a prescription-only steroid injection licensed as a medicine for other conditions, but not for the treatment of hay fever.