Renewed warning on the dangers of fake weight loss drugs in the UK
Ed Milner | Last update: 16th September 2025
As prices for weight loss drugs soar and NHS access remains limited, experts are issuing fresh warnings about a rising black market for fake jabs, including dangerous copycat versions of drugs still in clinical trials
At a glance
- Experts told the London Assembly there’s a growing black market for fake weight loss drugs
- Creators on TikTok and social platforms are selling illegal and unregulated jabs
- Many fakes claim to be versions of drugs like Mounjaro or even experimental compounds like retatrutide
- Experts say high prices and poor NHS access are pushing patients to take dangerous risks
- SlimrChat warns: only use licensed pharmacies and consult your doctor
Fake jabs on the rise, experts warn
Doctors and healthcare providers have told the London Assembly’s health committee that counterfeit weight loss drugs are widely available online, especially on TikTok.
Their warning follows a recent Independent investigation which found sellers openly promoting fake jabs. This includes versions of retatrutide, a drug still in clinical trials and not legally available anywhere.
NHS access and Mounjaro price hikes to blame?
This comes just days after The BMJ reported that less than half of England has begun prescribing Mounjaro on the NHS , despite it being approved over two months ago.
🔗 Read: SlimrChat on postcode access problems
At the same time, the cost of private Mounjaro treatment has surged by up to 50% for the highest doses. This is making many users to feel their unable to afford the treatments.
Read Slimrchat’s latest update on UK Mounjaro pricing here: Mounjaro cost breakdown
Experts say these factors are driving desperate patients toward illegal, unregulated sellers, where they risk receiving contaminated, unsafe or entirely fake substances.
SlimrChat’s warning
Given the growing concern of these counterfeits, we have previously issued our own guidance on how to avoid counterfeit jabs: The danger of fake weight loss jabs: what you need to know
It’s crucial that users:
- Only purchase GLP-1 weight loss drugs from licensed UK pharmacies
- Always have a prescription from a regulated prescriber
- Be wary of any site or seller offering cheap, fast, or “no prescription” deals