Ireland Sees Surge in Illegal Medicines, Particularly Weight-Loss Drugs

Over 750,000 units of illegal medicines were seized by the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) in 2025, marking a significant increase in the availability of counterfeit and unauthorized pharmaceuticals within Ireland. The HPRA’s annual enforcement figures reveal a threefold rise in individual consignments since 2024, with a particularly alarming surge in products falsely marketed as weight-loss medications.

Dramatic Increase in Seizures

A total of 763,027 dosage units of illegal medicines were detained in 2025, compared to 1,000,984 dosage units in 2024 [1]. This increase is largely driven by a surge in counterfeit GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) medications, often promoted for weight loss, with seizures rising from 1,582 in 2024 to 48,752 in 2025 [1], [2], [4]. Nearly 14,000 individual packages were linked to separate purchases of illegal or falsified medicines by members of the public [1].

Types of Illegal Medicines Seized

While GLP-1 medications represent a growing concern, the HPRA also seized significant quantities of other illegal pharmaceuticals in 2025. The most commonly detained categories included:

• Sedatives (27%) – 205,270 units
• Erectile dysfunction medicines (14%) – 103,185 units
• Anabolic steroids (12%) – 94,647 units
• Diabetes/Slimming medications (9%) – 65,148 units
• Analgesics (5%) – 40,669 units [2]

Pregabalin, a medication often misused for non-medical purposes, also saw a substantial increase in detentions, rising from 23,442 units in 2024 to 59,905 in 2025 [1].

Risks of Purchasing Illegal Medicines

The HPRA strongly warns the public against sourcing prescription medicines online or through unauthorized channels. These products pose significant health risks as their quality, safety, and authenticity cannot be guaranteed. Illegal medicines may be counterfeit, mislabeled, or contain harmful or ineffective ingredients [1], [2].

Testing conducted by the HPRA revealed that some detained GLP-1 patches did not contain semaglutide, despite being marketed as such. Other samples contained powder or clear liquid [1]. Authorized GLP-1 medications, like Ozempic, Mounjaro, and Saxenda, are intended for specific medical purposes, such as diabetes management or weight management under medical supervision.

HPRA Enforcement Actions

In 2025, the HPRA took several enforcement actions to combat the illegal trade in medicines, including:

• Initiating a prosecution related to the manufacture and distribution of GLP-1 medicines.
• Shutting down or amending 4,762 websites, e-commerce listings, and social media pages promoting illegal medicines [2].

“Sourcing prescription medicines outside of a registered pharmacy and without appropriate medical supervision poses a significant risk to your health,” stated Jennifer McCartan, Compliance Manager at the HPRA [1].

Key Takeaways

• There has been a significant increase in the seizure of illegal medicines in Ireland, particularly GLP-1 medications marketed for weight loss.
• Purchasing medicines from unregulated sources carries substantial health risks.
• The HPRA is actively working to disrupt the illegal trade in medicines through enforcement actions and public awareness campaigns.

The HPRA advises anyone with concerns about their health to seek advice from a healthcare professional and to immediately stop using any prescription medicines obtained from unregulated sources.