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Weight loss injections are a popular method of losing weight. But worryingly, many people are turning to the black market in the UK to buy injections because they are cheaper. Many of these online injections are unlicensed or counterfeit and can put your health at risk. Read on to find out what you need to know about illegal weight loss injections and how you can stay safe.
Unregulated sellers, social media and websites are being used to sell weight-loss injections. They often claim to contain the same ingredients as licensed jabs.
But because they haven’t been supplied through a legitimate healthcare company there is no official documentation to confirm what those ingredients are and, some jabs sold online don’t list the ingredients at all. An illegal weight loss injection is one that is sold by someone who is not authorised to sell medication and is not dispensing the treatment from a regulated pharmacy.
There are pharmacies regulated to sell weight loss injections online. In the Uk all legal pharmacies are registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council. You can access the website and search for a pharmacy or a pharmacist by name or registration number. If the name does not appear on the register, then it is likely to be an illegal website.
 Although buying from an unregulated seller might be tempting because prices are cheaper, you should bear in mind that the jabs may contain unknown ingredients, or doses that are incorrect which can cause side effects.
It is probable that the manufacturing process was carried out without sterile equipment or medical grade testing. Needles may be damaged or have been used before.
You also won’t have received any assessment or support before using the jabs. An assessment makes sure the weight loss jab is suitable for you, especially if you are pregnant, breast feeding or you are allergic to one or more of the jab’s ingredients.
Unregulated jabs haven’t been medically tested and so the side effects could be severe. Typical side effects are nausea and vomiting, low blood sugar, allergic reactions like rashes or even anaphylaxis and gallstones. If you have very bad abdominal pain after using the injections, seek medical help immediately as you may have pancreatitis which is inflammation of the pancreas and is very serious.
We have a dedicated weight loss clinic. You can come to us for supervised weight loss instruction and help choosing the right type of injection. During our free consultation service, we’ll talk about your weight loss goals and assess which treatment would suit your lifestyle.
 We then show you how to use the weight loss jab and provide you with a support pack with advice about diet and exercise to help you start your weight loss journey. You’ll then get regular progress reviews and medication adjustments as needed, together with support, advice and lifestyle tips.
Weight loss injections start at £129.99 for Wegovy 0.25mg and £169.99 for Mounjaro 2.5mg. The cost will depend on the dose you choose.  Â
If you’d like a free consultation at the weight loss clinic you can book online, give us a call on 01276 21002, or come in and see us at the pharmacy if you’re passing.
