The dangers of buying weight-loss injections online, and why your pharmacist may now be your first stop for healthcare advice.
The Pat Kenny Show tackles the growing trend of people bypassing doctors to buy weight-loss drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy online—often without proper medical supervision or even knowing if the medication is real. Lauren Dowling, the 'Fabulous Pharmacist Online,' warns that counterfeit versions of these drugs are flooding the market, with 48,000 fake or inert drugs seized in Ireland in 2025 alone. These fake products may contain unknown toxins, posing serious health risks. She emphasizes that GLP-1 drugs are not for cosmetic weight loss but are serious treatments for obesity and type 2 diabetes, requiring lifelong management and clinical follow-up. Without supervision, patients risk side effects like pancreatitis, muscle loss, and weight regain after stopping. Meanwhile, pharmacists are stepping in as frontline healthcare providers under new regulations, treating common conditions like thrush, impetigo, and conjunctivitis—freeing up GPs for more complex cases. Yet, many still turn to 'Dr. Google' and AI for self-diagnosis, a dangerous trend that can lead to unnecessary anxiety and inappropriate treatment. The episode underscores a critical shift: pharmacists are now essential health gatekeepers, but only when patients use them responsibly and avoid the risks of unregulated online purchases.
48,000 fake or inert weight-loss drugs were seized in Ireland in 2025—many contained no active ingredient.
GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic are for treating obesity and diabetes, not cosmetic weight loss, and require lifelong medical supervision.
Stopping GLP-1 medication often leads to rapid weight regain, making it a chronic condition management tool, not a quick fix.
10–20% of people don’t respond to GLP-1 drugs, and side effects like nausea, pancreatitis, and muscle loss require clinical monitoring.
Pharmacists in Ireland can now treat 7 common conditions (e.g., thrush, impetigo, conjunctivitis) and prescribe without a GP referral.
…and 3 more takeaways available in PodZeus
The Surge in Online Weight-Loss Drug Use
“In 2025 about 48,000 drugs were seized and many of these had nothing in them. So they were nothing. They were GLP ones that didn't have any drug associated in them.”
GLP-1s Are for Chronic Disease, Not Cosmetic Goals
Lauren Dowling clarifies that GLP-1 drugs are not for short-term weight loss but are treatments for obesity and type 2 diabetes, requiring ongoing clinical supervision and lifestyle support.
Why People Skip GPs and Go Online
Many people are denied prescriptions because their BMI is below the threshold (30 or 27 with comorbidity), leading them to seek unregulated online sources despite the risks.
The Real Risks of Unsupervised Use
Without medical follow-up, patients face serious side effects like pancreatitis, eye issues, and muscle loss, and may not realize these drugs are meant for lifelong use.
Weight Loss vs. Health: A Crucial Distinction
The episode challenges the cultural obsession with being 'skinny' and reframes the goal as achieving a healthier weight, not just losing pounds.
“Well, the HPRA did release stats there that in 2025 about 48 ,000 drugs were seized and many of these had nothing in them. So they were nothing. They were GLP ones that didn't have any drug associated in them.”
“We can't be injecting things into our bodies that we don't know very much about.”
“So we would properly assess the person, ask them about their symptoms what they're experiencing, what they've treated themselves with so far and appropriately prescribe something for them if so needed.”
Host
Guest
Lauren Dowling
person
Ozempic
product
Wegovy
product
HPRA
organization
Dr. Google
other
peptides
product
common conditions regulation
other
Newstalk
media
TEDR
media
medical card
other
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