People urged not to buy medicines from unverified websites
The IPU said purchasing counterfeit medicine could pose serious risks to a person's health.
Speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland, President of the IPU Tom Murray said any medicine being sold from an unverified source should be of "particular concern" because a person does not know what is in the medicine.
He added that some "drugs can contain nothing" and others can contain toxic ingredients.
Mr Murray said that the most popular counterfeit drugs are Botox and weight loss or diabetes treatments, such as Ozempic and Mounjaro.
He said that there were over 1,700 units of Botox seized last year by the Health Products Regulatory Authority.
He also warned that unverified websites could be offering incorrect information or advice.
Mr Murray said that Ireland has a highly regulated supply system which "guarantees the efficiency and safety of medicines".
He added that the only place to buy medicine safely is through pharmacies.
The HPRA found
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The Irish Sun
20 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Your ultimate guide to beat the Mounjaro price hike – from switching jabs to getting them FREE on the NHS
From the differences between Mounjaro and Wegovy to cheating the postcode lottery, we reveal everything you need to know... as well as common jab mistakes stopping you losing weight JABS UP Your ultimate guide to beat the Mounjaro price hike – from switching jabs to getting them FREE on the NHS THE price of Mounjaro is set to soar, The Sun revealed yesterday - leaving slimmers desperate and worried at how they will afford the 'life-changing' drug. With the price hike looming on September 1, we reveal how to dodge the spiralling bills, getting your jabs for cheaper - or even free on the NHS - as well as the different side effects to be wary of. Advertisement 2 Eli Lilly has increased its prices of Mounjaro in the UK Credit: Getty The NHS has been giving Mounjaro prescriptions within GP practices since June. Private pharmacies boast 'no GP referral needed', with tantalising prices drawing in an estimated one million paying customers. Costs vary depending on the provider, jab and dosage, but are currently between around £120 and £220 per month. But that's all set to change, as the US-based maker of Mounjaro, Eli Lilly, told The Sun it will be increasing charges in Britain to 'address inconsistencies' with prices it commands from other western countries. Advertisement The price the pharma giant charges pharmacies for a mid-range 5mg dose will nearly double from £92 to £180 from September 1. The maximum available dose, 15mg, will rise from £122 to £330. Eli Lilly claimed to have negotiated with big private suppliers to ensure the whole price increase is not passed on to patients - but with pharmacies already marking up jab prices, the public can expect to see the cost increase. It marks a huge blow for those for whom the jab offers a life-saving way out of obesity. The hefty price would affect those currently on the jabs, as well as those who had hoped to pay for them long-term to avoid weight regain. Toby Nicol, CEO at CheqUp, which has around 50,000 customers on weight loss jabs, said: 'This news will be disappointing for those who have achieved life-changing results with Mounjaro. Advertisement 'This is particularly the case for those on higher doses who will likely see substantial rises in price." Weight Loss Jabs - Pros vs Cons Mounjaro has been dubbed the 'King Kong' of fat jabs because its success tops other brands, including Wegovy (also called Ozempic for type 2 diabetes), and Saxenda. Now, with people considering switching to Wegvoy, some providers appear to have hiked prices of the alternative jab that's similar to Ozempic, in response to the update. Mr Nicol, who says they have reduced the price of Wegovy on CheqUp, says: "Wegovy is a brilliant drug and that's why we don't want anyone to be priced out and think they have to take something which is unsafe. "Do not buy from the cowboys. If the price is to good to be true, it probably is." Advertisement There is no direct dose equivalent, so swapping between drugs is not possible Dr Suhail Hussain Dr Ralph Abraham, a diabetes and endocrinology specialist verified on Doctify, a healthcare review platform, says: 'There is no problem in switching from one drug to another. 'But in a world where the drugs are often not prescribed by experienced doctors, it then becomes difficult to know where side effects might lie.' Here, we answer the worries of readers and address how this could influence weight loss jabs and their success. CAN I SWITCH TO WEGOVY? IT depends who you ask. Mr Nicol says: "It's clinically acceptable to go from Mounjaro to Wegovy. We are developing our own switching plan. Advertisement 'While Mounjaro remains the most effective treatment available, Wegovy is a more affordable option and is also clinically proven as a highly effective weight loss drug that has delivered incredible results for people who are on a weight loss journey. 'We are ready and able to provide advice to those who are looking to switch.' But Dr Suhail Hussain, a private GP verified on Doctify, believes this is likely to affect weight loss. 'There is no direct dose equivalent, so swapping between drugs is not possible,' he says. Wegovy is prescribed between 0.25mg and 2.4mg, while Mounjaro has doses between 2.5mg and 15mg. Advertisement Dr Hussain said: 'The weight loss drugs are generally started at the lowest dose and titrated up. 'So if you were on mid-strength Mounjaro you would have to go onto the lowest strength Wegovy. 'There may also need to be a 'wash out' period to wean off one on to the other - which will again have impact on results." But Mr Nicol says: "It doesn't feel right to do that, it's like a game of snakes and ladders. "We'd be saying to people, for example, on 7.5mg of Mounjaro, that they shuold be transferring over to 1.7mg of Wegovy." Advertisement Patients should receive clinically appropriate care, under supervision, that aligns with their individual health needs and personal circumstances, experts said. WHAT ARE THE RISKS OF SWITCHING TO WEGOVY? A USER would also need to adjust to the side effects of a new medicine. While these are relatively the same for either jab, there are slight differences. 'Mounjaro tends to be better tolerated in terms of GI side effects than Weygovy, so you may experience more nausea or vomiting etc,' says Dr Hussain. The 'very common' side effects of both Mounjaro and Wegovy are nausea, diarrhoea, vomiting and constipation, according to Asda Online Doctor. Advertisement But Wegovy also says headache, stomach pain and feeling weak or tired are very common. WILL I LOSE AS MUCH WEIGHT ON WEGOVY? THE active ingredient in Wegovy is semaglutide, while in Mounjaro it is tirzepatide. Both work in a very similar way on the body. Dr Hussain says: 'The two drugs work in a similar way (both are GLP-1 receptor agonists) but have some important differences. 'Mounjaro is a dual GIP + GLP-1 receptor agonist, while Wegovy is GLP-1 agonist only. 'Therefore, there may be a difference in impact on appetite suppression and hence subsequent weight loss.' Advertisement Mounjaro is a Ferrari, Wegovy is a Porsche, and diet and exercise is a horse and cart. Toby Nicol GLP-1 is a natural hormone released in your gut when you eat. By activating GLP-1 receptors, Wegovy helps slow down stomach emptying and control blood sugar levels, helping with fullness and sending a message to the brain to reduce food intake. Mounjaro does this too, but also mimics the hormone GIP, which also plays a role in blood sugar regulation and appetite. It's dual-action may be why Mounjaro is the preferred jab of choice for weight loss. 2 Is your weight loss journey at risk of being halted? You have options, experts say Credit: Getty Advertisement How much does Mounjaro cost now? The price of Mounjaro doses: These are general prices, but they vary by provider within a £30 range. 2.5mg: £120 5mg: £140 7.5mg: £150 10mg: £170 12.5mg: £210 15mg: £210 Mounjaro can help you lose around 21 per cent of your body weight, while Wegovy can help you lose 14.9 per cent. In one trial of Mounjaro, the SURMOUNT-1 trial of tirzepatide in non-diabetic patients over 72 weeks, people lost up to 22.5 per cent of their body weight while taking the highest maintenance dose. More than 89 per cent of people lost at least five per cent of their starting weight. STEP-1, a 68-week clinical trial carried out to study the weight loss effects of semaglutide (Wegovy), found that people lost up to 17 per cent of their body weight after taking the 2.4mg maintenance dose. Up to 85 per cent of patients lost at least five per cent of their starting weight. Advertisement Mr Nicol said: "Mounjaro is a Ferrari, Wegovy is a Porsche, and diet and exercise is a horse and cart." HOW CAN I GET THE JAB CHEAPER? SWITCHING to Wegovy might save you money - if your provider hasn't increased its prices. Below is a box showing the price of the highest dose of Wegovy and Mounjaro - but because the doses are not comparable, it's difficult to also compare their prices. Eli Lilly claimed it is negotiating with providers so that the whole increase is not passed on to patients. Mr Nicol said: 'At CheqUp we are determined to support our patients as best we can – and can announce today that despite these price rises we will not raise prices for those who are on the two lowest doses of Mounjaro. Advertisement 'We will also not pass on the full cost of the price rise for those on higher doses.' PRICES OF MOUNJARO AND WEGOVY Below is a price comparison of Mounjaro and Wegovy at some of the UK's most popular providers. NOTE: SOME PROVIDERS CONSIDER THE HIGHEST DOSE A MAINTENANCE DOSE AT THE END OF TREATMENT, AND IT IS NOT IMPERATIVE TO REACH IT. DOSES ARE ALSO NOT COMPARABLE. Prices as of August 14, 2025 CheqUp Mounjaro (tirzepatide) highest dose: £209 Wegovy (semaglutide) highest dose: £160 ASDA Online Doctor Mounjaro (tirzepatide) highest dose: £204 Wegovy (semaglutide) highest dose: £188.98 Oxford Online Pharmacy Mounjaro (tirzepatide) highest dose: £198.97 Wegovy (semaglutide) highest dose: £248.99 MedExpress Mounjaro (tirzepatide) highest dose: £199.99 Wegovy (semaglutide) highest dose: £199.99 Superdrug Online Doctor Mounjaro (tirzepatide) highest dose: £245 Wegovy (semaglutide) highest dose: £295 HOW CAN I GET MOUNJARO FREE ON THE NHS? IT was a game-changing moment when the NHS announced it would be prescribing weight loss jabs for free. You need to fit a strict set of criteria to be eligible, but the initial rollout is extremely limited to just 22,000 patients over the next three years. There are 3.4million people in England who would qualify for treatment under the NICE eligibility criteria. The NHS says you'll only be prescribed semaglutide (Wegovy) if you have health problems due to your weight and you have a BMI of either: Advertisement 35 or more, or 32.5 or more if you're of Asian, Chinese, Middle Eastern, Black African or African-Caribbean origin 30 to 34.9, or 27.5 to 32.4 if you're of Asian, Chinese, Middle Eastern, Black African or African-Caribbean origin, and you meet other criteria to be treated by a specialist weight management service Only a specialist weight management service can prescribe semaglutide. You may be eligible for tirzepatide (Mounjaro) from a GP if you have: A BMI of 40 or more And have at least four of these weight-related health conditions: type 2 diabetes high blood pressure (hypertension) heart disease (cardiovascular disease) abnormal blood fats (dyslipidaemia) obstructive sleep apnoea A weight management service or GP can prescribe tirzepatite. CAN I GET AROUND THE POSTCODE LOTTERY? THERE is a 'postcode lottery' of prescription, so whether you can access the drugs depends largely on where you live. Advertisement Shockingly, as little as eight out of 42 NHS Integrated Health Boards are prescribing the jabs, according to Sky News. Can you get around it? 'No,' says Dr Hussain. The NHS says you can check with your local Integrated Care Board to see if you are eligible for an assessment. Some GP practices have begged patients to stop requesting it from them. For example, a statement from Dr Khan's Practice in Clayton, Manchester, read: 'Tirzepatide (Mounjaro) is not currently available anywhere in Greater Manchester, including GP practices, hospitals or specialist weight management services. Advertisement 'Please do not contact us to request it – you'll be contacted directly if you are eligible when the service becomes available in the area. 'Dr Khans Practice are not prescribing GLP-1 medications for weight loss until a service agreement is in place with Manchester ICB which is currently under review.'
Irish Independent
a day ago
- Irish Independent
Martin Daly: Obesity drugs can improve our health, but must be strictly controlled
The buzz around Ozempic and other weight-loss medications is inescapable. These drugs were developed to manage type 2 diabetes, and are now widely seen as game-changers in the fight against obesity. For many, they appear almost miraculous – a treatment that just a few years ago would have seemed unimaginable. But as is so often the case with medical innovations, the treatment has arrived first, and the laws and regulations are scrambling to catch up.
Irish Independent
a day ago
- Irish Independent
Eli Lilly raises price of Mounjaro obesity drug in UK
Eli Lilly is to raise the UK list price of its weight-loss and type 2 diabetes treatment Mounjaro by up to 170pc to be in line with other European markets, it has said, as the pharma industry responds to US pressure to equalise drug prices across markets. The new price, effective from September, will mean that a month's supply of the highest dose of the medicine will increase from £122 (€142) to £330.
