The Proliferation of Counterfeit Drugs
The first tip came into West Tennessee law enforcement about two months ago: A resident in the area was selling cheap versions of Ozempic and other weight loss drugs. According to officials with the West Tennessee Drug Task Force, the tipster believed the products couldn’t be legitimate due to their unusually low prices: A 10-milligram vial of semaglutide, the active ingredient in Ozempic and Wegovy, sold for about $100, for example, and a 15 mg vial costs $140. The brand-name versions, from drugmaker Novo Nordisk, sell for around $1,000 for a month’s supply.
The Raid and the Findings
Last week, officials said they raided Emily Arnold’s home in Medina, Tennessee, and found more than 300 vials of counterfeit versions of semaglutide, tirzepatide — the ingredient in the weight loss drug Zepbound and the diabetes drug Mounjaro — along with other drugs used for weight loss. Syringes, alcohol preps, mailers and other materials were also confiscated. Officials learned that she allegedly had also been supplying the drugs to two med spa clinics in the state. Some people who used the counterfeit drugs reported rashes and other pain from the injections, officials said.
The Investigation and Charges
Johnie Carter, the director of the West Tennessee Drug Task Force, described the scene: “We stumbled into one room that was set up, sort of like a lab. We even found three packages that were already packaged up and ready to go.” Officials said Arnold, 41, has been charged with four felonies and a misdemeanor, including impersonating a licensed professional. She will plead not guilty, her attorney said.
The Rise of Counterfeit Drugs
As highly effective but pricey weight loss drugs gain popularity in the U.S., experts and public health officials warn that low-cost counterfeit versions are becoming increasingly common. Counterfeit versions of Wegovy or Zepbound are different from compounded weight loss drugs. Compounded medications are a legitimate practice that’s monitored by the Food and Drug Administration. Compounded medications are essentially copies made by a licensed pharmacist and usually prescribed by a doctor.
The Risks of Counterfeit Drugs
Using a counterfeit medication can lead to dangerous complications, said Dr. Daniela Hurtado Andrade, an endocrinologist at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida. “You never know what they are mixing them with. There is the potential risk that they are mixing with electrolytes, which for example, can put a person at risk of having cardiac arrhythmias.” With counterfeit drugs, there’s no way to know they’re following health regulations.
Who is Most at Risk of Counterfeit Drugs?
Anyone who buys a GLP-1 drug without a prescription could be at risk of getting a counterfeit version. The most vulnerable are people without adequate health care coverage or without prescription drug benefits, or who feel stigmatized by their weight and don’t want to see a doctor, Timothy Mackey, a professor of global health at the University of California, San Diego, said.
Conclusion
The proliferation of counterfeit drugs is a serious concern, and it is essential that patients take steps to protect themselves. The best way to do this is to always get the brand-name product through a prescription from a doctor. Safdar, of the Partnership for Safe Medicines, said the best way people can protect themselves is to always get the brand-name product through a prescription from a doctor.
FAQs
Q: What is the difference between compounded weight loss drugs and counterfeit drugs?
A: Compounded medications are a legitimate practice that’s monitored by the Food and Drug Administration. Compounded medications are essentially copies made by a licensed pharmacist and usually prescribed by a doctor. Counterfeit drugs, on the other hand, are not licensed and are manufactured and packaged to look like legitimate brand-name medications but often contain little to none of the actual drug.
Q: What are the risks of using counterfeit drugs?
A: Using a counterfeit medication can lead to dangerous complications, including the risk of contamination, infection, and cardiac arrhythmias.
Q: Who is most at risk of using counterfeit drugs?
A: Anyone who buys a GLP-1 drug without a prescription could be at risk of getting a counterfeit version. The most vulnerable are people without adequate health care coverage or without prescription drug benefits, or who feel stigmatized by their weight and don’t want to see a doctor.
Q: How can I protect myself from counterfeit drugs?
A: The best way to protect yourself is to always get the brand-name product through a prescription from a doctor.
