Almost half of Brits on weight loss jabs are ‘hacking’ medication or using unlicensed sellers as payday pressures hit.
Almost half (44%) of the 1.6million people using weight loss jabs in the UK admit to either dabbling with dangerous dosing ‘hacks’ (32%) or turning to unlicensed drugs and sellers (28%) as the rising price of the medication, and January payday pressures, combine to stretch affordability.
According to the research by LloydsPharmacy Online Doctor, one of Europe’s first online doctor services, eight in ten (78%) people experimenting with risky dosing hacks, like microdosing or medication vacations, are responding to mounting financial pressures.
“Price pressures have collided with seasonal cost of living challenges in January, and the growing perception on social media of GLP-1 medications as lifestyle drugs, tempt some patients to experiment with alternative ways of buying and taking them.” Adds Dr Kieran Seyan, Chief Medical Officer at LloydsPharmacy Online Doctor.
The price of Mounjaro, one of the most prescribed weight loss jabs in the UK, increased by as much as 170% in August. Almost all (93%) of the people changing dosing or purchasing behaviour due to cost pressures say price increases are a leading reason.
Meanwhile the payday pinch between Christmas and the end of January is making things worse for those affected, with four in five (88%) patients saying seasonal payday pressures are a key reason they’ve changed how they buy or take the drugs.
These cost pressures have led one in four (27%) people using GLP-1 medications to dip into their savings; one in five (17%) to work additional hours or take on an extra job; and one in ten (13%) to take out a credit card to cover the expense.
Microdosing, medication vacations, and the golden dose
Overall, the study by LloydsPharmacy Online Doctor found that one in three (32%) people currently taking weight loss jabs have experimented with untested and potentially unsafe ‘hacks’, with three in four (78%) of this group doing so to cut costs. Of those deviating from the guidelines of their prescription:
- One in four (24%) say they are ‘microdosing’ (taking a smaller amount of medication than prescribed to make it last longer)
- One in four (23%) have squeezed an extra ‘golden dose’ out of their pens (combining residual medication to create an additional dose)
- One in three (32%) have taken a ‘medication vacation’ (taking a short break to save money or make the most of life events like weddings or holidays)
Dr Kieran Seyan adds: “GLP-1 medications have transformed the treatment of obesity. They are helping patients achieve meaningful, sustained weight loss, and improving health outcomes for those who are clinically eligible. However, these medicines are still relatively new, and the evidence base relates to specific doses and treatment pathways. Experimenting with dosing ‘hacks’ to make prescriptions last longer is a risky strategy and can expose patients to safety risks and unknown side effects.”
The real slim shady
Cost of living pressures are also driving people to either buy from unregulated sources or begin taking alternative drugs not currently tested or prescribed for weight loss.
One in four current and previous (28%) weight-loss jab users have knowingly resorted to buying from unlicensed sellers, such as the dark web or social media sellers, while 1 in 5 (20%) are using drugs that are unlicensed and untested for weight loss in the UK. A further one in ten (12%) people say they can’t be sure, but suspect their weight-loss jabs have come from an unregulated provider.
“There are extremely concerning behaviours emerging around the use of unlicensed medicines”, adds Dr Kieran Seyan at LloydsPharmacy Online Doctor
“Reports of people buying weight loss medication through social media sellers, beauty salons, or the dark web highlight serious safety risks, and are rife, and it’s important that people understand that doing so significantly increases the likelihood of harm.”
“Patients should look for evidence that a service is properly registered, including clear display of Care Quality Commission or General Pharmaceutical Council registration details on the provider’s website.”
There have been reports of unlicensed or counterfeit drugs being sold for as little as £1.50 a vial, encouraging some patients to turn to ‘grey market’ or black-market sellers as financial pressures bite. The rise in popularity of unlicensed weight loss drugs has prompted public warnings from medicines regulator the MHRA to ensure any weight-loss medicines that patients use are safe, effective and legitimate.
A lifestyle choice
LloydsPharmacy Online Doctor’s research reveals that just 43% of people currently taking weight loss jabs have a stated BMI above 30, indicating that they are obese. A BMI of 30 is typically the eligibility threshold for most private weight loss injection prescriptions, although this may fall to 27 for patients with an associated weight-related health condition. One in seven people (14%) on GLP-1 medications had a BMI below 25, placing them in the healthy weight range.
As one might expect, a greater proportion of people with a sub-25 BMI (55% vs 40%) say their main motivation for taking a weight loss drug is to improve body confidence or self-esteem. Meanwhile, over half (52%) of those with a sub-25 BMI on weight loss medication say that celebrity endorsement made them more open to trying the medication.
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