The GLP-1 receptor agonists used in weight management (popularly known as the “weight-loss injection”) are prescription-only medicines. Even so, they are found being sold by unreliable sources, without a prescription and without authorisation.
This article explains why obtaining them in this way is risky, and how you can check whether your medicine came through the legal supply chain.
What should you be aware of when obtaining medicines?
The Turkish Medicines and Medical Devices Agency (opens in a new tab)’s statement is clear:
“In our country, the only legal and safe way to obtain your medicines is to buy them from pharmacies.”
“Medicines obtained via the internet, by telephone and by similar means fall outside the assurance of the Ministry of Health.”
The same agency states that the use of counterfeit medicines threatens both a person’s own health and the health of their family members.
For a medicine obtained outside a pharmacy, the contents, the dose, the storage conditions and whether it is genuine are not guaranteed by any authority.
What are the risks?
1. The contents not being known
What is written on the box does not show what is inside. In a product from outside the legal supply chain, the contents may be missing altogether, a different substance may be present, or the amount may differ from what is expected.
2. The risk of a dosing error
In this group of medicines, the dose is determined by a physician on an individual basis and is adjusted in stages. Starting at the wrong dose, or increasing the dose without a physician’s supervision, may lead to more severe gastrointestinal side effects and to fluid loss.
3. The storage conditions not being known
These products need to be stored within a specific temperature range. If a product has been sent by courier, handed over in person or kept in unsuitable conditions, there is no way of knowing what state it is in. You cannot tell from the outside whether a medicine has been stored properly.
4. No assessment having been carried out
When a medicine is obtained outside the legal supply chain, none of the following steps has taken place:
- Determining whether you are suitable
- Assessing interactions with your other current medication, particularly medicines that lower blood sugar
- Laboratory assessment
- Investigating whether another condition lies behind the weight gain
- Monitoring for side effects and managing them if they occur
You can read who this group of medicines is not used in from Who Are GLP-1 Receptor Agonists Not Suitable For?
5. The lack of a record if a problem arises
If a side effect develops, there is no reliable record of which product you used and at what dose. This also makes assessment in the emergency department more difficult.
How can you tell that your medicine came through the legal supply chain?
- It must have been bought from a pharmacy and with a prescription. That is the only assurance that it has not left the legal supply chain.
- There must be a data matrix code on the box. In Türkiye, medicines are tracked through the Pharmaceutical Track and Trace System; a medicine bought from a pharmacy is registered in that system.
- The packaging must not have been opened, the label must not have been changed, and the information on it must not be illegible.
- There must be a patient information leaflet in Turkish.
- A price lower than expected is not a mark of trustworthiness; it is a warning sign.
If you have any doubts, ask the pharmacy you bought it from. Suspected counterfeit medicines can be reported to the Turkish Medicines and Medical Devices Agency at sahteilac@titck.gov.tr.
Common misconceptions
“Someone I know used it and nothing happened to them.” Whether this group of medicines is suitable is determined on an individual basis. The fact that one person had no problems does not mean that another will not have them; the other medication being used and any co-existing conditions are different.
“It is the same medicine anyway; the pharmacy price is just higher.” There is no record showing that a product from outside the legal supply chain is the same medicine. A difference in price is not an assurance that the product is genuine.
“I will only use a small amount, so it will do no harm.” Using a small amount does not change the fact that the contents are unknown, nor does it remove the risk of interaction.
“I get a prescription online as well.” A document issued without an examination does not take the place of a medical assessment.
What should you do if you have already used a medicine obtained outside the legal supply chain?
- Do not decide on your own whether to stop using it; consult a physician.
- Bring the box, the patient information leaflet if you have it, and any remaining product with you.
- Write down when you started, how often you used it and how much you used.
- Bring a list of all the other medicines and supplements you are using.
Do not withhold this information from your physician. An assessment can only be made correctly when your physician knows what has been used.
When should you see a physician without delay?
If you experience these symptoms during treatment, contact your physician without delay:
- Persistent vomiting with signs of fluid loss such as dry mouth, reduced urine output or dizziness
- Signs of low blood sugar such as sweating, trembling, palpitations or sudden hunger
- Swelling, redness, increased warmth or discharge at the injection site
- A high fever
- A widespread rash, itching
In the event of severe, persistent abdominal pain, particularly pain that radiates to the back, shortness of breath, swelling of the face or tongue, altered consciousness or fainting, go directly to the emergency department.
Frequently asked questions
Is it legal to buy medicines over the internet?
The Turkish Medicines and Medical Devices Agency states that pharmacies are the only legal and safe way to obtain medicines in Türkiye. The same agency reports that medicines obtained via the internet, by telephone and by similar means fall outside the assurance of the Ministry of Health.
How can I tell whether the medicine I bought is counterfeit?
Judging by appearance is not reliable. The only assurance is that the medicine was bought with a prescription and from a pharmacy; in Türkiye, medicines are tracked through the Pharmaceutical Track and Trace System. If you have any doubts, ask your pharmacy; suspected counterfeit medicines can be reported to sahteilac@titck.gov.tr.
Why would a product I found at a low price be risky?
For a product from outside the legal supply chain, there is no way of knowing the contents, the dose or the storage conditions. A low price is not an assurance that the product is genuine; on the contrary, it is a sign that warrants attention.
I used a medicine obtained outside the legal supply chain; do I need to tell my physician?
Yes. An assessment can only be made correctly when your physician knows what has been used. Bring the box, the patient information leaflet if you have it, and any remaining product with you; write down when you started and how often you used it.
Can I stop a medicine I obtained outside the legal supply chain on my own?
Do not make the decision to stop on your own; consult a physician. You can read what follows once a medicine is stopped in What Happens When GLP-1 Receptor Agonists Are Stopped?.
Are products brought in from abroad safe?
There is no assurance of contents, dose or storage conditions for any product obtained from outside the legal supply chain. This applies regardless of where the product came from.
Sources
- Ministry of Health of the Republic of Türkiye, Turkish Medicines and Medical Devices Agency, Kaçak/Sahte Ürünler. https://www.titck.gov.tr/faaliyetalanlari/denetim/kacak-sahte-urunler (opens in a new tab)
- World Health Organization, WHO issues global guideline on the use of GLP-1 medicines in treating obesity, 1 December 2025. https://www.who.int/news/item/01-12-2025-who-issues-global-guideline-on-the-use-of-glp-1-medicines-in-treating-obesity (opens in a new tab)
