HPRA reveals individual consignment detentions have increased three-fold
Over three-quarters of a million dosage units of falsified and illegal medicines were detained by the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) in 2025.
Announcing its annual enforcement figures, the HPRA confirmed that it detained a total of 763,027 dosage units, which included just under 14,000 individual packages each linked to a separate purchase by a member of the public of illegal or falsified medicines. This represents a three-fold (180 per cent) increase of individual consignments since 2024. A significant proportion of these were presented as GLP1 products for personal use.
Announcing the figures, the HPRA reiterated the serious health risks associated with sourcing prescription medicines online or through any unauthorised channels.
It emphasised that the supply of such products into or within Ireland is illegal and warned that consumers have no assurance regarding the safety, quality, or authenticity of prescription medicines obtained outside the regulated pharmacy setting.
In the 12 months of 2025, the most significant categories of illegal products detained included sedatives (27 per cent), erectile dysfunction medicines (14 per cent), anabolic steroids (12 per cent), diabetes/ slimming (9 per cent), and analgesics (5 per cent). The breakdown is as follows:
- Sedative medicines – 205,270 units detained.
- Erectile dysfunction – 103,185 units detained.
- Anabolic steroids – 94,647 units detained.
- Diabetes/Slimming – 65,148 units detained.
- Analgesic medicine – 40,669 units detained.
GLP-1 medicines
The HPRA highlights the substantial increase in the volume of GLP-1 type medicines detained, rising from 1,582 in 2024 to 48,752. Authorised GLP-1 prescription- only medicines are intended for specific medical purposes such as diabetes or weight management under certain conditions. The majority of the detained products were promoted as containing semaglutide or tirzepatide and were presented primarily as GLP1 drops (27,329 items) or microneedle patches (17,170 items).
Despite claims made in the promotion of these products, GLP1 drops or patches are not authorised as approved medical treatments and there is no evidence to support their use. Testing conducted by the HPRA on a sample of the transdermal patches detained in 2025 found that they did not contain semaglutide, contrary to the claims on their packaging and promotional materials. The remaining illegal GLP1 medicines detained were presented in other forms, including tablets, pens, and vials containing either powder or clear liquid.
Pregabalin is another product that saw a significant increase in detentions in 2025, rising from 23,442 in 2024 to 59,905. This represents the fifth consecutive year-on-year increase and reflects a wider global trend in the illegal, non-medical use of this product.
Promotion
The HPRA also continues to monitor online activity promoting prescription medicines and other substances and routinely intervenes to disrupt this promotion. Such activity is often linked to the use of substances for aesthetic and body image purposes. In 2025, the HPRA
- Initiated a prosecution relating to the manufacture and distribution of GLP-1 medicines;
- Shut down or amended 4,762^ websites, e-commerce listings and/or social media pages.
Commenting on the 2025 data, Jennifer McCartan, Compliance Manager at the HPRA, expressed
her concern about the risks individuals continue to take when attempting to purchase prescription medicines from unauthorised suppliers.
“While we welcome a decrease in overall detentions this year (763,027 units in 2025 compared to 1,000,984 dosage units in 2024), data for a single year should not be interpreted as an indication that demand for certain products has reduced. More than three-quarters of a million dosage units of illegal medicines is really concerning and we are also seeing some evidence of packages containing smaller quantities of drops, patches or vials. This pattern is reflected in the overall consignment figures.”
According to Ms McCartan, the public may be taking risks in sourcing falsified medicines and unauthorised substances for a variety of reasons.
“There are numerous reasons why consumers may turn to the Internet and other unregulated sources of prescription medicines. For many it is the knowledge or expectation that a healthcare professional may not consider these products clinically appropriate, while others may be motivated by privacy concerns, ease of access or perceived cost savings,” Ms McCartan concluded.
