![\"Michelle](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/SEI_283614564-6bca-e1770286102609.jpg\")
\n\t\tMichelle was \u2018ecstatic\u2019 at the results of legitimate Ozempic (Picture: Michelle Sword\/SWNS)<\/p>\n
\t\t
\n\t\tMichelle was \u2018ecstatic\u2019 at the results of legitimate Ozempic (Picture: Michelle Sword\/SWNS)<\/p>\n
Michelle Sword, 47, first started taking weight loss jabs<\/a> in 2020 after she put on two stone following the breakdown of her 20-year marriage.<\/p>\n \u2018They came at a time when I really needed them,\u2019 says the mum-of-two, from Carterton, Oxfordshire<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u2018I\u2019d always been a size 8 to 10, but the weight had been slowly creeping on as I turned to comfort eating\u2026 I no longer recognised myself in the mirror.<\/p>\n Within three months of buying her first pen of Ozempic<\/a>\u00a0\u2014 a medication containing semaglutide, which mimics a hormone in the gut that suppresses appetite \u2014 from a legitimate online pharmacy<\/a>, Michelle had lost two stone.<\/p>\n \u2018Ecstatic\u2019 to reach her goal of getting back to her previous weight and dress size, the school<\/a> receptionist came off the drug.<\/p>\n But while she maintained the results through diet and exercise for a while, she soon slipped into the same \u2018bad eating habits\u2019<\/a> \u2014 and by 2023, the extra pounds \u2018really showed\u2019 on her petite 5ft 2in frame.<\/p>\n \t\t This time around, Michelle found legitimate Ozempic was \u2018increasingly hard to come by\u2019 online. So when she spotted a company selling the jabs on Facebook<\/a>, it \u2018seemed like a no-brainer\u2019.<\/p>\n \u2018I panicked and wanted a quick fix,\u2019 she admits. \u2018I paid \u00a3150 through PayPal, and two days later got a month\u2019s supply.\u2019<\/p>\n Although she says the pen itself looked identical to the previous ones, with a blue plastic cover and Ozempic sticker, there was one warning sign that something wasn\u2019t right<\/a>.<\/p>\n \t\t Michelle recalls: \u2018It just kept clicking. I didn\u2019t really know what the dose was, so I just decided to stop after a few clicks. <\/p>\n \u2018When I looked at the inside of the vial, the liquid didn\u2019t seem to have gone down that far, so I remember thinking I might have to take some more later.\u2019<\/p>\n Dismissing her concerns, she proceeded with the injection. But just 20 minutes later, \u2018everything went black\u2019 and Michelle collapsed on the floor.<\/p>\n \t\t Luckily, her 15-year-old daughter had unexpectedly come home early and called 999 for help. Paramedics spent over an hour trying to revive the unconscious mum, before rushing her to hospital where she was revived.<\/p>\n \u2018My blood sugar level was 0.2 millimoles per litre, when it should have been between four and seven,\u2019 she says. \u2018I was virtually on the brink of death.\u2019<\/p>\n Tests later revealed the pen was full of insulin, which had essentially caused a diabetic coma \u2014 and although Michelle\u2019s condition eventually stabilised, this near miss led to her to swear she\u2019d \u2018never touch jabs again\u2019.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tOzempic manufacturer Novo Nordisk says…\t\t\t<\/p>\n \u2018Patient safety is a top priority for Novo Nordisk and as counterfeits pose a real threat to safety, we are working in close collaboration with the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency\u00a0to identify and eliminate counterfeit drugs from the UK market,\u2019 the company says on its website<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u2018Every counterfeit case we are made aware of is looked into and reported to the authorities according to the applicable regulations. We also work with a third party specialised in monitoring and taking down of illegal online offers to specifically address this\u2026<\/p>\n \u2018Prescription-only medicines should only be obtained through legitimate sources and after consultation with a healthcare professional.\u2019<\/p>\n She also hopes to \u2018warn others\u2019 about the dangers of fake weight loss drugs,\u00a0following an MHRA report which revealed more than 6,500 counterfeit products<\/a> claiming to contain Ozempic were seized in the UK in just over two years.<\/p>\n \u2018It\u2019s absolutely disgusting there are people out there who prey on people\u2019s insecurities,\u2019 Michelle says. \u2018And it\u2019s also not helpful that social media<\/a> platforms endorse these fakes either \u2014 with pop up advertisements and links to websites.\u2019<\/p>\n Keen to make sure \u2018no one makes the same mistake\u2019, she warns that regulated medication always requires a prescription<\/a>, so \u2018if there are no eligibility checks, it\u2019s probably a scam.\u2019<\/p>\n \t\t Similarly, Michelle urges people to heed the red flags she ignored, from the website asking her to pay via PayPal, to the spelling errors on the product and instructions. <\/p>\n \u2018I feel stupid and fooled looking back now,\u2019 she adds. <\/p>\n \u2018But if I can stop one person from seeking black market jabs, then my story is definitely worth sharing.\u2019<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tHow to spot fake weight loss jabs\t\t\t<\/p>\n There are three main factors to consider here, according to<\/a> Chemist4U head of pharmacy, Jason Murphy:<\/p>\n Price: \u2018If the cost of the medication seems too good to be true, it most likely is,\u2019 he tells Metro.<\/p>\n Source: These drugs are prescription-only, meaning they can only be issued by\u00a0specialised\u00a0medical professionals after a consultation. Appearance: The third indicator to look out for is the appearance of the pen itself, which Jason says should \u2018come in well-designed packaging with clear, high-quality printing and branding\u2019 and \u2018feel solid and well made\u2019. On the contrary, fakes may have spelling mistakes, blurry printing, incorrect logos, and feel cheap and flimsy, with flaws like uneven\u00a0colouring, rough\u00a0edges\u00a0or loose parts.\u00a0 Ahsan Bhatti, pharmacist and owner of UK online pharmacy Quick Meds, also comments: \u2018These non-compliant injectables are a genuine risk to patient safety as we are unable to verify how they\u2019ve been manufactured \u2014 whether they\u2019ve been stored safely, let alone whether the dosage is even correct.<\/p>\n \u2018Ultimately, the only real way to ensure you\u2019re in receipt of a safe and legitimate product is by ordering GLP-1 medication from registered, regulated pharmacy providers.<\/p>\n \u2018Under no circumstance should you trust weight-loss pens sold on apps such as TikTok<\/a>, messaging apps or via unverified websites.<\/p>\n \u2018Anyone who suspects sellers of providing counterfeit goods, should report them immediately to the MHRA via its Yellow Card scheme.\u2019<\/p>\n Do you have a story to share?<\/p>\n Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@Metro.co.uk<\/a>.<\/p>\n Arrow Arrow Arrow![\"Michelle](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/SEI_283614570-991d-e1770309561671.jpg\")
\n\t\tHer weight fluctuated, and she started looking for a \u2018quick fix\u2019 to get back on track (Picture: Michelle Sword\/SWNS)<\/p>\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/SEI_283614566-092e-e1770293079194.jpg\")
\n\t\tShe couldn\u2019t tell the difference between the fake pens and the ones she\u2019d tried previously (Picture: Michelle Sword\/SWNS)<\/p>\n![\"Michelle,](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/SEI_283614732-6f9a-e1770293197898.jpg\")
\n\t\tThe mum fell unconscious and had to be revived in hospital (Picture: Victoria Blissett\/SWNS)<\/p>\n![\"Michelle](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/SEI_283614569-9bad-e1770293477159.jpg\")
\n\t\tMichelle, left, hopes to warn others about counterfeit weight loss drugs (Picture: Michelle Sword\/SWNS)<\/p>\n
Regulated providers are required to assess factors like your medical history and weight, but unlicensed sellers \u2013 typically operating on social media and in salons\u00a0\u2013 often skip this step, risking patient safety.<\/p>\n
A particularly important thing to look out for is a unique serial number, as counterfeits either won\u2019t have one or what\u2019s printed on the packaging won\u2019t match the real manufacturer\u2019s\u00a0records.<\/p>\n
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