Weight loss injections—especially those used to control diabetes and lose weight—which are becoming increasingly popular across the country, are now emerging as a major health risk. In fact, an operation conducted by the Drug Control Department in Gurugram has busted a racket manufacturing and selling fake injections. Fake injections worth around ₹70 lakh have been seized. Police investigation revealed that the accused were making these fake injections inside a rented apartment. Using cheap chemicals, syringes, and packaging materials imported from China, they were making products that looked indistinguishable from the real thing.
Surprisingly, differentiating between genuine and counterfeit medicines proved difficult not only for the common people but also for medical professionals. Initial reports suggest that these fake injections were also being distributed through online platforms. Given this situation, let us now tell you which fake weight loss injections are currently running in the market and how to identify them.
What is Mounjaro Injection, and why is its demand increasing?
According to the drug controller, Mounjaro is an anti-diabetic drug which doctors also prescribe for weight loss purposes. Its demand has skyrocketed due to social media trends, celebrity endorsements and the general desire to lose weight quickly. Taking advantage of this growing demand, a trade in counterfeit drugs is flourishing, with many people selling counterfeit Mounjaro injections—marketed as weight loss aids—on the open market.
What are the dangers associated with counterfeit injections?
According to experts, fake weight loss injections can pose serious risks to the human body. These products either do not contain the active pharmaceutical ingredients found in the original drug, or they contain toxic chemical additives. By giving such injections the treatment becomes ineffective, due to which the internal disease persists. Additionally, they can cause toxic reactions inside the body. In severe cases, the condition may worsen so much that the patient may need to be hospitalized, and in the long run, these substances can cause irreparable damage to vital organs. Doctors have warned that if a patient does not get the right medicine, the entire course of treatment may fail. Additionally, using incorrect or incomplete medications increases the risk of antibiotic resistance, which may make treatment more difficult in the future.
Why is the threat of counterfeit medicines increasing in India? Experts say the problem of counterfeit medicines in India is not a new thing; However, now its scope has increased significantly. Despite there being rules and regulations, they are not strictly followed everywhere. This leaves gaps in the supply chain, due to which counterfeit medicines easily enter the market.
How to identify fake injections?
According to doctors, some important precautions should be taken to identify fake injections. For example: Always buy medicines only from licensed medical shops.
Do not take injections without a doctor’s prescription.
Check the packaging carefully; Be wary of spelling mistakes, broken seals, or strange-looking labels.
If there is a QR code on the box, be sure to verify it.
One should avoid purchasing medicines from social media or any unknown online platform.