Buying Ozempic or Mounjaro without a prescription: risks and what the law says

Can you buy Ozempic or Mounjaro online without a prescription in Spain?

Ozempic and Mounjaro cannot legally be sold online in Spain. The AEMPS (Spanish Agency for Medicines and Medical Devices) reminds patients that GLP-1 analogues require a prescription and that prescription-only medicines cannot be sold online [1]. Spanish law only allows the online sale of medicines that do not require a prescription [4].

There are two steps in the legal process. First, a medical consultation assesses whether the treatment is indicated and issues a prescription when appropriate. Then an authorised pharmacy dispenses the medicine. An offer that bypasses the prescription removes both clinical and pharmacy safeguards [1] [4].

Having an electronic prescription does not make a website selling the medicine legal either. Even if the website asks to see it, online sales of a prescription-only medicine are still not permitted [4]. If you are unsure how to access treatment, speak to your doctor or pharmacist.

What could be behind an offer with no prescription?

Counterfeiting can affect the contents, the amount of active ingredient or the product’s origin. According to the AEMPS, these illegal products may not contain what they claim to, or may contain harmful substances in dangerous amounts. This could lead to an unexpected serious effect, an interaction with other medicines or a treatment that has no effect [1].

In 2023, counterfeit pens labelled as Ozempic were detected at wholesalers in the European Union and the United Kingdom [5]. There was no evidence that they reached anyone through a legal pharmacy. Outside that supply chain, however, nobody checks what you receive [1] [5].

There are two separate uncertainties. The product may not contain the active ingredient, leaving your health problem untreated. It may also contain a different substance and cause an effect you were not expecting [1]. Neither uncertainty can be resolved by looking at a photo or reading other buyers’ reviews.

If an offer lets you bypass the prescription, it also bypasses the assessment that determines whether the treatment is right for you.

What if the pen contains the genuine medicine?

Storage matters too. The summaries of product characteristics for Ozempic and Mounjaro specify cold-storage conditions, with exceptions depending on the presentation and whether the pen is already in use [2] [3]. Outside the authorised supply chain, you cannot check transport, storage or traceability.

Lack of follow-up adds another risk. Before and during treatment, someone needs to review your medical conditions, other medicines and any symptoms that arise [2] [3]. Nausea or vomiting may call for changes, and some symptoms need prompt attention. A pen that looks normal does not confirm what it contains or how it has been stored.

This is especially important if you take medicines for diabetes. The Ozempic product information warns of a higher risk of hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar) when it is used with insulin or medicines that can lower blood sugar too much. It asks for their doses to be reviewed when treatment starts [2]. This review should be carried out by the person treating your diabetes. A seller who does not know your medical history cannot do it.

A very low price may raise suspicions, but a high price guarantees nothing either. Do not rely on a photo, a testimonial or supposed official endorsement: fraudulent websites use logos from official bodies and fake recommendations [1].

“People I know are injecting it”: what we see in consultations

Sharing experiences can help you come up with questions, but it does not replace a medical assessment. Two people may have very different diagnoses, treatments and needs. And if you use someone else’s pen, you do not know how it was obtained or stored.

If someone obtained it outside the medical supply chain, the best thing is to tell their doctor openly. Hiding it, or feeling ashamed, makes it harder to get help if symptoms appear.

Another question we often hear is whether you can start while waiting for an appointment. The answer is to wait for the assessment. In the meantime, you can work on an eating and activity plan tailored to you, without assuming that you will take a medicine.

Sometimes people looking for a medicine without a prescription are already struggling with their relationship with food or their body. If you have or have had an eating disorder, speak to your doctor and a mental health professional first. We explain more in GLP-1 medicines and eating disorders.

What should I do if I already have a pen from a questionable source?

Do not use it if you suspect it may be counterfeit, and take it to your pharmacy [5]. Tell your doctor or pharmacist where it came from, whether you have used it and whether you have noticed any symptoms. Do not change another treatment or try to make up for a dose if you do not know what it was.

If you have already used it, your doctor will decide what follow-up you need based on what happened. Keep the packaging and details of the offer to show them. The AEMPS asks people to report suspicious websites, adverts and products to the health authorities [1]. If you notice any of the signs listed under “When to seek medical help”, do not wait.

A safe option while you sort out access

Make an appointment with your GP or an endocrinologist to review your medical history, your goal and the options available. If cost or access is the problem, our guide to GLP-1 prices and funding explains the issue without resorting to offers with no prescription.

At your appointment, ask what indication the medicine is being considered for, which effects to look out for and who will help if problems arise during follow-up. If an offer made you hesitate, mention it without feeling embarrassed. The assessment depends on having all the information.

To prepare your questions, you can read the information about Ozempic and Mounjaro, and our guide to semaglutide, the active ingredient in Ozempic. These resources do not replace a prescription.

With GLP-1 nutrition support, we work on eating habits, digestive symptoms and strength alongside your medical team. We can start with your habits even if access to the medicine has not yet been resolved. We do not prescribe medicines or change doses.