Pre-purchase safety reference

UK Prescription Pen Safety Checker

Reference for UK consumers checking that a prescribed injectable weight-loss or diabetes pen is genuine, that the supply route is lawful, and that you know the right counterfeit identifiers. This page does not tell you what dose to take, how many clicks on the dial, when to inject, or how to inject — those instructions come from your prescriber, your pharmacist, and the official Patient Information Leaflet that ships with the pen.

What this tool will not do

It will not tell you what dose to inject.
It will not tell you how many clicks of the pen to use.
It will not tell you when to titrate up or down.
It will not tell you how to inject, where, or how often.
It will not tell you how to obtain a prescription without seeing a clinician.
It will not validate suppliers outside the UK regulated framework.

For all dosing, titration, and injection technique, follow the instructions from your prescriber and pharmacist, and the official Patient Information Leaflet that comes with the pen.

UK-licensed injectable pens covered

Wegovy (Semaglutide (2.4 mg weekly))

UK POM (Prescription-Only Medicine)

Primary licensed indication: Chronic weight management (NICE TA875)
NHS route: NHS Tier 3 specialist weight-management service via GP referral.
Lawful private route: GMC-registered private prescriber working with a GPhC-registered pharmacy.
Counterfeit watch: Counterfeit Wegovy pens have been reported; check serial-number authenticity with the dispensing pharmacy.

Full Wegovy UK guide Counterfeit Wegovy identifiers EMC Patient Information Leaflet

Ozempic (Semaglutide (0.25 - 2.0 mg weekly))

UK POM (Prescription-Only Medicine)

Primary licensed indication: Type 2 diabetes (NICE NG28)
NHS route: NHS diabetes service via GP or diabetes specialist.
Lawful private route: Only legitimate when supplied for licensed diabetes indication via GMC-registered prescriber + GPhC-registered pharmacy.
Counterfeit watch: MHRA has issued repeated alerts on counterfeit Ozempic — some seized pens contained insulin instead of semaglutide, a direct hypoglycaemia hazard.

Full Ozempic UK guide Counterfeit Ozempic identifiers EMC Patient Information Leaflet

Mounjaro (Tirzepatide (2.5 - 15 mg weekly))

UK POM (Prescription-Only Medicine)

Primary licensed indication: Type 2 diabetes (NICE NG28); chronic weight management (NICE TA1026)
NHS route: NHS diabetes service for type 2 diabetes; NHS specialist weight-management service for obesity under TA1026 phased rollout.
Lawful private route: GMC-registered private prescriber working with a GPhC-registered pharmacy.
Counterfeit watch: Feb 2026 MHRA alert on falsified Mounjaro 15 mg KwikPens. The 15 mg strength is highest-value to falsifiers; check identifiers carefully.

Full Mounjaro UK guide Counterfeit Mounjaro identifiers EMC Patient Information Leaflet

Saxenda (Liraglutide (0.6 - 3.0 mg daily))

UK POM (Prescription-Only Medicine)

Primary licensed indication: Chronic weight management
NHS route: NHS Tier 3 weight management; narrower criteria than Wegovy.
Lawful private route: GMC-registered private prescriber + GPhC-registered pharmacy.
Counterfeit watch: Lower counterfeit volume than Wegovy / Mounjaro but still on MHRA's radar; verify pharmacy is registered.

Full Saxenda UK guide Counterfeit Saxenda identifiers EMC Patient Information Leaflet

Victoza (Liraglutide (0.6 - 1.8 mg daily))

UK POM (Prescription-Only Medicine)

Primary licensed indication: Type 2 diabetes
NHS route: NHS diabetes service; older GLP-1 generally superseded by semaglutide / tirzepatide in current practice.
Lawful private route: Only for licensed diabetes indication via GMC-registered prescriber + GPhC-registered pharmacy.
Counterfeit watch: Counterfeit risk lower than weight-loss brands. Verify pharmacy is GPhC-registered.

Full Victoza UK guide EMC Patient Information Leaflet

What a lawful UK supply route looks like

Prescription from a GMC-registered UK doctor who has assessed you in person or via a registered telehealth route.
Dispensed by a GPhC-registered pharmacy (or PSNI in Northern Ireland). Use the how to check a UK pharmacy guide to verify.
The pen arrives in genuine manufacturer packaging with correct branding, batch / lot number, and UK Patient Information Leaflet.
The pen has been kept refrigerated in transit (2-8°C until first use) and arrives within its manufacturer in-use limits.
You have a named UK prescriber and named UK pharmacy you can contact if anything looks wrong.

What to never do

Do not buy any of these pens from social media (Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, Telegram, Snapchat).
Do not buy from an 'online seller' that does not require a prescription.
Do not buy from an overseas website that ships to UK addresses without a UK prescription.
Do not buy from a gym, personal trainer, beauty clinic, or unregulated 'wellness' clinic.
Do not buy 'compounded' or 'research-only' GLP-1 supply — these are unlicensed-medicine supply outside the UK regulated framework.

Questions to ask before your first injection

What is the brand and licensed indication of the pen you are prescribing for me?
What is the starting dose and the planned titration schedule?
How do I store the pen before and after first use?
What side effects should I watch for, and which are red flags?
How do I report a suspected counterfeit or adverse reaction?
What is my UK pharmacy's name and registration number, and is it on the GPhC / PSNI register?
What is the plan for review, monitoring, and stopping?

Print or take this list to your prescriber appointment. Our doctor discussion sheet covers more.

UK Prescription Pen Safety Checker

What this tool will not do

It will not tell you what dose to inject.

It will not tell you how many clicks of the pen to use.

It will not tell you when to titrate up or down.

It will not tell you how to inject, where, or how often.

It will not tell you how to obtain a prescription without seeing a clinician.

It will not validate suppliers outside the UK regulated framework.

For all dosing, titration, and injection technique, follow the instructions from your prescriber and pharmacist, and the official Patient Information Leaflet that comes with the pen.

UK-licensed injectable pens covered

Wegovy (Semaglutide (2.4 mg weekly))

UK POM (Prescription-Only Medicine)

Primary licensed indication: Chronic weight management (NICE TA875)
NHS route: NHS Tier 3 specialist weight-management service via GP referral.
Lawful private route: GMC-registered private prescriber working with a GPhC-registered pharmacy.
Counterfeit watch: Counterfeit Wegovy pens have been reported; check serial-number authenticity with the dispensing pharmacy.

Full Wegovy UK guide Counterfeit Wegovy identifiers EMC Patient Information Leaflet

Ozempic (Semaglutide (0.25 - 2.0 mg weekly))

UK POM (Prescription-Only Medicine)

Primary licensed indication: Type 2 diabetes (NICE NG28)
NHS route: NHS diabetes service via GP or diabetes specialist.
Lawful private route: Only legitimate when supplied for licensed diabetes indication via GMC-registered prescriber + GPhC-registered pharmacy.
Counterfeit watch: MHRA has issued repeated alerts on counterfeit Ozempic — some seized pens contained insulin instead of semaglutide, a direct hypoglycaemia hazard.

Full Ozempic UK guide Counterfeit Ozempic identifiers EMC Patient Information Leaflet

Mounjaro (Tirzepatide (2.5 - 15 mg weekly))

UK POM (Prescription-Only Medicine)

Primary licensed indication: Type 2 diabetes (NICE NG28); chronic weight management (NICE TA1026)
NHS route: NHS diabetes service for type 2 diabetes; NHS specialist weight-management service for obesity under TA1026 phased rollout.
Lawful private route: GMC-registered private prescriber working with a GPhC-registered pharmacy.
Counterfeit watch: Feb 2026 MHRA alert on falsified Mounjaro 15 mg KwikPens. The 15 mg strength is highest-value to falsifiers; check identifiers carefully.

Full Mounjaro UK guide Counterfeit Mounjaro identifiers EMC Patient Information Leaflet

Saxenda (Liraglutide (0.6 - 3.0 mg daily))

UK POM (Prescription-Only Medicine)

Primary licensed indication: Chronic weight management
NHS route: NHS Tier 3 weight management; narrower criteria than Wegovy.
Lawful private route: GMC-registered private prescriber + GPhC-registered pharmacy.
Counterfeit watch: Lower counterfeit volume than Wegovy / Mounjaro but still on MHRA's radar; verify pharmacy is registered.

Full Saxenda UK guide Counterfeit Saxenda identifiers EMC Patient Information Leaflet

Victoza (Liraglutide (0.6 - 1.8 mg daily))

UK POM (Prescription-Only Medicine)

Primary licensed indication: Type 2 diabetes
NHS route: NHS diabetes service; older GLP-1 generally superseded by semaglutide / tirzepatide in current practice.
Lawful private route: Only for licensed diabetes indication via GMC-registered prescriber + GPhC-registered pharmacy.
Counterfeit watch: Counterfeit risk lower than weight-loss brands. Verify pharmacy is GPhC-registered.

Full Victoza UK guide EMC Patient Information Leaflet

What a lawful UK supply route looks like

Prescription from a GMC-registered UK doctor who has assessed you in person or via a registered telehealth route.

Dispensed by a GPhC-registered pharmacy (or PSNI in Northern Ireland). Use the how to check a UK pharmacy guide to verify.

The pen arrives in genuine manufacturer packaging with correct branding, batch / lot number, and UK Patient Information Leaflet.

The pen has been kept refrigerated in transit (2-8°C until first use) and arrives within its manufacturer in-use limits.

You have a named UK prescriber and named UK pharmacy you can contact if anything looks wrong.

What to never do

Do not buy any of these pens from social media (Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, Telegram, Snapchat).

Do not buy from an 'online seller' that does not require a prescription.

Do not buy from an overseas website that ships to UK addresses without a UK prescription.

Do not buy from a gym, personal trainer, beauty clinic, or unregulated 'wellness' clinic.

Do not buy 'compounded' or 'research-only' GLP-1 supply — these are unlicensed-medicine supply outside the UK regulated framework.

Questions to ask before your first injection

What is the brand and licensed indication of the pen you are prescribing for me?

What is the starting dose and the planned titration schedule?

How do I store the pen before and after first use?

What side effects should I watch for, and which are red flags?

How do I report a suspected counterfeit or adverse reaction?

What is my UK pharmacy's name and registration number, and is it on the GPhC / PSNI register?

What is the plan for review, monitoring, and stopping?

Print or take this list to your prescriber appointment. Our doctor discussion sheet covers more.

UK Prescription Pen Safety Checker

What this tool will not do

UK-licensed injectable pens covered

Wegovy (Semaglutide (2.4 mg weekly))

Ozempic (Semaglutide (0.25 - 2.0 mg weekly))

Mounjaro (Tirzepatide (2.5 - 15 mg weekly))

Saxenda (Liraglutide (0.6 - 3.0 mg daily))

Victoza (Liraglutide (0.6 - 1.8 mg daily))

What a lawful UK supply route looks like

What to never do

Questions to ask before your first injection

Related

UK Prescription Pen Safety Checker

What this tool will not do

UK-licensed injectable pens covered

Wegovy (Semaglutide (2.4 mg weekly))

Ozempic (Semaglutide (0.25 - 2.0 mg weekly))

Mounjaro (Tirzepatide (2.5 - 15 mg weekly))

Saxenda (Liraglutide (0.6 - 3.0 mg daily))

Victoza (Liraglutide (0.6 - 1.8 mg daily))

What a lawful UK supply route looks like

What to never do

Questions to ask before your first injection

Related