Urgent warning as health chiefs remove 215 online listings in fake drug crackdown

Urgent warning as health chiefs remove 215 online listings in fake drug crackdownThe MHRA has warned it is working with eBay to remove fake versions of the medication which, if taken, could have 'drastic consequences'NewsElaine Blackburne Network Content Editor13:01, 13 Apr 2026Updated 13:02, 13 Apr 2026This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn moreView 3 ImagesThe fake drugs could be potentially dangerous, it has been warned(Image: Getty)People using fake medication being sold online could be left facing "drastic consequences", UK health chiefs have warned. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) says people who buy the products have no idea what is in them and said the drugs could be "potentially dangerous".It said it has worked alongside eBay to remove 215 listings of unauthorised erectile dysfunction medicines from the platform. The fake Viagra-style pills remain one of the most frequently illegally traded medicines in the UK.However the MHRA said as these are unauthorised, it has no way to oversee these and their contents are unknown. This means they may contain no active ingredient, or too much, or toxic ingredients which could be dangerous, particularly for people taking medications.View 3 ImagesThe MRSA is working with eBay to clear illegal listings(Image: Getty)The shape of the tablets indicated that they were not genuine medicines and assessment by MHRA’s Borderline products team, who are responsible for the classification of products, confirmed this was the case. MHRA alerted eBay and the company immediately took action by removing the listings offering the erectile dysfunction tablets from sale to the public.Arrangements in place between eBay and MHRA enable non-compliant medicines and medical devices to be withdrawn from the platform quickly and this helps to protect the health and safety of the UK public. eBay has been cooperating with...