Los Alamos Reporter

New Mexico Department Of Justice Urges Community Members To Be Vigilant When Seeking Weight-Loss Medications

DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE NEWS RELEASE

The New Mexico Department of Justice (NMDOJ) is urging residents to proceed with caution when obtaining medications for weight loss, especially the class of treatments commonly referred to as GLP-1 medications (such as branded products like Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, Zepbound and similar). 

These medications are increasingly being advertised by med spas, wellness clinics, online sellers and social-media vendors — but not all of the products offered are legitimate or safe. Some sellers may be offering unapproved or compounded versions of GLP-1 drugs, which have not been evaluated by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) for safety, effectiveness or quality. 

Those types of substituted or non-approved products may place consumers at serious risk. The NMDOJ strongly recommends that anyone considering a GLP-1 weight-loss medication first consult a trusted healthcare provider, secure a valid prescription, and then fill that prescription only at a state-licensed pharmacy. 

What you should watch out for / Ask before you buy: 

  • Before purchasing or using a medication advertised as a GLP-1 drug for weight loss, ask the following questions. If the answer to any of them is yes, that may be a warning sign and you should avoid proceeding: 
  • Is the seller offering the medication without requiring a prescription or without supervision by a licensed health care provider? 
  • Is the product described as “research-grade”, “for research use only”, or otherwise not approved for human use? 
  • Are you being asked to reconstitute the product yourself, break apart multi‐dose pens/vials, or mix with other chemicals? 
  • Is the product being offered in atypical forms (drops, sprays, skin patches, under-the-tongue formulations) instead of the standard approved injectable format? 
  • Is the seller promoting the product to people under 18 years old? 
  • Are major safety risks, side effects or proper usage instructions missing from the seller’s information? 
  • Is the product being sold by someone on social media, from another country, or in amounts (e.g., more than 3 months at once) that seem unusual. 
  • Are you being encouraged to lie about your weight or health status to obtain the medication? 

If you are considering a GLP-1 medication for weight loss: 

  • Talk to your licensed physician or other trusted medical provider first. 
  • Get a valid prescription. 
  • Fill it at a state-licensed pharmacy (not an unknown online seller, social-media vendor, or shady wellness offer). 

If you spot deceptive marketing, unsafe or unapproved products being sold, please report it to the Consumer Protection Division at the New Mexico Department of Justice: https://nmdoj.gov/get-help/submit-a-complaint/

By staying alert and asking the right questions, you help protect your health — and help safeguard others in our community from potentially harmful or fraudulent weight-loss drug offers.