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Law enforcers seized around 19.5 million doses of illegal and potentially harmful erectile dysfunction medicines between 2021 and 2025, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has said.
The items seized were “enough to fill two double-decker buses”, the MHRA said in a statement released on 13 February 2026, with 4.4 million doses seized in 2025 alone.
“Erectile dysfunction medicines remain one of the most frequently seized illegally traded medicines in the UK, with yearly seizures more than doubling since 2022.”
Many were illegally sold online and contained no active ingredient, the wrong dose, hidden drugs or toxic ingredients, it added.
Phil Day, superintendent pharmacist at Pharmacy2U, said: “[Pharmacy2U has] seen demand for advice and treatment for ED [erectile dysfunction] grow by 81% from 2024 to 2025.”
Meanwhile, Andy Morling, head of the MHRA’s criminal enforcement unit, commented: “Stigma and embarrassment are being exploited by criminals selling fake medicines that can seriously harm your health.
“These seizures show the sheer scale of the illegal market for erectile dysfunction medicines in the UK — and the risks people are taking without realising.
“Any medicine not authorised for sale in the UK can be unsafe or ineffective and there is no way of knowing what is in them or the negative health effects they can have. These pills may look genuine, but many are potentially dangerous. These products may contain no active ingredient, the wrong dose, hidden drugs or toxic ingredients.
“I’m incredibly pleased we’ve taken almost 20 million doses of unauthorised erectile dysfunction medicines off the streets, including 4.4 million last year alone, in what was a record-breaking year of total seizures for the MHRA. Each and every one of those products was potentially dangerous to the public.”
In total, the MHRA seized £45m of illegally traded medicines in 2025, including more than 5,000 glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) products.
Claire Anderson, president of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society, commented: “These figures are a stark reminder that buying medicines outside regulated channels poses a serious risk to health. Unauthorised products may be ineffective, contain incorrect doses or harmful ingredients.
“People should only obtain medicines through UK-registered pharmacies and seek advice from a pharmacist or other healthcare professional. Pharmacists play a vital role in advising patients on safe treatment options and ensuring medicines are effective and appropriate for individual health needs.”
Leyla Hannbeck, chief executive of the Independent Pharmacies Association, said: “While some people may feel embarrassed or uncomfortable seeking advice about these treatments, community pharmacies provide a discreet, professional and confidential setting where patients can access proper medical guidance and safe, regulated medication.
“It is vital that people do not put themselves at risk and instead seek advice from a qualified healthcare professional at their local pharmacy.”
Malcolm Harrison, chief executive of the Company Chemists’ Association, said: “This news underscores the vital importance of only obtaining medicines from regulated and reputable providers.
“Online supply services play an important role in providing convenient access and care for patients. However only officially regulated pharmacy providers can ensure the safety and efficacy of the medicines being supplied. Patients are advised to check the official register of pharmacies, held online by the pharmacy regulator, the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC).”
In December 2024, the GPhC said it would aim to prioritise inspections of new online pharmacies within six months of registration, in a bid to combat illegal and unsafe medicines sales.
However, an investigation published by The Pharmaceutical Journal on 6 February 2026 found that 56% of new online pharmacies were inspected within that time frame, with a further 22% inspected within seven months.
The analysis also suggested a delay in publication of the inspection reports after an inspection had been completed.
The GPhC said delays in pharmacies beginning registerable activity could mean inspections take place later than six months after registration, while reports are usually published on the GPhC’s inspections website within six weeks of the inspection taking place.
