Asger Risom
An underground market for homemade obesity medications is thriving in the U.S., as patients turn to online communities and Chinese suppliers to cut the high cost of treatment.
Facing limited insurance coverage and unaffordable prices for drugs like Wegovy and Zepbound,
Americans are importing active ingredients from overseas and preparing their own injections — often with no medical oversight.
The movement is spreading through platforms like Reddit and Telegram, with forums sharing sourcing tips, dosage advice, and lab test results.
From Online Forums to Kitchen Labs
Amy Spencer, a Missouri mother of two, is one of many self-dosing with experimental drugs not approved by the FDA, Reuters reports.
For around $50 a month, she prepares injectable mixtures using Chinese-sourced compounds.
Despite suffering a severe overdose from a miscalculated batch, she says the results have been life-changing.
The so-called “gray market” has grown rapidly since the FDA banned compounding pharmacies from selling cheaper alternatives to branded weight-loss drugs.
Buyers often pool funds to test powders in labs, relying on an “honor system” to ensure purity and safety.
Safety Risks and Regulatory Scrutiny
Pharmaceutical companies like Lilly and Novo Nordisk call the trend dangerous and illicit. Health experts warn that buyers are assuming the roles of pharmacist, doctor, and FDA inspector.
A U.S. poison control agency says tracking such cases is nearly impossible due to varied labeling and unregulated formulations.
Despite concerns, users report significant results and community support. In one group, dozens of buyers funded third-party lab tests, confirming high purity of imported tirzepatide.
The FDA says it is cracking down on illegal imports, but with small shipments and disguised labeling, enforcement remains a challenge.
While users say they’re filling a void in a broken healthcare system, regulators and drugmakers see a risky workaround that endangers public health.
