UK officials have seized nearly 20 million fake erectile dysfunction pills since 2021, many containing incorrect doses or toxic ingredients, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has warned. The seizures, enough to fill two double-decker buses, highlight the scale of the illegal market for these drugs.
The MHRA's criminal enforcement unit, working with Border Force, intercepted about 19.5 million doses between 2021 and 2025, equivalent to a single dose for three in every four adult men in the UK. Many pills contained no active ingredient, the wrong dose, hidden drugs, or toxic ingredients. Yearly seizures have more than doubled since 2022.
Andy Morling, head of the MHRA's criminal enforcement unit, said: '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.'
Alongside seizures, the MHRA disrupted over 1,500 websites and social media accounts illegally selling medical products in 2025 and removed more than 1,200 social media posts. Morling added: '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.'
Erectile dysfunction affects around half of men aged 40 to 70, but research suggests two in five avoid seeking medical advice. Prof Victoria Tzortziou Brown, chair of the Royal College of GPs, said: 'We would strongly advise against patients buying any prescription medication from unregulated online sources. Ultimately, they do not know what they are buying – or how it may interact with any other medication they are taking – and this can be dangerous.'
Unlicensed erectile dysfunction medicines can be especially dangerous for those with heart disease or high blood pressure, raising the risk of heart attack, stroke, and dangerously low blood pressure. The MHRA advises avoiding buying medicines from social media or unknown websites and to speak to a GP or pharmacist about safe treatment options.
