DEADLY DOSE
Warning over buying medicines online after man, 45, dies due to website prescribing him too many pills
Your guide to buying medicines safely and how to spot a fake pharmacy
A CORONER has issued an urgent warning over buying medication online, after a man died of an accidental overdose from drugs purchased from "illicit" online pharmacies.
Christopher Brazil, 45, was able to buy prescription medicine "from illegal websites, which depicted themselves as safe, regulated, - leading to his death.
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Christopher, from Ceredigion in Wales, was left with painful injuries after suffering from an accident "some time before his death", according to
The 45-year-old also had sciatica - a nerve condition causing sharp, burning pain in the legs - and began struggling with depression during the pandemic.
He'd previously sought help from his GP and been "prescribed some medication for his ailments", but Christopher began "self-medicating" in a bid to manage his pain and poor mental health.
He was able to buy sedative medication usually used to help with anxiety and insomnia from fake pharmacies that appeared to be reputable.
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The additional drugs he purchased hadn't been prescribed by his doctor or the NHS, but soon he was buying and taking them "regularly", according to the report.
He even ended up in A&E and in February and April 2022 due to intoxication from the meds, records show.
Christopher passed away in August 2022 of an "inadvertent overdosing" just months after he started taking the medication bought from fake online pharmacies.
Louisa Corcoran, assistant coroner for Ceredigion, wrote: "Mr Brazil was struggling with physical pain and mental health issues and was susceptible to using this unlawful method, which was quick and readily available.
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"On the last order made, the drugs were delivered the next day via Royal Mail.
"Evidence shows that Mr Brazil was not suicidal, but he was anxious to manage pain and was not directed by a healthcare professional as to how much to take and when."
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Investigations by the police and the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) - the UK's medicines watchdog - revealed that online pharmacy websites where Christopher had bought his drugs were operated by "unlawful providers".
Pharmacy regulator, the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC), states that legitimate online pharmacies must display the GPhC logo alongside their registration number — this can often be found on the homepage or 'about us' section.
People can also check if the pharmacy is legitimate by typing the registration number into GPhC's pharmacy register on its website.
The coroner said her investigation into the vulnerable 45-year-old's death raised several matters of concern, leading to her to issue a Prevention of Future Deaths report and send into the online pharmacies in question.
She also sent a copy to the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, the MHRA and the police, urging them to take action.
"There are unregulated and unlawful websites offering prescription only medicines and controlled drugs, which look legitimate and are found easily from simple online searches," Ms Corcoran noted.
She also noted these illicit providers didn't have the appropriate checks to verify patients' medical history before selling the drugs, nor did they provide patients with guidance on how much of the drugs it was safe to take.
There were also "no safeguards to prevent incorrect self-diagnoses or misuse by consumers", Ms Corcoran went on.
How to buy medicines safely
If you’re thinking of taking any medication, it’s important you do so under the care of a qualified health professional. Buying medicines online does carry risks.
There are unregistered websites selling medicines that may not be genuine or haven’t been checked by a pharmacist.
You need to take care when buying medicines online.
It’s important that any medicine you buy is approved by a healthcare professional to make sure it’s suitable for you, it won’t cause you any harm and that the dosage is safe.
Here's how to make sure that what you’re buying is safe and right for you:
- Check if the online healthcare service and healthcare professionals working there are registered with UK regulators.
- Ask questions about how the service works.
- Answer questions honestly about your health and medical history.
- Find out your options for treatment and how to take any medicines you’re prescribed.
- Expect to be asked for consent for information to be shared with other healthcare professionals involved in your care.
- Check what after-care you will receive.
All pharmacies in the UK, including online pharmacies, must be registered with the the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC).
Check whether the pharmacy website you’re using is registered with the GPhC.
This information is usually on the homepage or in the ‘About us’ section with their registration number.
You can then visit the GPhC's pharmacy register to check the pharmacy is registered with them.
You might also see a logo which should link through to the pharmacy register on the GPhC's website.
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She feared that minors may be able to access dangerous prescription-strength drugs through such websites, as they didn't have adequate controls to verify customers' age and identity.
She warned that such websites made it possible for "vulnerable and susceptible people [to be] exposed to counterfeit or unsafe medications".
"The fact that it is possible for unlawful and unethical online pharmaceutical providers to operate and deliver to the buyer within 24 hours means that these illegal websites may be more appealing to some than lawful sources," the coroner added.
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The organisations sent the report "have the power" to "prevent future deaths", Ms Corcoran stated.
All of them are required to respond to the report by June 18 this year, detailing actions they've taken or will take to mitigate the risks named in the report.
You're Not Alone
EVERY 90 minutes in the UK a life is lost to suicide
It doesn’t discriminate, touching the lives of people in every corner of society – from the homeless and unemployed to builders and doctors, reality stars and footballers.
It’s the biggest killer of people under the age of 35, more deadly than cancer and car crashes.
And men are three times more likely to take their own life than women.
Yet it’s rarely spoken of, a taboo that threatens to continue its deadly rampage unless we all stop and take notice, now.
That is why The Sun launched the You’re Not Alone campaign.
The aim is that by sharing practical advice, raising awareness and breaking down the barriers people face when talking about their mental health, we can all do our bit to help save lives.
Let’s all vow to ask for help when we need it, and listen out for others… You’re Not Alone.
If you, or anyone you know, needs help dealing with mental health problems, the following organisations provide support:
- CALM, , 0800 585 858
- Heads Together,
- HUMEN
- Mind, , 0300 123 3393
- Papyrus,, 0800 068 41 41
- Samaritans,, 116 123
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