People are being reminded of the dangers of using illegal prescription medicines.

According to the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA), last year, its enforcement section detained almost 950,000 illegal prescription medicines that were intended for supply in Ireland.

This marks a 40% increase on 2016's figure of almost 674,000.

The medicines included tablets, capsules and vials of falsified and other illegal medicines, such as anabolic steroids, sedatives and erectile dysfunction medicines.

The HPRA highlighted a ‘significant increase in the volume of anabolic steroids being detained'. Almost 450,000 dosage units were detained last year, compared to just over 109,000 in 2016.

However, there has been a fall in the number of sedative products being detained. Almost 223,000 units were detained last year, down from over 271,000 in 2016 and more than 726,000 in 2015.

The HPRA's director of compliance, John Lynch, said that it is ‘extremely concerning' to see the overall number of units detained increasing each year.

"This indicates that people are continuing to put their health in the hands of individuals who operate unauthorised supply routes. We know from our investigations and prosecutions that those who seek to profit from illegal medicines have little regard for the health of the end users of the medicines they are supplying.

"It is of continuing concern that members of the public would use potent prescription medicines without medical supervision. We also know that there is absolutely no guarantee that these products contain the type or quantity of active ingredient that's stated on the label. In some cases, they can contain different substances altogether, which can have serious consequences for the health of those who use them," he commented.

He said that the HPRA is particularly concerned about the increase in the detention of anabolic steroids, which suggests a big demand for these products.

"The abuse and misuse of anabolic steroids can have serious consequences for the long-term health of the individuals who take them. They have been linked to a range of significant side-effects including liver damage, blood clots, heart attacks and strokes.

"For men, the risks also include reduced sperm count and infertility. We would urge anyone using illegally sourced anabolic steroids to stop doing so and to seek advice from their healthcare professional if they have any concerns about their health," Mr Lynch said.

The HPRA can initiate prosecutions if it considers that there is a significant risk to public health. In 2017, six prosecution cases were initiated relating to the unauthorised supply of prescription medicines, including anabolic steroids and erectile dysfunction products.

A further six voluntary formal cautions were issued, while it also supported prosecutions brought by the Director of Public Prosecutions in relation to the illegal supply of prescription medicines.

The HPRA has published an advice leaflet on this topic, which can be viewed here