Many Swiss residents are illegally importing medications from abroad, often unaware of the risks involved – from ‘werewolf syndrome’ in infants to potentially fatal poisoning in pets.
Wer im Ausland illegale Medikamente bestellt, weiss nicht, was er erhält.
Peter Dazeley / The Image Bank RF / Getty
Until recently, erectile dysfunction medications dominated the illegal drug import market. In 2022, they accounted for 79 percent of packages intercepted by customs from abroad. This share has now fallen to 41 percent, according to statistics published by the Swiss Agency for Therapeutic Products (Swissmedic) for 2025.
Meanwhile, medications for hair loss are trending: their share rose from 2 percent in 2023 to 19 percent two years later. This reflects a generally increased demand for products aimed at combating baldness. Thomas Kündig, Director of the Dermatology Clinic at the University Hospital of Zurich, has observed this trend for several years. “The lifestyle, beauty, and anti-aging sector is booming, likely due to social media – and full hair is obviously an significant criterion.”
Skin conditions or low iron levels can sometimes cause hair loss, particularly in young women. However, androgenetic alopecia, a genetically determined defect, is the most common cause, affecting both sexes. Approximately half of women over 60 also suffer from this form of hair loss.
More Hair, Less Libido
Two active ingredients have shown good results: finasteride, and minoxidil. Finasteride is only used in men, blocking the conversion of testosterone into dihydrotestosterone, which causes hair follicles to atrophy. “However, we at USZ are becoming less willing to prescribe finasteride,” says Thomas Kündig, as it can influence testosterone levels and lead to libido disorders and potency problems in a small percentage of users.
According to the latest research, this undesirable effect does not necessarily disappear even after stopping finasteride treatment. This so-called post-finasteride syndrome is readily found by searching the internet for the drug and its side effects. This is likely the main reason why finasteride shipments from India no longer create up the majority of illegal hair loss medication imports, unlike a year ago.
The number of intercepted packages containing minoxidil has increased sharply. Originally used as a blood pressure medication, it was found to promote hair growth and is now used by both men and women with thinning hair. According to Kündig, it yields good results: users have, on average, 10 percent more hair, and it is also thicker. “Studies show that around 80 percent of users are satisfied.”
Facial Hair in Case of Overdose
However, there is a problem: basic health insurance does not cover the cost of the medication, as baldness is at best an aesthetic problem, but not an illness. Minoxidil must be used continuously, with annual costs of around 400 to 500 Swiss francs. It is significantly cheaper in pharmacies in France or Germany. However, this is still too expensive or too complicated for some people with hair loss, who prefer to purchase it from dubious online shops.
Thomas Kündig strongly advises against applying cheap copies from Indian or Chinese production to the scalp. “You simply have no idea whether the solution actually contains any active ingredients – or too little or too much of them.” In women, an overdose can have undesirable consequences, such as the development of facial hair.
Doctors and pharmacists point out that, with legal acquisition of the medication, there are potential side effects and that minoxidil may initially worsen hair loss before it takes effect in the medium term. Without medical supervision, many patients lose patience and stop using the medication, says Kündig.
Swissmedic spokesperson Alex Josty explains on request that many Swiss private individuals importing the products are unaware that minoxidil products are medications. “Many believe they are simple cosmetic products and are not aware of the risks, restrictions, and side effects.”
Poisoned Cats
Josty refers to a study from Spain that examined infants suffering from ‘werewolf syndrome’, i.e. Excessive hair growth on the face, legs, or back. The cause was that the parents had used minoxidil and the children had accidentally ingested some of it. The package inserts were subsequently supplemented with a corresponding warning in the EU.
The potential consequences for cats can be even more fatal: if they ingest even small amounts of the substance, for example by licking their owner’s scalp or settling comfortably on their pillow, they can suffer severe poisoning. There have been several documented cases of cats dying as a result.
Authorities are also concerned about another development: an increasing proportion of illegal drug shipments are coming from Western European countries, now accounting for 40 percent. However, the confiscated medications themselves largely originate from outside Europe.
Hacked Websites
Swissmedic explains the noticeable increase in shipments from France and Germany is due to a new fraud scheme. Criminal networks are no longer just operating online pharmacies falsely presenting themselves as Swiss businesses, but are also hacking legitimate Swiss websites.
Subordinate pages offering erectile dysfunction medications for sale or linking to foreign sites have appeared on these websites. “Swissmedic informed the domain owners in 64 cases, allowing them to restore the legal status of their hacked website independently,” writes Josty.
