Research into the side effects of 'weight loss' injectables has uncovered a potentially life-threatening consequence of their prolonged use.
According to a new study carried out by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), drugs includes the likes of Mounjaro, Wegovy, and Ozempic could be connected to dangerous inflammation of a certain vital organ.
What are 'weight loss drugs'?
These jabs - which are primarily prescribed as a means of suppressing the difficult symptoms of type 2 diabetes - have sky-rocketed in popularity over the last year or so, likely in relation to the surplus of celebrities who credit their newly-trimmed physiques to the controversial drugs.
Whilst the likes of Meghan Trainor and Adam Lambert have publicly sung the praises of Mounjaro in recent months, What A Girl Wants actress Amanda Bynes also revealed last week that she's begun taking Ozempic in a bid to 'look better' in paparazzi pics.
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Looking to the UK, and it was reported back in January that 500,000 Brits were either taking Wegovy or Mounjaro, despite it not being FDA-approved for weight loss. More recently, however, tirzepatide - a form of Mounjaro - became available on the NHS for a limited number of patients in England, with an estimated 1,000,000 UK-dwellers now expected to use forms of the GLP-1 medication.
Naturally, the move has raised concerns about what we really know about prolonged weight loss jab use, with this especially being the case after researchers discovered it could be linked to chronic pancreatitis.
Sinister statistics
181 cases of acute or chronic pancreatitis linked to a bid to lose weight by taking Mounjaro have now been reported to the MHRA, along with five deaths.
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For Wegovy and Ozempic, a further 113 illness reports have been filmed, with one individual having died as a result of the chronic condition.
For those in need of a reminder, pancreatitis sees the organ becoming permanently damaged or stop working entirely due to inflammation. On a chronic level, as described, this inflammation is recurring and could be lethal.
Early warning signs
The condition's most common symptom is ongoing episodes of pain in the abdominal region, usually developing in the middle or left-hand side, and moving across the back.
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This is often described by patients as a burning or a shooting sensation, that could either come and go, or last for several hours or days at a time.
Whilst some sufferers complain that their agony is triggered by mealtimes or heavy drinking, others claim it has no trigger at all.
Chronic pancreatitis is most common in individuals who have been diagnosed with this form of pain before, but continue to drink alcohol regularly.
The potentially-fatal ailment isn't just limited to stomach pain, however, and could be accompanied by several other symptoms.
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These can include weight loss, loss of appetite, yellowing of the skin, vomiting or nausea, and the symptoms of diabetes (like being thirsty frequently, fatigue, or needing to use the bathroom more regularly, as per the NHS.
What now?
Following the latest chronic pancreatitis reports, the MHRA will work alongside Genomics England to investigate the role that genetics might have in triggering a flare-up in individuals taking 'weight loss drugs'.
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A spokesperson for the regular told The Guardian last week: "Evidence shows that almost a third of side effects to medicines could be prevented with the introduction of genetic testing.
"It is predicted that adverse drug reactions could cost the NHS more than £2.2bn a year in hospital stays alone. Information from the Yellow Card Biobank will help us to better predict those most at risk of adverse reactions – enabling patients across the UK to receive the safest medicine for them, based on their genetic make-up."
What have the companies said?
Eli Lilly, the firm that manufacture Mounjaro, added in a statement of their own: "Patient safety is Lilly’s top priority. We take reports regarding patient safety seriously and actively monitor, evaluate, and report safety information for all our medicines.
"Adverse events should be reported under the MHRA’s Yellow Card scheme, but may be caused by other factors, including pre-existing conditions. The Mounjaro (tirzepatide) Patient Information Leaflet warns that inflamed pancreas (acute pancreatitis) is an uncommon side effect (which may affect up to 1 in 100 people).
"It also advises patients to talk to their doctor or other healthcare professional before using Mounjaro if they have ever had pancreatitis.
"We encourage patients to consult their doctor or other healthcare professional regarding any side effects they may be experiencing and to ensure that they are getting genuine Lilly medicine."
A Novo Nordisk spokesperson (the Ozempic and Wegovy manufacturer) also told Tyla: "Patient safety is of the utmost importance to Novo Nordisk. Like all medications, side effects can occur and vary from patient to patient. The known risks and benefits of GLP1 medicines are described in the Summary of Product Characteristics.
"We recommend that patients take these medications only for their approved indications and under the strict supervision of a healthcare professional, who can also advise on potential side effects.
"We continuously collect safety data on our marketed GLP-1 medicines and work closely with the authorities to ensure patient safety.
"The benefit-risk profile of our GLP-1 medicines remains positive, and we welcome any new research that will improve our understanding of treatments for people living with chronic diseases.”
Rhianna Benson