Company behind weight loss drug Mounjaro issues statement as first Brit dies after using jab twice
Rhiannon Ingle
Featured Image Credit: ITV/Sandy Huffaker for The Washington Post via Getty Images
The company the behind weight loss drug Mounjaro has issued a statement after the first Brit has died after using the jab twice.
NHS nurse Susan McGowan, 58, started taking a prescribed drug which is known to help with weight loss earlier this year.
However, after administering just two doses of tirzepatide, known by its brand name Mounjaro, Susan tragically died in hospital.
Appearing on This Morning yesterday (11 November), Susan's niece, Jade Campbell, explained that her aunt had tried 'lots of different things' in the hope of losing weight including Slimming World and attending the gym, but time often got in the way.
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"She just wanted to look good for all those holidays and weddings that were coming up," she added, claiming that her aunt had spoken to both NHS colleagues and pharmacists about using an appetite-suppressing drug as a means of losing weight.
Mounjaro is a brand name for the drug tirzepatide, which is a little different from Ozempic as it's a medication which has been recently approved for weight loss management as well as diabetes as it helps lower blood sugar levels.
It was formerly only approved to be used to treat type 2 diabetes like Ozempic, but unlike the popular jab, this one is actually approved to aid weight loss in the UK.
Following Susan's first injection, the only side effect of the tirzepatide was a loss of appetite.
After administering her second injection the week after, however, Susan's health immediately began declining.
As well as suffering severe stomach pain, Jade says her aunt also suffered a total lack of thirst - something which sadly put her in hospital, where she'd spent her final days.
"She was struggling to hydrate herself, and that's what came out her first day in hospital. They said everything inside was bone dry," Jade explained.
"She didn't hydrate herself because she didn't feel that thirst during the second week. It was very, very quick."
Less severe risks of tirzepatide include symptoms such as nausea and vomiting, diarrhoea, constipation, bloating, flatulence, and heartburn.
On the other hand, the most severe side effects can include pancreatitis, vision changes, allergic reactions, fatigue or dizziness, gallstones, kidney issues, and thyroid tumours or cancers.
Sadly, in Susan's case, she was diagnosed with pancreatitis, as well as gallstones.
After Jade was told by A&E doctors that her aunt's kidneys were not functioning properly, Susan sadly slipped into a coma.
During this time, her organs began failing, and sadly, just days later, Susan died surrounded by her family.
Mounjaro's maker, Eli Lilly, has since issued a statement following Susan's death.
The pharmacutical company said: "Patient safety is Lilly’s top priority. We are committed to continually monitoring, evaluating, and reporting safety information for all Lilly medicines.
"We provide information about the benefits and risks of all our medicines to regulators to ensure the latest information is available for prescribers. If anyone is experiencing side effects they should talk to their doctor or healthcare professional."
The MHRA Chief Safety Officer, Dr Alison Cave, added: "Patient safety is our top priority. No medicine would be approved unless it met our expected standards.
"New medicines are more intensively monitored to ensure that any new safety issues are identified promptly. We encourage patients and healthcare professionals to continue reporting suspected side effects through our Yellow Card Scheme.
"When a safety issue is confirmed, we always act promptly."
Tyla has contacted Eli Lilly for further comment.