Nurse’s Death in U.K. Linked to Weight Loss Drug Mounjaro
- by Amber Baker
- Published
- Environment
A 58-year-old nurse’s death has been linked to the popular weight loss drug tirzepatide, sold under the brand name Mounjaro. While her certificate of death lists “multiple organ failure, septic shock, and pancreatitis” as the immediate cause of her passing, “the use of prescribed tirzepatide” is listed as a contributing factor. Susan McGowan had only taken two low-dose injections of the drug over the course of about two weeks before she died on Sept. 4, 2024. Hers is officially the first death officially linked to the drug in the United Kingdom.1
McGowan, a nurse at University Hospital Monklands in Airdrie, North Lanarkshire, Scotland for over 30 years, had discussed her weight loss efforts with friends and decided to try Mounjaro after researching the medication and obtaining a prescription through a registered online pharmacy. The drug, which typically costs between £150 ($190) and £200 ($254) for a four-week supply and is available at registered pharmacies in the U.K., was administered as prescribed. Days after her second injection, she experienced severe stomach pain and sickness, leading her to seek emergency care at Monklands A&E, where medical staff worked to treat her.1
Death Happened “So Quick”
Jade Campbell, McGowan’s niece who was with her when she passed, was informed by doctors that her aunt’s kidneys were failing. Just days later she went into a coma and her organs began to fail. “It was so quick,” she said in an interview. “I still find myself thinking, ‘has that actually happened?’”1
Tirzepatide was approved for use as a weight-loss aid in the U.K. in 2023 by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). Tirzepatide is currently prescribed by the NHS only for a limited number of patients due to factors like cost and availability. The MHRA operates the Yellow Card Scheme, allowing healthcare professionals and the public to report suspected drug side effects. Public data available from January to May 2024 shows 208 reports related to tirzepatide, including 31 serious reactions and one suspected death of a man in his sixties. McGowan’s death occurred too recently to be included in this data.1
In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) maintains the Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS), a database that collects information on adverse events associated with medications. A recent analysis of FAERS data, covering the second quarter of 2022 through the first quarter of 2024, identified 94 deaths among patients using tirzepatide. As with most newly approved drugs, significant risks or side effects may continue to become apparent within the next several years as millions of people use the drug in everyday settings.2
Compounded Semaglutide Linked to 10 Deaths and 100 Hospitalizations
Compounded versions of semaglutide, used as alternatives to Ozempic and Wegovy, have been linked to at least 10 deaths and 100 hospitalizations in the U.S., according to Novo Nordisk’s CEO. These compounded drugs are often sourced online or through weight-loss clinics, raising safety and authenticity concerns. People use compounded versions of semaglutide because they are cheaper, more accessible during shortages, and can be customized for individual dosing needs. However, these alternatives are not FDA-approved, raising safety and quality concerns. While Novo Nordisk has urged the FDA to ban off-brand semaglutide, Wegovy sales have surged globally, with a 79 percent increase in the last quarter compared to the same period in 2023. 3
The Risks and Rising Legal Battles of Weight Loss Medications
The history of weight loss drugs, from amphetamine-based pills of the 1960s to FDA-approved medications like fen-phen and Mediator, reveals a pattern of severe and sometimes fatal health risks, including heart and lung complications, that led to their eventual removal from the market. While semaglutide remains widely used today, its long-term effects are still unknown, prompting concerns given the checkered past of weight loss medications.4
“Mounjaro was approved based on extensive assessment of the benefits and risks of the medicine, and we provide information about the benefits and risks of all our medicines to regulators around the world to ensure the latest information is available for prescribers,” a spokesperson for Mounjaro drugmaker Lilly said. “We are committed to continually monitoring, evaluating, and reporting safety information for all Lilly medicines.”1
Hundreds of GLP-1 Drug Lawsuits Allege Side Effects Not Well-Documented During Clinical Trials
As of September 2024, more than 900 lawsuits have been filed against Novo Nordisk regarding their GLP-1 medications, such as Ozempic and Wegovy, citing severe gastrointestinal complications, vision loss, and gallbladder issues, which are emerging side effects that were not well-documented during clinical trials. Still, the global market for GLP-1 drugs is projected to grow exponentially, highlighting the need for improved informed consent practices to ensure patients understand all potential risks.5
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