Nurse's Death Raises Serious Concerns Over Safety of New Weight-Loss Drug Mounjaro

Nurse’s Death Raises Serious Concerns Over Safety of New Weight-Loss Drug Mounjaro

The sad death of a North Lanarkshire nurse has spurred fresh concerns over the safety of mounjaro, a weight-loss medication just licensed for use in the UK. After using the drug for two weeks, 58-year- Susan McGowan died; her death is now formally attributed to the substance. Her untimely death has spurred discussion on whether the government’s drive to introduce the medicine more broadly is premature and whether the long-term hazards are fully known.

Was mounjaro Responsible for Susan McGowan’s Death?

Having served as a nurse at University Hospital Monklands in Airdrie for more than thirty years, McGowan passed on September 4 under conditions all noted on her death certificate: pancreatitis, septic shock, and multiple organ failure. The record also notes the recommended use of Mounjaro (tirzepatide) as a contributing factor to her death, therefore identifying the first recorded fatality in the UK linked to the medicine.

Approved in 2023 by the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) as a medication for weight loss and alongside type 2 diabetes management, Mounjaro is a GLP-1 receptor agonist. Though McGowan’s case has caused concerns, especially since her health rapidly declined following the medication, it was welcomed as a novel approach for obesity.

Why Did McGowan Choose to Use Mounjaro?

For years, McGowan’s weight loss quest has been a topic of discussion among her friends and relatives. She had always carried some extra weight, but she had no major medical issues and was not on any other meds. She resorted to Mounjaro after learning about its encouraging outcomes since, as a nurse, she was familiar with several health therapies.

Following drug research and doctor consultation, McGowan bought the medicine online from a certified pharmacy. A four-week supply of the medicine runs between £150 and £200.

“Susan had always carried a little extra weight, but there were never any health concerns,” her niece Jade Campbell said. “She was healthy and off any medication.”

But McGowan developed terrible stomach ache and nausea a few days after her second shot. McGowan’s illness got worse quickly even though she sought treatment at her workplace hospital, where colleagues battled to save her life. Her kidneys failed, she went into a coma, then passed away not too long later.

Campbell stated, “It was so quick.” “I still find it incomprehensible that it happened.”

Are There Safety Concerns With Tirzepatide?

Working by replicating the action of a natural hormone controlling blood sugar and appetite, tirzepatide helps patients feel fuller for longer, therefore lowering calorie intake. Though the medicine first shows promise in clinical trials and MHRA approval, the first death connected to it raises major questions about its safety, especially over long terms.

With 31 major adverse events, the MHRA’s Yellow Card Scheme noted 208 reports on tirzepatide between January and May 2024. But McGowan’s case had not yet shown up in the statistics because of the time of her death. Although certain side effects are predicted, experts advise caution when choosing medications that influence such important body systems.

“Our safety monitoring systems are comprehensive, and we continue to monitor all healthcare goods to guarantee patient safety,” an MHRA spokesman said. The agency stressed that, when taken properly, the advantages of GLP-1 receptor agonists—including tirzepatide—usually exceed the dangers.

Should the UK Government Proceed with Its Mounjaro Trial?

McGowan’s passing coincides with the UK government getting ready to start a major Mounjaro trial in line with its strategy to address unemployment. Over the next three years, the government intends to provide the medicine to around 250,000 people in Greater Manchester, helping those suffering with obesity drop weight and get back to work.

Although Health Secretary Wes Streeting has described the project as “game-changing,” the unexpected fatality connected to Mounjaro begs issues regarding the validity of such a trial going forward. McGowan’s family worries that public knowledge of the possible hazards connected to the medicine could not be entirely accurate.

“My aunt thought this was a safe option; she trusted the medical system,” Campbell added. “Now, I believe people should stand back and reevaluate if this is the correct path.”

The administration has not yet said whether McGowan’s passing will cause the deployment strategy to be reassessed.

What Do Experts Say About Weight-Loss Drugs?

Along with semaglutide (marketed as Wegovy and Ozempic), Mounjaro belongs to a rising class of medications meant to treat obesity. Although these medications have attracted interest for their notable weight loss properties, experts caution that additional study is required to completely grasp the long-term hazards.

Leading authority in metabolic medicine at the University of Glasgow, Professor Naveed Sattar clarified that although studies have proven the medications to be useful, proving a clear cause-and-effect link between a single death and the medication is difficult.

“There’s enough data available that these drugs have significant, meaningful weight loss benefits,” Sattar added. “But side effects are possible, and we need to be careful in how we use these drugs. Like with any medication.”

Sattar also emphasised the larger public health issue of obesity, pointing out that the increase in fat-related diseases calls for efficient treatments like Mounjaro, but they must be used sensibly under medical supervision.

Is It Time to Reevaluate the Use of Mounjaro?

The death of McGowan begs significant issues regarding the quick acceptance of weight-loss medications such as Mounjaro into the public. Although the medicine has passed clinical studies, her instance implies that as it is used more extensively more thorough safety monitoring is required.

Devastated by her death, her family is now advocating a review of how these medications are used and administered in the UK. “We never imagined something like this would happen; we trusted the medical system,” said Campbell.

The story of Susan McGowan reminds us of the need for careful and continuous examination of weight-loss medicines, particularly those with possibly severe side effects as the UK government advances with its preparations for the Mounjaro study. More study, openness, and prudence are necessary to guarantee that these drugs enable patients to safely avoid fatal results.

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