LONDON, England — Adverse reactions to semaglutide-based weight loss medications like Mounjaro and Wegovy don dey increase rapidly, with over 350% rise expected within a year. Data from the UK’s Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) show 2,780 spontaneous reports of suspected adverse drug reactions between January and mid-May 2024 alone.
This figure don already surpass the total number of adverse reactions recorded in 2023, which was 1,592. If dis trend continue, projections suggest more than 7,200 reactions go be reported for 2024, a jump of 357% compared to previous year.
Semaglutide, the active ingredient for popular weight loss drugs Wegovy and Ozempic, is primarily marketed for treating type 2 diabetes. However, it dey gain popularity as a weight-loss injection. The alarming increase in adverse reports follow reports of serious side effects such as eye problems, infections, and gastrointestinal disorders, which nearly tripled from 2022 to 2023.
Five years ago, only 114 adverse reactions were documented. Since 2019 through mid-May 2024, the MHRA’s Yellow Card Scheme has recorded about 5,500 adverse reactions associated with semaglutide.
Research shows that most reactions involve gastrointestinal disorders, affecting primarily individuals aged 50 to 59, with women experiencing these issues more than three times compared to men. Meanwhile, reports of adverse reactions related to liraglutide (Saxenda) have declined significantly, with only 22 reports in the first five months of 2024 compared to 304 in the entire 2023.
For tirzepatide (Mounjaro), which got approval for use in the UK in November 2023, there have been 209 reports of adverse reactions by May 2024, including one fatality. Among the common complaints noted were gastrointestinal issues, fatigue, and headaches, alongside less frequent reports of increased menstrual bleeding, joint pain, and heart rhythm disturbances.
One affected patient, Karen Coe, 59, described her experience with Mounjaro as severely painful. According to her, “At first I had a headache and got dizzy. I had a few stomach cramps. But on Monday, it was excruciating, like being ripped open with a knife.”
Karen started the Mounjaro injections to manage her weight and type 2 diabetes, prescribed through the NHS. However, after her first shot on March 14, she experienced dizziness and an intense headache. Three days later, she awoke at 5 a.m. with severe stomach pain, accompanied by extreme diarrhea and she had to call for an ambulance. “I nearly passed out. I asked my husband to call for an ambulance,” she said.
After the ambulance crew performed checks and assured her all was well, Karen continued to experience severe stomach cramps and noticed blood in her stool. When her symptoms intensified, she sought urgent medical attention on March 24, presenting with significant blood clots.
Following an examination, she was placed on an urgent referral to meet with a colorectal surgeon. While doctors suggested that her symptoms were likely linked to Mounjaro, the definitive cause of her later complications from clotting has not been established.
The NHS recognizes nausea, diarrhea, and abdominal cramps as possible side effects of the injection.
Karen has decided to stop taking Mounjaro. “It can cause severe reactions and side effects. People should really think carefully and not take it lightly,” she stated.
Eli Lilly, the company that manufactures Mounjaro, said, “Patient safety is Lilly’s top priority. We take reports of patient safety seriously and actively monitor, evaluate, and report all safety information regarding our medicines.”
The Mounjaro Patient Information Leaflet cautions users of the potential for adverse gastrointestinal side effects like nausea, diarrhea, and vomiting.
It’s crucial to note that the adverse reactions reported have not been conclusively linked to the medications and are not necessarily indicative of known side effects.
Out of the 2,780 adverse reactions reported for semaglutide up to May 2024, 281 were classified as serious. The distinct annual reports on reactions include: 2019 – 114, 2020 – 144, 2021 – 336, 2022 – 534, 2023 – 1,592, and for 2024 (up to May) – 2,780.
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