Two deaths have been reported as potentially linked to weight loss injections, according to drug regulatory authorities.
It concerns two people from Northern Ireland whose deaths may be linked to weight loss injections that have been approved for use in the British public health system (NHS).
These two cases are part of more than 500 reports of suspected adverse reactions that have been submitted to the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) regarding GLP-1 group drugs, which are used to treat obesity and diabetes.
According to reports, in one of the fatal cases the person had used Mounjaro, one of the most powerful weight loss injections, while in the other case the reaction was linked to an unidentified medication containing semaglutide.
Other popular medications such as Wegovy, Ozempic and Rybelsus also contain semaglutide, a substance that mimics hormones that the body releases after eating and that helps reduce appetite and control blood sugar levels.
However, authorities stress that reporting a suspected reaction does not necessarily mean that the death was caused by the medicine. According to the MHRA, other existing illnesses, concurrent health problems or even coincidence could have played a role in these events.
Reports indicate that the victims were a man and a woman, one in his 60s and the other in his 40s.
Warning about inflammation of the pancreas
Earlier this year, the MHRA warned of the risk of developing severe inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis), a condition that can be fatal and is often linked to gallstones - a relatively common side effect of these injections.
Information on the use of GLP-1 drugs has been updated to highlight the small risk of severe acute pancreatitis.
The main symptom of pancreatitis is severe abdominal pain that radiates to the back and does not go away. People who experience this symptom should seek medical help immediately.
Health authorities are urging users to report any serious side effects through the "Yellow Card" reporting system, so that potential risks can be identified and treated as quickly as possible.
Hundreds of reports of side effects
In Northern Ireland alone, 511 suspected cases of side effects have been reported over the past two years, of which 242 have been classified as serious.
Across the UK, the number of users is much higher. It is estimated that around two million people use these injections, many of them purchased privately.
The MHRA has also received more than 1.296 reports of pancreatitis associated with these medications since they were first marketed.
Side effects and new concerns
Health officials acknowledge that these injections have revolutionized the treatment of obesity, but emphasize that they are not a magic solution and can have side effects.
Most side effects are related to the digestive system, including:
mixed
constipation
diarrhea
Researchers have also warned that some users may end up worse off than before if they regain the weight after stopping treatment.
A study by scientists from the University of Cambridge found that people regain an average of about 60 percent of the weight they lost within a year after stopping treatment.
Experts worry that if the regained weight consists mainly of fat, it could increase the risk of:
type 2 diabetes
heart disease
Another recent study has identified about 20 different health problems that may be linked to these weight loss injections, ranging from mild fainting to more serious problems like kidney stones and arthritis. /GazetaExpress/
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