Scots nurse first in UK to die ‘after taking weight loss injection approved by NHS’
A SCOTS nurse is thought to be the first person to die in the UK after taking a weight loss injection recently approved by the NHS.
Susan McGowan, 58, passed away on September 4 after taking two low-dose injections of tirzepatide, also known as Mounjaro.
Ms McGowan, who worked at the University Hospital Monklands in Airdrie for over 30 years, often spoke about her weight loss attempts.
And after researching Mounjaro and seeking medical advice, she bought a prescription through a registered online pharmacy.
The drug, made by Eli Lilly, was approved for use in diabetic NHS patients last year.
It was developed as a diabetes drug but manufacturers noticed it also helped patients lose weight.
The drug works by helping people feel full for longer and slowing how quickly food moves through their digestive systems.
It typically costs between £150 and £200 for a four-week supply.
And it can be purchased from any registered pharmacy in the UK.
Susan was experiencing severe stomach pains and sickness days after taking her second injection.
Dr Alison Cave, MHRA Chief Safety Officer, said: “Our sincere sympathies are with the family of individual concerned.
“Patient safety is our top priority and no medicine would be approved unless it met our expected standards of safety, quality and effectiveness.
“Our role is to continually monitor the safety of medicines during their use, such as GLP-1 RAs. We have robust, safety monitoring and surveillance systems in place for all healthcare products.
“New medicines, such as tirzepatide, are more intensively monitored to ensure that any new safety issues are identified promptly. We strongly encourage the reporting of all suspected reactions to newer medicines, which are denoted by an inverted Black Triangle symbol.
“On the basis of the current evidence the benefits of GLP-1 RAs outweigh the potential risks when used for the licensed indications. The decision to start, continue or stop treatments should be made jointly by patients and their doctor, based on full consideration of the benefits and risks.
“We encourage patients and healthcare professionals to continue reporting suspected side effects to GLP-1 RAs, such as tirzepatide, through our Yellow Card Scheme.
“When a safety issue is confirmed, we always act promptly to inform patients and healthcare professionals and take appropriate steps to mitigate any identified risk.”
A spokesperson for Lilly's added: "Patient safety is Lilly’s top priority. We are committed to continually monitoring, evaluating, and reporting safety information for all Lilly medicines.
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"Mounjaro (tirzepatide) 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.
"If anyone is experiencing side effects when taking any Lilly medicine, they should talk to their doctor or other healthcare professional."