Weight loss jab hospitalises 62-year-old man after it sends his metabolism 'into overdrive' - as UK experts warn of dangerous Ozempic fakes and continuing obesity drug shortages READ MORE: Urgent warning over an 'explosion' of fake Ozempic for sale By Emily Stearn, Health Reporter For Mailonline Published: 16:05, 5 August 2024 | Updated: 16:11, 5 August 2024 e-mail View comments An obese man was left in excruciating pain and forced to attend A&E after a slimming jab left him suffering an overactive thyroid. The 62-year-old, who also had type 1 diabetes , lost more than 5.6 stone (36kg) in under six months on tirzepatide — sold under the brand name Mounjaro.
But after rushing to hospital with sudden palpitations, a fever and even hand tremors, scans showed he had developed an irregular heartbeat, atrial fibrillation, dubbed a 'silent killer'. Medics also discovered he had thyrotoxicosis — a condition in which the thyroid gland, responsible for metabolism and heart rate — malfunctions, with potentially life-threatening consequences. Sharing his case in a medical journal as a warning, doctors today called for slimmers using the jabs to be monitored more closely to prevent 'adverse events'.
The 62-year-old, who also had type 1 diabetes , lost more than 5.6 stone (36kg) in under six months on tirzepatide — sold under the brand name Mounjaro. But after rushing to hospital with sudden palpitations, a fever and even hand tremors, scans showed he had developed atrial fibrillation, dubbed a 'silent killer' According to the latest data digestive problems were the most commonly reported side effects of tirzepatide, the active ingredient of Mounjaro.
These included about one in five participants suffering from nausea and diarrhoea, and about one in 10 reporting vomiting or diarrhoea Mounjaro has already been rubber-stamped by US health chiefs for weight loss, hailed as a gamechanger in the fight against obesity, which costs billions in healthcare costs. In February it was also made available privately in Britain , with clinics charging around £40 for a week's supply. Studies have found the drug, made by US pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly, could help obese people lose more than 20 per cent of their body weight in under a year and a half.
But like all drugs, Mounjaro is not without side-effects. The European Medicines Agency said this year that research on rodents has suggested the artificial hormones packaged in tirzepatide could raise the risk of medullary thyroid cancer . HOW TO CALCULATE YOUR BODY MASS INDEX - AND WHAT IT MEANS B ody mass index (BMI) is a measure of body fat based on your weight in relation to your height.
Standard Formula: BMI = (weight in pounds / (height in inches x height in inches)) x 703 Metric Formula: BMI = (weight in kilograms / (height in meters x height in meters)) Measurements: Under 18.5: Underweight 18.5 - 24.
9: Healthy 25 - 29.9: Overweight 30 - 39.9: Obese 40+ : Morbidly obese Advertisement Writing in the journal JAMA Internal Medicine, researchers at the University of Colorado , said the unidentified male patient, who had a BMI of 31.
2, presented to the emergency department with palpitations, excessive sweating, confusion, fever, and hand tremors. He had been prescribed tirzepatide six months earlier, initially on a 2.5mg weekly dose and also took levothyroxine, to help control his diabetes.
'The physician suggested increasing the tirzepatide dose every four weeks as tolerated and following up in a month,' they noted. The man, however, missed his follow-up appointment but despite this still upped his dose, eventually taking 10mg weekly. Medics said atrial fibrillation was triggered by thyrotoxicosis following 'rapid weight loss from tirzepatide'.
They added: 'We recommend evaluating patients using tirzepatide closely (every four to six weeks initially) for assessment of therapy response, adverse events, and possible dose adjustment of other concomitant medications. Tirzepatide is part of a class of drug known as a GLP-1 receptor agonist: these treatments trick the brain into thinking it's full, consequently slashing appetite. Huge global demand and shortages, however, has also seen counterfeit versions flood the market.
Pharmacists yesterday warned of an 'explosion' in fake weight-loss jabs fuelled by a dearth of Ozempic, which contains semaglutide. Your browser does not support iframes. Wegovy and Ozempic work by triggering the body to produce a hormone called GLP-1 that is released naturally from the intestines after meals Experts say the shortages are expected into next year, fuelling the illicit trade online.
Health officials have already seized more than 800 potentially fake weight loss pens across the UK since the start of 2023. Counterfeit jabs have in the past been found to have insulin, a drug used by diabetics, in them. Insulin works by rapidly lowering blood sugar, but if sugars are not raised to begin with, doing so can have severe and potentially fatal consequences.
Semaglutide has been available on the NHS since 2019, and in the US since 2017, for type 2 diabetics to manage blood sugar levels . But its manufacturer Novo Nordisk is also probing whether semaglutide could raise the risk of medullary thyroid cancer and pancreatic cancer. No evidence yet, however, proves they are definitely side effects — even in extremely rare cases.
All Brits are urged to report any medicines side effects they notice to the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency's (MHRA) Yellow Card Scheme. Ministers in Britain plan to dole these drugs to millions of overweight Brits to fight the obesity crisis. Children could eventually be given the jabs, too.
Latest NHS data shows 26 per cent of adults in England are obese and a further 38 per cent are overweight but not obese. In the US an estimated 41.9 per cent of adult population are obese.
WHAT IS ATRIAL FIBRILLATION? Atrial fibrillation is a heart condition that causes an irregular and often abnormally fast heart rate. A normal heart rate should be regular and between 60 and 100 beats a minute when you're resting. You can measure your heart rate by feeling the pulse in your neck or wrist.
In atrial fibrillation, the heart rate is irregular and can sometimes be very fast. In some cases, it can be considerably higher than 100 beats a minute. This can cause problems including dizziness, shortness of breath and tiredness.
Atrial fibrillation is the most common heart rhythm disturbance, affecting around 1 million people in the UK. It can affect adults of any age, but it's more common in older people. It affects about 7 in 100 people aged over 65.
You may be aware of noticeable heart palpitations, where your heart feels like it's pounding, fluttering or beating irregularly, often for a few seconds or, in some cases, a few minutes. You should make an appointment to see your GP if: you notice a sudden change in your heartbeat your heart rate is consistently lower than 60 or above 100 (particularly if you're experiencing other symptoms of atrial fibrillation, such as dizziness and shortness of breath) See your GP as soon as possible if you have chest pain. Source: NHS Share or comment on this article: Weight loss jab hospitalises 62-year-old man after it sends his metabolism 'into overdrive' - as UK experts warn of dangerous Ozempic fakes and continuing obesity drug shortages e-mail Add comment.
