Weight loss drugs like Ozempic and Mounjaro have exploded on social media, but questions remain about how much we really know about these medications and their long-term effects.
A few months ago, medical experts were warning Ozempic users about side effects like 'Ozempic breath' and increased concerns about pancreatitis.
At the same time, research has shown potential benefits, including reversing liver disease and improving cardiovascular health.
However, one woman's experience using the weight loss drug Mounjaro took a disastrous turn.
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Julie Reilly started taking the weight loss drug in August 2023 because she was 'overweight.' Over the following year of using Mounjaro, she managed to lose four stone (about 56 pounds).
Before the 57-year-old began the injections, she had occasionally experienced stomach pains, but doctors dismissed them as symptoms of menopause.
"Everything that you get gets blamed on menopause symptoms," she explained. "That's what they told me at first when I started getting these pains in my stomach.”
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The mother from Birmingham added: "In August of last year, I decided to go on Mounjaro. I think it exacerbated it. I've never experienced pain like this, I was literally rolling on the floor, couldn't stand up. Stabbing pain, violent fatigue."
By January of this year, Julie was in such severe pain that she was rushed to A&E and a referral for an ultrasound revealed she had several gallstones. The months following, the professional baker suffered a series of infections and had no choice but to have her gallbladder removed in August.
While Reilly did have some symptoms before starting Mounjaro, she believes the medication worsened her condition and caused gallstones.
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The information leaflet for Mounjaro warns that gallstones are a 'common' side effect, potentially affecting up to 'one in 10 people,' while gallbladder infection can reportedly affect 'one in 100 people.'
However, Reilly claims that if this risk had been explained to her beforehand, she never would have taken the injections.
“They don't ask if you have any gallbladder issues [before you take the jab],” she said. "When you take medication, there's everything on there [in the information leaflet], reactions and things like that, I think there's not enough of those on there if I'm honest."
Reilly added: "When I asked one of the doctors, they said it [illnesses like this] is caused by rapid weight loss."
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Despite losing her gallbladder, Reilly is continuing her final weeks of the injection course.
"I have four weeks left on this last one [of Mounjaro] and then I'm coming off. I'm only small, so being a 12-stone woman was a lot. People say I don't even look like the same person,” she added.
A spokesperson for Lilly, the company that manufactures Mounjaro, responded to Reilly's case.
"Patient safety is Lilly's top priority," they stated. We take any reports regarding patient safety extremely seriously and actively monitor, evaluate, and report safety information for all our medicines. The Mounjaro (tirzepatide) Patient Information Leaflet warns that gallstones is a common side effect when used for weight management, and an uncommon side effect when used for type 2 diabetes."
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The spokesperson advised: "We encourage patients to consult their doctor or other healthcare professional regarding any side effects they may be experiencing and to ensure that they are getting genuine Lilly medicine."