In the UK, more than 200 deaths have been reported in connection with the use of weight-loss drugs.

The UK’s Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has received reports of 216 deaths and more than 158,000 adverse reactions associated with weight-loss drugs.

These include tirzepatide-, semaglutide-, and liraglutide-based medications, such as Mounjaro, Wegovy, Saxenda, and Sky News reports.

Yellow Card System

The data were collected through the Yellow Card system, which allows healthcare professionals and patients to report suspected adverse reactions to medicines. The recording of such a report does not necessarily establish a causal link between taking a drug and the complication or death.

Disturbing Figures

Tirzepatide, the active ingredient in Mounjaro, accounted for 106,189 reports of adverse reactions and 120 deaths.

For semaglutide, the active ingredient in Wegovy, as well as in Ozempic and Rybelsus, 48,089 reactions and 59 deaths were reported.

Saxenda

Another 4,491 adverse reactions and 37 deaths were allegedly associated with liraglutide, which is marketed under the brand name Saxenda and is also used to treat diabetes.

The most common adverse effects associated with drugs in this class include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, and abdominal pain.

Size Matters

Reporting volumes may be influenced by the growing popularity of these medicines and increased patient awareness of their potential side effects.

The regulator continues to analyze safety reports on these drugs, including data from scientific publications.

The agency said that if new risks are identified, information will be communicated to patients and healthcare professionals, and measures will be taken to reduce the risks where necessary.

Risk Evaluation

The MHRA also noted that, based on the available evidence, the benefits of GLP-1 receptor agonists when used for their approved indications outweigh the potential risks.

Earlier, the MHRA confirmed that at least 10 people in the UK who had received weight-loss injections had died from pancreatitis.

Disturbing Evidence

This was followed by reports of 107 deaths registered by doctors and patients, the overwhelming majority of which were also linked to weight-loss drugs.

In 2024, MV reported that the use of Ozempic was associated with an increased frequency of suicidal thoughts. This was established by an international group of scientists.

In cases where patients were taking semaglutide together with antidepressants, the risk of developing suicidal ideation increased by at least fourfold.

You know the risks

Nevertheless, GLP-1 receptor agonists, drugs that target the receptor for glucagon-like peptide-1, which stimulates insulin production, are currently considered among the most effective treatments for weight loss.

At the same time, pharmaceutical companies are seeking to bring oral formulations, such as tablets, to market. By the beginning of the 2030s, revenues from weight-loss drugs are expected to exceed $150 billion. Let readers know what you think

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