A newly licensed NHS weight-loss medication was related to the death of a 58-year-old nurse.

A weight-loss medication that was recently licensed for use on the NHS has been connected to the death of a Scottish nurse.

Susan McGowan, 58, died on September 4th of this year from pancreatitis, septic shock, and multiple organ failure, all of which were recorded as her direct causes of death.

The usage of “prescribed tirzepatide,” an injectable that aids in weight loss, was noted as a significant factor as well.

According to the BBC, it is believed to be the first fatality in the UK to be formally connected to a medication made by the pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly.

The UK’s drugs watchdog last year approved the medication, which was created for adults with type 2 diabetes, for use on the NHS.

It may also help obese and overweight people lose weight, according to a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine. Researchers say this might be “game-changing.”

Tirzepatide, which is also marketed under the name Mounjaro, slows down the rate at which food passes through the digestive tract while imitating hormones that cause feelings of fullness after meals.

This then motivates individuals to eat less, which leads to weight loss.

A four-week supply usually costs between £150 and £200.

A Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) spokeswoman stated after the approval: “We are happy to confirm that we have licensed Mounjaro (tirzepatide), a novel class of medication for individuals with type 2 diabetes that is not adequately managed.

“No medicine would be approved unless it meets our expected standards of safety, quality and effectiveness.”

In the two weeks before to her passing earlier this year, Susan, a resident of North Lanarkshire, received two low-dose injections of tirzepatide.

She bought a prescription for the medication from a licensed internet pharmacy after researching it and consulting a doctor.

The nurse, who spent over thirty years working at the University Hospital Monklands in Airdrie, frequently talked to her loved ones about her struggles to lose weight and concluded that the jabs might help.

But only a few days after giving her second injection, Susan started feeling ill and had terrible stomachaches, so she hurried to the A&E at work.

Her health started to worsen, and her coworkers battled to preserve her life. Meanwhile, Susan’s niece Jade Campbell was told that her aunt’s kidneys were failing.

Days later, the 58-year-old went into a coma before medical professionals realized her organs were failing.

 

Telling the BBC, “It was so quick,” Jade said. The question, ‘Has that actually happened?’ still crosses my mind.

“Susan had always been a little overweight, but there had never been any health issues. She didn’t use any other prescription drugs. She was in good health.

“Susan had a lot of energy. She had a great personality, was the life of the party, and was incredibly kind and generous. She reportedly had the hospital’s greatest laugh.

Only a tiny percentage of patients are now prescribed tirzepatide by the NHS due to issues including availability and cost.

“Our deepest sympathies are with the family of the individual concerned,” MHRA Chief Safety Officer Dr. Alison Cave told the BBC. Our primary goal is patient safety, and no medication would be authorized unless it fulfilled our strict requirements for efficacy, safety, and quality. For every healthcare product, we have strong, secure surveillance and monitoring mechanisms in place.

“On the basis of the current evidence the benefits of GLP-1 RAs outweigh the potential risks when used for the licensed indications.”

The MHRA administers the “yellow card scheme,” which enables the general public or medical professionals to report possible medication side effects.

There were 208 reports regarding tirzepatide between January and May 2024 (the only publicly available data on the drug), including 31 serious reactions and one suspected death of a man in his fifties.

“Patient safety is their top priority,” an Eli Lilly representative told LADbible.

The pharmaceutical company issued a statement saying, “We are committed to continuously monitoring, evaluating, and reporting safety information for all Lilly medicines.”

“Mounjaro (tirzepatide) was approved after a thorough evaluation of the medication’s risks and advantages. To make sure prescribers have access to the most recent information, we also give regulators worldwide information about the risks and benefits of all of our medications. Anyone should speak with their doctor or another healthcare provider if they are having adverse affects from taking any Lilly medications.