Weight loss drugs such as Ozempic and Mounjaro can come with some serious side effects and now a widow is issuing a warning after losing her husband shortly after his first dose.
The GLP-1 medications, which were initially designed as treatments for Type 2 diabetes, have exploded in popularity ever since the side effect of quick weight loss became public knowledge.
Despite the various warnings attached to the drugs, which left Jeremy Clarkson feeling particularly awful, many people around the world continue to take them even when they've not been prescribed by an official GP.
However, in the case of Rob Briggs, it was medical treatment rather than weight loss that he was focused on, as he was born with MEN1 - a rare genetic disorder that causes ulcers, thinning bones and tumours.
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The disorder can also lead to Type 2 diabetes in the future, so the 55-year-old asked his GP if he could be put on Ozempic after scans and blood tests raised no concerns, his request was granted.
Sadly, within 24 hours of his first dose, the communications specialist was rushed to A&E where he suffered catastrophic internal bleeding.
His wife Lesley told The Times: “Rob took it and, within 24 hours, he was so seriously ill that he ended up in A&E.
“I couldn’t believe it. I thought to myself ‘what the hell is happening?’ Before I knew it, he was fighting for his life.”
Hospital staff were able to resuscitate him at first but he had suffered severe brain damage and Lesley made the heartbreaking decision to switch off his life support machine.
Although she didn't request a post-mortem examination, so it isn't confirmed if Ozempic played a part in his death, the widow is now issuing a warning to others to think twice about taking the medication.
She said: “My view is that there is not enough known about these treatments.
“They should consider all the factors and risks and, if they have any doubt, they should try to lose weight the old fashioned way; through exercise and dieting. You can never be sure what the effects can be.”
She added: “The pharmacy companies need to take action and give clearer warnings. Staff at the hospital told me that they are dealing with around five cases every week related to weight loss injections.”
Novo Nordisk has also launched its own investigation into Rob's death.
A spokeswoman for Novo Nordisk told the newspaper: “We are genuinely saddened to hear of the death of Mr Briggs, and our thoughts are with his family at this time.
“While we cannot comment on the specifics of this individual case, we care deeply about the safety and wellbeing of patients who take our medicines, and we take any reports of adverse events extremely seriously.
“Semaglutide has been studied extensively in clinical trial programmes and is supported by real-world evidence involving thousands of patients over several years.
“This evidence has contributed to a well‑established understanding of its safety profile, including the known benefits and risks.”
The spokeswoman added: “Patients must make any decisions about treatment together with their healthcare professional so that their doctor can assess whether it is appropriate to prescribe the medicine or not, based on their assessment of the patient’s individual medical profile, with ongoing guidance and monitoring required while on treatment."
James Moorhouse