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More than 200 deaths have been reported to health regulators as potentially linked to popular weight-loss injections, according to newly released figures, with one brand of the drug being more lethal than others.
The Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has also received reports of more than 158,000 suspected adverse reactions involving the medications, which have surged in popularity in recent years.
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Patients and healthcare professionals can report suspected side effects from medicines through the MHRA’s Yellow Card scheme.
However, the regulator stresses that reports do not prove a medicine caused a reaction or death - only that there is a suspicion of a possible link.
The regulator said it continues to monitor the safety of GLP-1 medications, including reviewing scientific research and reports submitted by patients and healthcare professionals.
"As with all medicines, the safety of GLP-1s is kept under continual review, including emerging evidence from spontaneous data and scientific publications," the MHRA said.
It added that any new safety concerns would be communicated quickly.
"Any potential updates regarding the safety of these medicines would be promptly communicated to patients and healthcare professionals, and appropriate steps taken to mitigate any identified risk," the spokesperson said.
The MHRA concluded that, based on current evidence, the benefits of the medications remain greater than the potential risks when they are prescribed and used correctly.
"On the basis of the current evidence, the benefits of GLP-1 receptor agonists outweigh the potential risks when used in line with their authorised uses," the regulator said.
Figures from the scheme show that tirzepatide, sold under the brand name Mounjaro, has been linked to the highest number of reported incidents.
A total of 106,189 suspected adverse reactions, including gastrointestinal issues, have been reported for tirzepatide, alongside 120 deaths.
Meanwhile, semaglutide, the active ingredient in weight-loss injection Wegovy and diabetes medications Ozempic and Rybelsus, has been associated with 48,089 reported adverse reactions and 59 suspected deaths.
Another weight-loss medication, liraglutide, which is sold as Saxenda and is also used in some diabetes treatments, has been linked to 4,491 suspected adverse reactions and 37 reported deaths.
The MHRA emphasised that the figures should be viewed in context, explaining that a report submitted through the Yellow Card system does not confirm that a medicine was responsible.
An MHRA spokesperson said: "It is important to place these reports in the context of the millions of GLP-1 prescriptions issued in the UK."
They added that the number of reports can be affected by factors including increased use of the drugs and greater awareness of possible side effects.
"Reporting volumes can be influenced by increased use, greater awareness of a potential adverse reaction and other factors," the spokesperson said.
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A warning about a little-known side effect has been issued to anyone who uses weight-loss medications like Mounjaro, Ozempic, and Wegovy.
Researchers from the University of Pennsylvania analyzed health data from around 50,000 adults with type 2 diabetes, comparing people taking GLP-1 medications with those using other diabetes treatments: SGLT-2 inhibitors and DPP-4 inhibitors.
After adjusting for factors such as age and weight, they discovered that those taking GLP-1 drugs had a 37% higher risk of developing alopecia than those using SGLT-2 inhibitors, and a 68% higher risk than those taking DPP-4 inhibitors.
The researchers said reports of hair loss linked to GLP-1 medications - particularly semaglutide, sold as Wegovy and Ozempic, and tirzepatide, sold as Mounjaro - have already been submitted to health regulators.
"Case reports and analyses of the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)'s Adverse Event Reporting System have described occurrences of hair loss following initiation of a GLP-1 receptor agonist, particularly semaglutide (Wegovy and Ozempic) and tirzepatide (Mounjaro)," they said, per Sky News.
"In response, the FDA has indicated that it is evaluating this potential safety signal," they added.
In the UK, the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has received close to 400 reports of hair loss linked to tirzepatide so far in 2026, following 541 reports last year.
The regulator has also received 148 reports relating to semaglutide this year, in addition to 164 reports during 2025.
Writing in the British Medical Journal (BMJ), the researchers said: "Although hair loss does not typically result in physical harm, it may have significant psychosocial consequences, affecting self-esteem, quality of life, and adherence to treatment."
They believe the most likely cause is the quick weight loss and reduced calorie intake associated with the drugs, which can lead to physical stress and nutritional deficiencies, including low levels of iron, zinc and biotin, all of which can affect the hair growth cycle.
They also added that "metabolic, hormonal, and immunological effects attributed to GLP-1 receptor agonists that may influence hair follicle growth and cycling" could also play a role.
The findings come after one Mounjaro user opened up about suffering a frightening medical emergency she believes was triggered by the weight loss drug.
Lynn Carratt, 44, began taking the medication after being diagnosed with fatty liver disease and metabolic syndrome, conditions that increase the risk of cardiovascular disease.
While on a cruise with her husband and daughter, she developed severe pain in her lower abdomen after reducing her dose of the medication.
She initially dismissed it as symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome, but the pain intensified.
"Having continued to ignore the niggling discomfort, we were a week into our three-week trip when I woke in the night in so much pain, in my chest and abdomen, I thought I was having a heart attack," she told the Daily Mail.
"Clutching my torso, I told my husband there must be something seriously wrong and that I was going to get checked out at the medical centre.
"The doctor examined me and, hearing my screams when she pressed my abdomen, said: 'Oh, I think you've got an inflamed gallbladder.'"
Carratt later learned that although pain medication had eased her symptoms, her gallbladder remained enlarged after returning to the UK.
"My consultant told me that, while he couldn't say with absolute certainty, he thinks it's 'likely' taking Mounjaro caused my gallbladder to become inflamed," she said.
She ultimately avoided surgery after an MRI scan showed improvement, although doctors warned it could still be needed in the future.
An Eli Lilly spokesperson responded to the case, saying: "Patient safety is Lilly's top priority and we actively monitor, evaluate, and report safety information for all our medicines to the MHRA.
"The Mounjaro (tirzepatide) Patient Information Leaflet warns that cholecystitis (infection of the gallbladder) is an uncommon side effect, which may affect up to one in 100 people.
"Anyone experiencing side effects when taking any Lilly medicine should consult their doctor or other healthcare professional, and should ensure that they are getting genuine Lilly medicine," they added.
Experts have raised an urgent alert about a potential side effect linked to widely used drugs like Ozempic and Mounjaro.
The drug that has been credited with transforming the world of weight loss by nullifying the cravings of those looking to shed the pounds, was originally introduced as a treatment for type 2 diabetes to help reduce and regulate blood sugar levels.
While semaglutide, which comes under the brand name Ozempic, is yet to receive FDA approval for treatment-targeted weight loss, its competitor, Mounjaro, has been in receipt of formal FDA-verification as a treatment for obesity and weight loss, as well as for its initial purpose.
However, in a recent development, scientists have cited a potential increase in risk of certain kinds of vision loss in people with type 2 diabetes.
Researchers at the University of Toronto have now found that GLP‑1 drugs, a class that includes both Ozempic and Mounjaro, are associated with a considerably higher risk of developing neovascular age‑related macular degeneration (AMD), a serious eye condition.
Their study suggests that people with type 2 diabetes prescribed these drugs were more than twice as likely to develop vision problems compared with those taking the same medications who did not have diabetes.
Neovascular AMD, often simply called AMD, is described by the NHS as “a common condition that affects the middle part of your vision,” and Healthline notes that it is a leading cause of irreversible vision loss in people over 50 in the United States.
Commenting on the findings, co‑author Andrew Mihalache, MD(C), said: “The dose-response effect we observed — where longer GLP-1 receptor agonist exposure was associated with higher risk — strengthens the argument that this association may reflect a true biological effect rather than being due to confounding factors.”
Fellow author Reut Shor, MD, added: “This was definitely surprising, especially given the growing enthusiasm for GLP-1 receptor agonists for their cardiovascular and metabolic benefits. It really highlights the need for further investigation into their ocular safety profile.”
Despite these concerns, the overall risk of vision loss from taking GLP‑1 drugs such as Ozempic and Mounjaro remains very low: with the study estimating the risk of developing AMD at about 0.2 percent among the respective treatments' users.
If you are thinking about starting a GLP‑1 medication, it is essential to speak with a healthcare professional to discuss whether this treatment is suitable and safe for you.
A woman described by her doctor as obese began taking weight loss drugs that led to the scariest moment of her life while on a cruise holiday.
Lynn Carratt, 44, was diagnosed with fatty liver disease and metabolic syndrome, which can cause high blood pressure and high blood sugar, all leading to cardiovascular issues further down the line.
The mother-of-one decided that using the GLP-1 drug Mounjaro was a good idea to help her lose some weight and deter further health issues.
However, things quickly became dangerous when, on a cruise holiday with her husband and young daughter, Caratt began getting pain in her lower abdomen.
She told the Daily Mail that initially she thought nothing of the pain that started after she switched to a lower dose of Mounjaro, as she thought it could be a symptom of her irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
Carratt said: "Having continued to ignore the niggling discomfort, we were a week into our three-week trip when I woke in the night in so much pain, in my chest and abdomen, I thought I was having a heart attack.
"Clutching my torso, I told my husband there must be something seriously wrong and that I was going to get checked out at the medical centre.
"The doctor examined me and, hearing my screams when she pressed my abdomen, said: ‘Oh, I think you’ve got an inflamed gallbladder.'"
Obviously, the mom was concerned about the consequences of an inflamed gallbladder, which can prove fatal if it ruptures, but she managed to get pain relief from the doctor on board the ship.
However, upon her return to the UK, she discovered that while the medication had eased her symptoms, the walls of her gallbladder were still larger than expected.
Carratt explained: "My consultant told me that, while he couldn’t say with absolute certainty, he thinks it’s ‘likely’ taking Mounjaro caused my gallbladder to become inflamed."
She opted against having surgery as the MRI scan gave her a positive update, although it may be necessary in the future.
A spokesman for Eli Lilly, the producers of Mounjaro, said: "Patient safety is Lilly’s top priority and we actively monitor, evaluate, and report safety information for all our medicines to the MHRA.
“The Mounjaro (tirzepatide) Patient Information Leaflet warns that cholecystitis (infection of the gallbladder) is an uncommon side effect, which may affect up to one in 100 people.
"Anyone experiencing side effects when taking any Lilly medicine should consult their doctor or other healthcare professional, and should ensure that they are getting genuine Lilly medicine."
An expert has revealed a very uncomfortable side effect people using Mounjaro or other similar weight loss injections could face.
GLP-1 drugs such a Mounjaro, Ozempic, and Wegovy, have exploded in use in recent months after initially being created to help people with diabetes control their blood sugar levels.
The weekly glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1) injections can also help with weight loss, by helping people feel fuller by mimicking a natural hormone released after eating.
However, they're not a quick fix and should only be used when medically indicated - and can come with a host of side-effects, too.
A nurse called Charlene has revealed one such unpleasant side-effect people should be aware of.
She warned that people often experience sulfur burps - which are just as gross as they sound.
Charlene explained: "Basically, with a GLP-1 medication, it slows your digestion. So when your digestion is slowed, food that you consumed is sitting in your stomach for a bit longer, and sometimes that can produce gases, and they have to come up.
"So you end up burping gases from old food and it can be quite nasty and smell quite eggy, not very nice."
She recommended carrying some heartburn medication and some strong mints, as she revealed from personal experience that the sulfur burps tend to last "a day or two" after her injection.
Charlene also recommended finding out which foods trigger your sulfur burps, as heavier foods can seemingly worsen her symptoms, and eating more slowly and chewing your food thoroughly can also help prevent them.
Sitting upright for "at least half an hour to an hour" after eating, staying well hydrated, and going for a walk can also help food move through the digestive tract more efficiently.
However, sulfur burps aren't the only side-effect of weight-loss medication, as some people have been complaining of "Ozempic butt".
The rapid weight loss caused by the medication is transforming butts, faces, and even boobs in unexpected (and unwanted) ways.
Jess Loren, 39, shared her experience with the New York Post after dropping over 75lb with Ozempic: “My dad said, ‘You don’t have a butt anymore.’ I try on bathing suits and I’ve got 'ghost a**,' or what people online call 'Ozempic butt.'”
It’s not an officially listed side-effect, but rapid weight loss can cause skin in once-plump areas to sag. And butts aren’t the only victims.
People have also complained of ‘Ozempic face,’ where cheeks hollow out and eyes look sunken, meaning people can sometimes look gaunt and older than they actually are.
Dr. Iman Saleh, Director of Obesity Medicine at South Shore University Hospital, explained to PEOPLE: “The faces are saggy, they lose their fat content in their face, there are increased wrinkles.
"Some people look a little bit more aged. People have noticed that there's more hollowing around their eyes because of the loss of the texture or the fat content that is in the face.”
In order to counteract the effects, Salah recommends: “Increase of protein in their diet is very important. Increase of exercise, resistance bands. In terms of the buttocks, [do] more squats, more to increase muscle to compensate really for the fat loss.”
In case you need a more visual idea of what Ozempic does, then Zack D. Films is the man for you.
As he put it in his now-viral simulation: “Once Ozempic is in your bloodstream, it activates the parts of the brain that make you feel full, reducing your appetite. It also stabilises your blood sugar, stopping sudden cravings.
"Then it slows down how fast your stomach empties food, which keeps you feeling full for longer after a meal. This causes you to lose weight as you eat less. But it can make some people feel sick and even give them diarrhoea.”
Thousands of Americans are now taking legal action against popular weight loss drugs after a rare and terrifying permanent side effect was revealed.
Ozempic and Wegovy, part of a class known as GLP-1 receptor drugs, were originally designed to treat Type 2 diabetes. However, they quickly surged in popularity after patients began experiencing weight loss while taking them.
Todd Engel, a 63-year-old grandfather from Maryland, was among those prescribed the medication.
But after taking Ozempic, he developed a rare condition known as non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION), which has left him permanently blind.
He is now suing Novo Nordisk, the pharmaceutical company behind both drugs.
Per Fox 5, Engel began taking the drug in the spring of 2023 to manage his diabetes while working as a professional truck driver for Howard County highways.
Around New Year’s Eve that year, he suddenly lost vision in his right eye in what doctors described as an eye stroke.
At the time, Engel continued using the medication, unaware that there could be a link. Ten months later, in October 2024, he woke up unable to see out of his left eye as well.
Doctors later diagnosed him with NAION, which is the leading cause of sudden vision loss. "I was terrified... I’m never going to be able to see my wife again," he shared.
The condition forced him to give up the job he loved and dramatically changed daily life for him and his family.
"I went in and I told them what happened, and I cried in front of my supervisors because I couldn’t do my job anymore," Engel said. "A job I really enjoyed."
His wife, Shelley, now helps him navigate daily tasks. "It’s heartbreaking when our little grandkids have to take his hand and lead him around," she said, per The Independent. "He can't drive and he can't work, which is major, he can't play ball.
"It breaks my heart, but my life has changed. Our whole family's life, everything has changed completely. He can't play with our grandkids. Everything in our house has been rearranged and organised," she added.
Engel’s case is one of more than 4,000 lawsuits filed by patients who claim the drugs caused severe health complications, including blindness and even death.
Many of the cases have now been consolidated in Pennsylvania as part of a growing legal battle seeking to determine what the drug manufacturers knew about the risks.
Engel’s lawsuit claims the manufacturers knew Ozempic was associated with an increased risk of NAION but did not properly disclose the danger. "My neuro-ophthalmologist at Johns Hopkins Wilmer Eye Institute said there’s some speculation that Ozempic could have caused this," he said.
One study cited in the complaint reportedly discovered that using semaglutide, the active ingredient in Ozempic, more than doubles the risk of NAION.
Engel hopes his experience will force drugmakers to take notice. "I want people to realize. I want the manufacturers of Ozempic to see me. That I cannot see anything. I’m blind. I’m legally blind, and this is devastating," he said.
His attorney, Jonathan Orent, said the impact of the condition cannot be overstated.
Diane Wirth, who worked as a nurse for more than 30 years, also developed NAION in her right eye after taking the drug, forcing her into retirement.
"If someone would have told me there was a chance that a drug I was taking could make me blind, I would never, ever, have taken the first shot," she said.
Another lawsuit has been filed by Tracy Ettinghoff, whose wife, Marsha, died six months after beginning Ozempic.
In 2024, Marsha had started taking the medication in hopes of losing weight before their son’s wedding. "She didn't have any symptoms until a week before she died,” Ettinghoff said. “She started throwing up, and one week later she was dead.”
Ettinghoff said his wife "didn't think that she needed [the medication], but she wanted to be on it," and that the weekly injections did not appear to make much difference to her weight loss.
"We believe that Mrs. Ettinghoff’s premature death was substantially caused by her use of GLP-1s and the adverse reactions associated with them," Orent said. "We believe that sufficient warnings would have prevented this tragic death from ever happening."
Novo Nordisk has said patient safety remains its top priority and disputes claims that the medication directly causes NAION.
"Patient safety is our top priority, and we take any reports about adverse events from the use of our medicines very seriously. We work closely with authorities and regulatory bodies from around the world to continuously monitor the safety profile of our products," they said, per The Guardian.
They added that EU patient leaflets for Wegovy, Ozempic, and Rybelsus have been updated to include non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION).
However, the company has concluded that data "did not suggest a reasonable possibility of a causal relationship between semaglutide and NAION, and Novo Nordisk believes that the benefit-risk profile of semaglutide remains favourable."
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