According to MailOnline, 20 deaths in Britain have been connected to slimming injections like Ozempic and Wegovy.
A victim in their 30s was among them.
All of the deaths, which have happened since 2019, have not been directly linked to the revolutionary weight loss injections.
Reports of adverse effects, however, raise 'a suspicion' that the vaccines may have been the cause, according to health chiefs responsible with monitoring the safety of medications used in the UK.
Experts today cautioned British consumers against purchasing semaglutide, the potent component underlying the weight-loss benefits of the injections, online.
Patients in comas are struggling for their life after purchasing counterfeit versions for as much as £280 each pack.
The National Obesity Forum's chairman, Tam Fry, stated to MailOnline that, when used as prescribed, the newest generation of potent new obesity medications are fantastic.
"Those who purchase them over-the-counter or online with the sole intent of losing weight and without a doctor's prescription are abusing them, and that risk has the potential to be fatal."
"If your goal is to shed a few pounds, stick to your recommended diet or cut back on your intake," he continued. It'll be more safer that way.
Eight of the deaths that the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) received reports of had unidentified causes.
There were four recorded cardiac arrests. Suicide, cancer, and overdoses were among the others.
Another was attributed to acetonaemia, or ketosis, which occurs when the body burns fat rather than glucose to provide energy.
Thirteen out of the twenty fatalities were men. Thirteen of the victims were elderly.
Not only was the cause of death not established as being semaglutide, but no victim's identity was provided.
But it was believed last year that an Australian mother, 56, had passed away as a result of a deadly Ozempic side effect.
Despite not having diabetes, Trish Webster was given the medication off-label to aid in weight loss in preparation for her daughter's wedding.
She passed out at home in January 2023, spewing a "brown substance" out of her mouth. Later that evening, she passed away.
Her cause of death was listed by the medical staff as "acute gastrointestinal illness," mentioning that Ozempic has been connected to deadly intestinal obstructions.
In a related development, the family of an American man who goes by Anthony last year claimed that the weight loss programme was the reason behind his suicide and demanded that it be labelled as a warning for "putting these thoughts in his mind."
His sister claimed that after he began using Ozempic in February 2023 to treat his type 2 diabetes, he became unusually quiet.
Proven to help patients drop up to two sizes, game-changing injections like Ozempic and Wegovy have been praised by celebrities like Jeremy Clarkson and Elon Musk.
In an effort to reduce the nation's enormous benefit cost, ministers intend to give the medication to millions of overweight Britons. In due course, children may also receive the injections.
Novo Nordisk's semaglutide, commonly known as Rybelsus, reduces hunger and prevents overeating by tricking the brain into believing that a meal has been consumed.
While using these, some patients have also experienced hair loss.
The injections have also been dubbed "indiscriminate drugs" by some competing pharmaceutical companies since they cause users to lose both muscle mass and weight.
Concerned that the medications might increase the risk of cancer, health officials are also looking into the matter.
The effects of semaglutide can also wear off in as little as six weeks, and specialists have warned that patients may need to take them forever to avoid the risk of their ballooning again as soon as they stop.
All medications must undergo safety testing prior to being released into general distribution.
The yellow card system, implemented in the wake of the thalidomide disaster in the 1960s, is used to register the 20 fatalities. The same database is used by officials to monitor the safety of Covid vaccinations.
This may result in a review, the addition of warnings to the label, or possibly their removal from distribution.
A yellow card report, so named because of the yellow forms used in the 1960s, does not, however, establish that the product in issue was the cause of the problem.
The program's overseeing body, the MHRA, states that it could be challenging to distinguish between an unpleasant reaction and something that has happened spontaneously.
"A number of factors need to be taken into account when determining whether a medication has resulted in a reported adverse drug reaction."
Officials keep a tight eye on the database in order to identify any "potential patterns of concern."
Months after the historic immunisation drive, similar problems with blood clots caused by AstraZeneca's Covid vaccine were discovered.
MailOnline discovered that since semaglutide first appeared on the scene and marked the beginning of a new chapter in the fight against obesity, the MHRA has recorded over 7,200 significant adverse reactions to the drug.
As to the 41-page document on semaglutide adverse reactions, which was compiled by the drug watchdog, 7,254 reports of reactions have been registered since January 1, 2019.
More than half (3,819) reported having gastrointestinal problems; 286 reported stomach discomfort and 1,623 reported symptoms of nausea and vomiting.
In addition to 238 psychiatric problems—which included 33 mood swings and 36 suicidal behaviors—more than 700 cases involved nervous system disorders.
Four cases of pulmonary embolisms, which occur when a blood clot stops a blood vessel in the lungs, and one report of a miscarriage, commonly referred to medically as "spontaneous abortion," were also recorded.
"Novo Nordisk places the utmost importance on patient safety," a representative for the company told MailOnline. To guarantee patient safety, we closely collaborate with the authorities and gather safety data on our licenced GLP-1 RA medications on a regular basis.
"Data gathered from extensive clinical trial programmes and post-marketing surveillance supports the safety profile of our GLP-1 medicines."
Furthermore, they stated: "Novo Nordisk continues to closely monitor reports and currently assesses that the benefit-risk balance of our GLP-1 RA containing products remains unchanged."
Additionally, it is advised that patients take these drugs as prescribed by a doctor and under their supervision.
A specialist in cardiometabolic medicine at the University of Glasgow, Professor Naveed Sattar cited data from over 17,000 participants in clinical trials demonstrating that semaglutide reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease by about a fifth.
The greatest and most pertinent information about pharmaceuticals that authorities like NICE would like to see, he continued, is presented here.
Not many medications have such studies, but when they do, we should use the best available data.
According to the most recent NHS data, 26% of adults in England are obese, while 38% are overweight but not obese.
In the UK, obesity has a significant financial cost as well. The estimated annual cost to the economy of the health effects, including lost working years, care expenses, and the cost of NHS treatment, is £100 billion.
As of right now, type 2 diabetics can only receive treatment for controlling their blood glucose levels through the NHS using Ozempic and Rybelsus.
'Off-label' Ozempic was prescribed by physicians and chemists to those seeking weight loss due to its remarkable slimming effects. Officials warned that doing so could endanger the lives of diabetics and advocated against it due to supply concerns.
Wegovy was authorised last year, mostly for the purpose of weight loss.
You may get a private supply at Boots and Superdrug for approximately £200 for a month's supply. Strict eligibility requirements apply to anybody hoping to obtain the medication through the NHS.
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