A HEALTHCARE worker has insisted Mounjaro has been “life-changing” after she shed five stone in seven months.
Connie Bulloch, from Cambuslang, near Glasgow, started using the weight loss jabs in June last year.
5
5
5
The 28-year-old had been going to a personal trainer for two years before that but confessed it “felt hard to keep the weight off”.
She said: “I was having investigations done on my womb as I had really bad periods and suffered with PMDD (premenstrual dysphoric disorder).
“So with all that I was having two weeks I was doing well and stayed on track then two weeks where I wasn’t able to stay on track and couldn’t get into the gym as much.”
Last March, Connie – who also has kidney disease – went for an operation on her womb and piled on 1st 9lbs in the few months that followed, taking her weight to 15stone 9lbs.
Now, thanks to Mounjaro and sticking to a calorie deficit, she has lost an incredible 5st 2lbs so far, taking her weight down to 10st 7lbs.
“I never in a million years thought I’d be back down at this weight it really has saved my life”, she told Fabulous.
Tirzepitide, which is sold under the brand name Mounjaro, is regarded by some as the King Kong of weight loss jabs.
Sun GP Dr Zoe Williams acknowledged that Mounjaro, which could soon be rolled out on the NHS, can save the lives of people with “life-threatening levels of obesity.”
But despite this, the NHS warned: “Never take an anti-obesity medicine if it has not been prescribed to you.
“These types of medicines may not be safe for you and can cause serious side effects.”
About half a million Brits use weight loss drugs – and the number is expected to double in the next year.
Mounjaro works by suppressing your appetite, making people feel fuller for longer.
The injections are licensed for patients with type 2 diabetes and to assist those who are clinically obese (with a Body Mass Index of 30 or over).
One jab is administered each week but the duration is dependent on someone’s weight.
The drugs can be lawfully supplied when prescribed by a practitioner – such as a doctor, nurse or a pharmacist-independent prescriber.
But increasingly, people have been buying them through online pharmacies with insufficient checks.
Only recently, figures from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency revealed fat jabs had been linked to 82 deaths across the UK.
And the family of a man from Burton upon Trent, Staffs, who died after taking Mounjaro, are now calling for a probe into the jab’s “potential to kill.”
5
5
Despite the potential dangers, Connie insists the weight loss medication has changed her life for the better and is eager to share the positive benefits it can have.
She said: “Honestly I’m delighted. It’s really helped me mentally and physically.
“I do receive some judgement from people because they see it as an easy way out but honestly I don’t care.
“It’s been an amazing thing to help me and if it helps people get more confidence and not have to get surgery for weight loss then I think that’s great too.
“I feel like I can wear what I want now. I do have some loose skin round my thighs and tummy area but not so bad that I would need surgery. So I’m going to try non-surgical ways to help this.”
Unusual side effects
Connie documents her Mounjaro journey with brutal honesty on social media – @conniebulloch1 – and doesn’t shy away from talking about side effects and dosage “presssure”.
Everyone who uses Mounjaro starts on the introductory dose of 2.5mg, which can then increase to 5mg after four weeks.
This dosage can further increase by 2.5mg every month if appetite suppression is easing off and if the prescriber approves it – taking into consideration how effective the current dose is and if you’re experiencing any side effects.
Everything you need to know about weight loss jabs
Weight loss jabs are all the rage as studies and patient stories reveal they help people shed pounds at almost unbelievable rates, as well as appearing to reduce the risk of serious diseases.
Wegovy – a modified version of type 2 diabetes drug Ozempic – and Mounjaro are the leading weight loss injections used in the UK.
Wegovy, real name semaglutide, has been used on the NHS for years while Mounjaro (tirzepatide) is a newer and more powerful addition to the market.
Mounjaro accounts for most private prescriptions for weight loss and is set to join Wegovy as an NHS staple this year.
How do they work?
The jabs work by suppressing your appetite, making you eat less so your body burns fat for energy instead and you lose weight.
They do this my mimicking a hormone called GLP-1, which signals to the brain when the stomach is full, so the drugs are officially called GLP-1 receptor agonists.
They slow down digestion and increase insulin production, lowering blood sugar, which is why they were first developed to treat type 2 diabetes in which patients’ sugar levels are too high.
Can I get them?
NHS prescriptions of weight loss drugs, mainly Wegovy and an older version called Saxenda (chemical name liraglutide), are controlled through specialist weight loss clinics.
Typically a patient will have to have a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher, classifying them as medically obese, and also have a weight-related health condition such as high blood pressure.
GPs generally do not prescribe the drugs for weight loss.
Private prescribers offer the jabs, most commonly Mounjaro, to anyone who is obese (BMI of 30+) or overweight (BMI 25-30) with a weight-related health risk.
Private pharmacies have been rapped for handing them out too easily and video calls or face-to-face appointments are now mandatory to check a patient is being truthful about their size and health.
Are there any risks?
Yes – side effects are common but most are relatively mild.
Around half of people taking the drug experience gut issues, including sickness, bloating, acid reflux, constipation and diarrhoea.
Dr Sarah Jarvis, GP and clinical consultant at patient.info, said: “One of the more uncommon side effects is severe acute pancreatitis, which is extremely painful and happens to one in 500 people.”
Other uncommon side effects include altered taste, kidney problems, allergic reactions, gallbladder problems and hypoglycemia.
Evidence has so far been inconclusive about whether the injections are damaging to patients’ mental health.
Figures obtained by The Sun show that, up to January 2025, 85 patient deaths in the UK were suspected to be linked to the medicines.
Speaking about the start of her Mounjaro journey, Connie said: “I had a scare early on as I thought I had to move up doses every month and moving from the 2.5mg to the 5mg made me very sick.
“I thought I was going to have to give it up. But I went back down to 2.5mg and have been fine ever since.”
The 28-year-old still experiences some typical side effects including headaches and nausea, but also opened up on more unusual issues she has noticed.
She said: “I’m absolutely freezing all the time, I constantly need a blanket over me.
“I also have random food nightmares. Worms coming out of food was an awful one.
“I never ate strawberries for a good six months because of it. It was them that the worms were in.”
She also experienced “eggy burps” and vomiting while on 5mg, and has suffered hair loss, weak nails and itchy skin.
But she insists: “The positives of Mounjaro have far outweighed the negative side effects.”
And social media users have taken comfort in hearing about her strange side effects too.
One person said: “OMG I am so glad someone else has linked nightmares to mounjaro… I thought I was going insane.”
A second wrote: “Oh my days the coldness is like nothing I’ve ever experienced before. I just can’t get even slightly warm.”
A third chimed in: “Omg I’ve been experiencing itchy skin the past week! Haven’t seen anyone else mentioning this and thought I was losing it.”
“The itchy skin drives me mad I’m a bit relieved it’s not just me”, echoed a fourth.
Someone else confessed: “I had a nightmare about worms aswell was so scary didn’t think it would be connected to monjaro!”
Meanwhile, a sixth said: “I’m totally getting nightmares, it’s exhausting.”
What are the other side effects of weight loss jabs?
Like any medication, weight loss jabs can have side effects.
Common side effects of injections such as Ozempic include:
Nausea: This is the most commonly reported side effect, especially when first starting the medication. It often decreases over time as your body adjusts.
Vomiting: Can occur, often in conjunction with nausea.
Diarrhea: Some people experience gastrointestinal upset.
Constipation: Some individuals may also experience constipation.
Stomach pain or discomfort: Some people may experience abdominal pain or discomfort.
Reduced appetite: This is often a desired effect for people using Ozempic for weight loss.
Indigestion: Can cause a feeling of bloating or discomfort after eating.
Serious side effects can also include:
Pancreatitis: In rare cases, Ozempic may increase the risk of inflammation of the pancreas, known as pancreatitis, which can cause severe stomach pain, nausea, and vomiting.
Kidney problems: There have been reports of kidney issues, including kidney failure, though this is uncommon.
Thyroid tumors: There’s a potential increased risk of thyroid cancer, although this risk is based on animal studies. It is not confirmed in humans, but people with a history of thyroid cancer should avoid Ozempic.
Vision problems: Rapid changes in blood sugar levels may affect vision, and some people have reported blurry vision when taking Ozempic.
Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar): Especially if used with other medications like sulfonylureas or insulin.
#lost #stone #Mounjaro #people #easy #lifechanging #weird #side #effects #worth
Leave a Reply