A WOMAN felt -like she was being “ripped open by a knife” after suffering extreme reaction to a single weight loss jab.
Karen Coe, 59, decided to try the injections to lose weight and help combat type two diabetes, and was prescribed them on the NHS.
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But after her first injection of the jab Mounjaro on March 14 she began to get a headache and feel dizzy.
Three days later on March 17, she woke up at 5am with “excruciating” stomach pains, suffered with extreme diarrhoea and had to get her husband, Rob, 59, to call for an ambulance.
Karen – who only injected herself once – was told to go home and keep an eye on her symptoms.
She spent the next 24 hours with stomach cramps and passing blood when she went to the toilet.
Read more on weight loss jabs
Karen’s symptoms eased off but she once again rushed to A&E when she passed “massive blood clots” on March 24.
After an examination, she was urgently referred to see a colorectal surgeon.
Doctors said her initial symptoms were likely caused by Mounjaro, she claims.
The NHS lists nausea, diarrhoea and abdominal cramps as potential side effects of the injection.
The doctors haven’t confirmed the cause of her recent complications.
Now she wants to warn others of the potential reactions to the weight loss jab – after it was revealed that 400 people had been hospitalised after using weight loss jabs.
Karen, an activities co-ordinator, from Hailsham, East Sussex, said: “At first I had a headache and got dizzy.
“I had a few stomach cramps.
“On Monday it was excruciating. It was like being ripped open with a knife.”
Karen said she had previously tried metformin to treat her diabetes but had struggled with diarrhoea.
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After hearing success stories from friends about Mounjaro she spoke to her diabetic nurse and was prescribed the injections.
She said she was made aware of possible side effects – which include nausea, diarrhoea and stomach discomfort – but didn’t know she would have such an extreme reaction.
Karen said: “I nearly passed out.
“I had to ask my husband to call for an ambulance.
Everything you need to know about fat jabs
Weight loss jabs are all the rage as studies and patient stories reveal they help people shed flab 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.
“I was dizzy and really cold.
“They did my observations and said it was all OK.”
Karen was told to keep an eye on her symptoms – which have now started to get better – but she has been left weak and unable to eat.
She said: “Every few minutes I would go to the loo and pass blood.”
Karen won’t be continuing with her Mounjaro injections.
She said: “It can cause severe reactions and severe side effects.
“People should really think carefully and don’t take it lightly.”
Eli Lilly – who make Mounjaro, or tirzepatide – said: “Patient safety is Lilly’s top priority.
“We take any reports regarding patient safety extremely seriously and actively monitor, evaluate, and report safety information for all our medicines.
“The Mounjaro (tirzepatide) Patient Information Leaflet warns that various gastrointestinal side effects – including nausea, diarrhoea, vomiting, stomach pain, and constipation – are common or very common side effects.
“We encourage patients to consult their doctor or other healthcare professional regarding any side effects they may be experiencing and to ensure that they are getting genuine Lilly medicine.”
Fat jabs fact vs fiction
By Vanessa Chalmers
IN a world with soaring obesity rates, fat jabs have arrived and taken the world of the rich and beautiful by storm.
The injections have allegedly helped celebrities like Elon Musk, Sharon Osbourne and even Prime Minister Boris Johnson shed the pounds.
But there is a dark side to these “miracle jabs”.
UK health chiefs are investigating 20 deaths that have been reported as being potentially linked to the injections.
Several celebs, including model Lottie Moss and actor Stephen Fry, have opened up about all the horrible side effects they experienced while taking the jabs, from contorting on the floor to violent sickness.
Ian Budd, pharmacist for Chemist4U and MyBMI, says: “Using injectable weight-loss medications for cosmetic reasons or without a medical need is not recommended and can be potentially harmful.
“They are not a quick fix or a way to lose a few pounds before a holiday.
“Misuse of these medications can lead to serious health consequences and should be avoided.”
Dr Iqbal added: “They are for the management of chronic obesity, so they may not be the first step to take if your weight gain has been more recent or over a shorter period of time.”
Eligiblity hinges on having a body mass index of 30-35 (obese category), coupled with weight-related health issues such as hypertension or type 2 diabetes.
Fat jabs aren’t available over the counter, you need to have a prescription to take them.
Aside from getting a prescription via the NHS, you also have the option for paying for a private prescription.
Your eligibility will still need to be assessed by a pharmacist or GP, according to Click2Pharmacy.
But an influx of skinny jabs on the black market has resulted in people becoming sick and even risking death.
Experts warned a legitimate prescriber will have their credentials listed in registers provided by the General Medical Council or General Pharmaceutical Council and pharmacies should be registered with the GPhC
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