The recent death of a nurse from North Lanarkshire has brought significant attention to the safety of weight-loss drugs, particularly tirzepatide, marketed under the brand name Mounjaro.
Susan McGowan, a 58-year-old nurse who had worked at University Hospital Monklands in Airdrie for over three decades, passed away on September 4, 2024, after experiencing severe complications following the use of the drug.
Her death has been officially linked to the medication, raising questions about its safety and the risks of widespread use, especially as the drug becomes more accessible on the NHS.
The Tragic Death of Susan McGowan
Susan McGowan’s death was sudden and devastating for her family, friends, and colleagues. Known for her kindness, generosity, and vibrant personality, McGowan was a beloved figure at Monklands Hospital.
She worked as a bed manager and had earned a reputation for being the “life of the party” with her infectious laughter. But behind her warm persona was a woman who had struggled with her weight for much of her life.
McGowan had always been interested in finding effective ways to lose weight, and when Mounjaro, a new weight-loss drug, became available, she thought it could offer her the help she had long been searching for.
McGowan began using the drug in late August 2024, taking two low-dose injections of tirzepatide over the course of two weeks.
The drug, which is part of a class of medications known as GLP-1 receptor agonists, works by mimicking the action of a hormone in the body that helps control blood sugar and appetite, ultimately promoting weight loss.
She obtained the prescription after conducting her own research and consulting with a medical professional.
However, shortly after her second injection, McGowan began experiencing severe stomach pain and nausea. She sought medical attention at Monklands Hospital, where her colleagues worked tirelessly to save her life.
Despite their best efforts, McGowan’s condition rapidly deteriorated, and she went into a coma. Her organs began to fail, and she died just days after her admission to the hospital.
The death certificate for Susan McGowan lists multiple organ failure, septic shock, and pancreatitis as the immediate cause of death.
Significantly, the document also notes that “the use of prescribed tirzepatide” was a contributing factor, making it the first known death in the UK officially linked to Mounjaro.
The case has since sparked outrage and concern, with many questioning whether such weight-loss drugs are being rushed to market without sufficient scrutiny of their long-term effects.
Mounjaro and the Growing Use of Weight-Loss Drugs
Mounjaro (tirzepatide) is one of several new weight-loss drugs that have been approved for use in the UK in recent years.
Tirzepatide was given the green light for use as a weight-loss aid by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) in 2023, and it was subsequently made available for prescription on the NHS.
However, the drug is currently only prescribed for a limited number of patients due to factors such as cost, availability, and prioritization.
The drug works by targeting receptors in the brain that control hunger, making patients feel fuller for longer. This effect is particularly beneficial for people struggling with obesity, as it helps to reduce calorie intake and promotes weight loss.
Tirzepatide has been hailed as a breakthrough in weight-loss medication, offering hope for those battling obesity, which is one of the leading health concerns in the UK.
However, with increasing numbers of people seeking to use Mounjaro for weight loss, questions about its safety and side effects are becoming more urgent.
According to public data from the MHRA’s Yellow Card Scheme, which tracks reports of side effects and adverse reactions to medicines, there have been 208 reports related to tirzepatide between January and May 2024.
These included 31 serious reactions, and one report of a suspected death of a man in his sixties. McGowan’s death is not yet included in these statistics, as it occurred after the cutoff date.
A Family’s Heartbreak and Growing Concerns
Jade Campbell, McGowan’s niece, has expressed deep concerns about the safety of Mounjaro and the lack of transparency regarding its risks.
In an emotional interview, Campbell spoke about her aunt’s sudden and tragic death, saying that McGowan had been in good health before using the drug.
“Susan had always carried a wee bit of extra weight, but there were never any health concerns,” Campbell said. “She wasn’t on any other medication. She was healthy.”
Campbell described her aunt as “bubbly, generous, and the life of the party,” adding that the rapid deterioration of McGowan’s health after using Mounjaro was shocking. “It was so quick,” Campbell said. “I still find myself thinking, ‘Has that actually happened?’”
While Campbell acknowledges that her family may never have fully understood the risks associated with the drug, she is now urging others to be cautious.
“I would ask you to speak to your GP about things like this first, there might be another option for you to consider before you jump on the weight-loss injections,” she advised.
Campbell has also expressed her hope that the UK government will reconsider its plans to expand access to Mounjaro as part of a trial to help unemployed people.
The trial, which will roll out in Greater Manchester, will provide nearly 250,000 people with access to the drug over the next three years.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting has praised the drug as a “game-changer” for tackling obesity, but Campbell believes the risks outweigh the potential benefits, especially in light of her aunt’s death.
Regulatory Bodies and the Response to Safety Concerns
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has stressed that the safety of new medications like tirzepatide is carefully monitored.
In response to McGowan’s death, Dr. Alison Cave, the MHRA’s chief safety officer, expressed sympathy for the family and reassured the public about the agency’s commitment to patient safety.
“No medicine would be approved unless it met our expected standards of safety, quality, and effectiveness,” Dr. Cave said.
“On the basis of the current evidence, the benefits of GLP-1 receptor agonists outweigh the potential risks when used for the licensed indications.”
The MHRA runs the Yellow Card Scheme to monitor and report adverse reactions to medicines, and Dr. Cave emphasized that any new safety issues would be promptly addressed.
However, with reports of serious reactions to tirzepatide, including McGowan’s death, concerns about the long-term safety of weight-loss drugs are intensifying.
Mounjaro’s manufacturer, Eli Lilly, also issued a statement following McGowan’s death, reaffirming the company’s commitment to patient safety.
A spokesperson for the company said: “We are committed to continually monitoring, evaluating, and reporting safety information for all Lilly medicines.”
The spokesperson added that Mounjaro had been approved based on extensive safety assessments and that the company would continue to provide updated information to regulators worldwide to ensure the latest data is available for healthcare providers.
Wider Context: The Growing Popularity of Weight-Loss Drugs
The use of GLP-1 receptor agonists, including Mounjaro and other drugs like semaglutide (marketed as Wegovy and Ozempic), has been on the rise in recent years.
Semaglutide, which has been available in the UK since 2019, has also been linked to a number of suspected deaths, with 23 such cases reported to the Yellow Card Scheme.
However, health experts like Professor Naveed Sattar, a leading figure in metabolic medicine at the University of Glasgow, caution against drawing conclusions based on individual cases.
Professor Sattar pointed out that clinical trials of weight-loss drugs are rigorous and designed to assess both the benefits and risks of the medication.
“Trials are very robust in trying to establish safety,” he explained. “The drugs generally have substantial benefits that outweigh the risks for most people.”
Despite the safety concerns, there is a strong push to make these drugs more widely available, especially as the UK faces an obesity crisis.
According to the World Health Organization, obesity is responsible for a range of health problems, including heart disease, diabetes, and certain cancers.
The need for effective weight-loss interventions has never been greater, and many health professionals believe that GLP-1 drugs like tirzepatide could offer a solution for individuals struggling with obesity.
However, as the case of Susan McGowan demonstrates, there are risks associated with the use of these drugs, and further scrutiny is needed to ensure that the benefits truly outweigh the potential dangers.
As the UK government moves forward with its plans to roll out Mounjaro as part of a trial for unemployed individuals, it is clear that the debate over the safety and accessibility of weight-loss drugs is far from over.
The Road Ahead: Balancing Benefits and Risks
As the controversy surrounding Mounjaro and other weight-loss drugs continues to unfold, it is crucial that both healthcare professionals and the public remain vigilant about the potential risks of these medications.
While the promise of quick and effective weight loss is appealing, the safety of these drugs must remain a top priority. The tragic death of Susan McGowan serves as a stark reminder that the road to better health should not come at the expense of patient safety.
For now, the focus will remain on ensuring that patients are fully informed about the risks and benefits of weight-loss drugs, and that healthcare providers continue to monitor the safety of these medications closely.
Only time will tell whether the growing use of drugs like Mounjaro will live up to the high expectations placed upon them or whether further regulatory measures will be needed to protect patients from unforeseen consequences.
