Suffered Serious Side Effects from a Weight Loss Injection?
Medications such as Ozempic, Wegovy, and Mounjaro are fast becoming household names in the UK for their effectiveness in managing weight and type 2 diabetes. However, growing concerns are emerging over serious side effects, particularly pancreatic complications such as pancreatitis.
The government are launching a new investigation into the potential links between the drugs and the health complications experienced.
The drugs in question—commonly prescribed as injections—are part of a group called GLP-1 receptor agonists. While they have shown promising results for weight management, there is increasing evidence that these medications may carry unanticipated and severe risks, particularly involving the pancreas.
Reported side effects include:
Acute pancreatitis (a sudden, painful inflammation of the pancreas)
Chronic pancreatitis
Elevated pancreatic enzyme levels
These side effects are serious and can result in long-term damage, hospitalisation, or can even be life-threatening.
On 26th June 2025, the Medicines and Healthcare Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and Genomics England as asking people who are/ have been taking weight loss drugs and have been hospitalised for issues relating to the pancreas to get in touch.
At present there have been no direct connections between any weight loss drugs and pancreatic symptoms, however up until 13th May 2025 there have been ten cases of patients dying from the side effects of pancreatitis when using weight loss drugs. As it is not clear if other factors could have contributed to the side effects, they wish for further information to be taken from patients.
There is also ongoing research into how some brands of weight loss drugs are making oral contraceptive less effective. If you were not advised of this at the time of taking the medication, this could lead to massive consequences.
As the investigation is in the early stages, the MHRA are asking all patients aged 18 and over, with bad reactions to the weight loss jabs - which are also licensed for type 2 diabetes - to report the detail on the Yellow Card website.
They will then be asked to take part in the study, checking if some people are at a higher genetic risk of acute pancreatitis when taking these medicines.
Patients will be asked to submit more information and a saliva sample, with the aim to reduce the occurrence of the side effects in future, says the MHRA.
We would recommend anyone who has suffered side effects as a result of taking weight loss drugs to report these through the Yellow Card website. This is study is not limited to people who were prescribed this through their GP, if you purchased the drugs through online pharmacies, these can also be reported.
Our team of experts at Tilly Bailey & Irvine will be closely monitoring the progress of the investigation in order to see whether affected patients will be able to be compensated. If you have been affected by side effects following taking weight loss drugs and wish to discuss them and a possible claim for compensation, please contact us on 01429 225200 or fill in an online enquiry form today.
Call: 01429 225200