Deaf TikTok star overdosed on medication months before suicide, inquest hears
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it. Your support makes all the difference.
A deaf TikTok star who died after ingesting a poison she ordered online had overdosed on prescribed medication in the months before her death, an inquest heard.
Imogen Nunn, 25, died in Brighton, East Sussex, on New Year's Day 2023 after taking a poisonous substance.
Ms Nunn, who was born deaf, raised awareness of hearing and mental health issues on her social media accounts, which attracted more than 780,000 followers.
An inquest into her death on Thursday heard that Ms Nunn's consultant psychiatrist at the Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, Dr Simon Baker, saw her three times between March and December 2022, including during a home visit three days before her death.
One meeting came after Ms Nunn had overdosed on medication and another after she had cut her forearm as a result of self-harm, but no changes were made in her mental health care on either occasion, West Sussex Coroner's Court heard.
Giving evidence about his first meeting with Ms Nunn on March 9 2022, Dr Baker told the court she was 'quite low in mood' and he had concerns about her as she felt unable to cope with her tiredness.
He said: 'This meeting was precipitated by an overdose of her prescribed medication.
'I felt this was an appropriate point to have a review of her care.'
Asked by senior coroner for West Sussex, Penelope Schofield, if he felt Ms Nunn was safe to remain in the community, Dr Baker said: 'She had a very comprehensive package of care. She was seeing a psychologist once a week.
'She had pretty much the maximum amount of support.'
He added that Ms Nunn did not present as 'acutely suicidal' at the time of the meeting, but the overdose was 'on the spectrum' of self-harm.
Asked if the overdose could have been an attempt to end her life, Dr Baker said: 'There is a distinction between deliberate self-harm and suicidal acts.'
Asked by the coroner what her treatment plan was, going forward, Dr Baker told the court he would see Ms Nunn 'as and when required' but that he 'didn't feel we could add anything to it (her care).'
A second meeting between Ms Nunn and Dr Baker took place at a clinic on September 16 2022 after carers became concerned about her mood, which appeared to have been affected by relationship problems, the court heard.
Dr Baker told the inquest Ms Nunn did not want her medication to be amended at the meeting and revealed she had began researching what medications she was on.
Asked if that behaviour was unusual, Dr Baker said: 'I find it very healthy – in fact, I encourage it.'
The court previously heard Ms Nunn ordered a lethal chemical substance online on November 14, which was delivered to her home address on November 21.
She had contacted her support worker at the deaf adult community team on November 23 and told them she had 'bought something online that she planned to take to end her life'.
Dr Baker told the court he had not been involved in any response to a disclosure about the chemical substance.
Asked by the coroner whether he would expect to be involved, he said: 'Not necessarily. If we knew a patient had purchased some toxin, we would move more promptly.'
On December 29 2022, Dr Baker attended Ms Nunn's home with her care co-ordinator Ray McCullagh after she had sent a text message saying she had an increase in suicidal thoughts.
No British Sign Language interpreter was brought to the meeting as there was not enough time to arrange it, the court heard.
Ms Nunn was 'quite subdued' during the meeting but engaged in an interview, Dr Baker said, and he was 'surprised' at how well it went.
She agreed to go to A&E at Royal Sussex County Hospital with Mr McCullagh and Dr Baker after she had changed her mind and no longer requested an admission, the court heard.
Dr Baker said the immediate plan was that Ms Nunn should be reassessed after having treatment for the incident of self-harm in which she had injured her arm.
Asked by the coroner if there was a 'missed opportunity' to provide her support, Dr Baker said: 'She had more support than any other patient in our care.'
Asked if he could have done any more following the self-harm incident, he told the court: 'The only support that would have made a difference was in the patient care.'
Dr Baker said he made no record of the home visit on December 29 as there was 'no change' in her diagnosis or medical treatment.
The inquest also heard a statement from emergency nurse practitioner Annie Mead, who had been on shift at A&E at Royal Sussex County Hospital when Ms Nunn was admitted.
She said Ms Nunn had 'caused deliberate harm to her left forearm' with a cut at approximately 1am on December 29, and that no drugs or alcohol were found in her system when checked.
The statement added: 'During my contact with Ms Nunn, she was not expressing suicidal or self harm intent.'
The inquest previously heard Ms Nunn was eventually left alone in the emergency room, and walked out of hospital before being seen by the mental health liaison team.
The inquest continues on Friday.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Glasgow Times
an hour ago
- Glasgow Times
D-Day landings boosted by import of ‘wonder drug' to Britain, archives reveal
Production of the antibiotic penicillin had struggled to take hold at a large scale in Britain, despite being discovered in 1928 in London by Sir Alexander Fleming. Attempts to produce substantial quantities of medicine from the bacteria-killing mould had not been achieved by the start of the Second World War. Then prime minister Sir Winston Churchill became increasingly frustrated that Britain had not been able to produce enough penicillin in the preparations for the Normandy landings in 1944. Official papers released by the National Archive – containing handwritten notes by Sir Winston – highlight efforts to boost quantities of the antibiotic, with Britain eventually forced to import it from America. The documents were released ahead of the 81st anniversary of D-Day, the Allied invasion of Normandy on June 6, 1944. Official papers highlight the efforts to boost quantities of penicillin (The National Archives/PA) In one report on February 19, after the issue had been raised in the House of Commons, Sir Winston scrawled in red ink on a Ministry of Supply report noting the Americans were producing greater quantities: 'I am sorry we can't produce more.' On another paper, he complained: 'Your report on penicillin showing that we are only to get about one tenth of the expected output this year, is very disappointing.' Elsewhere in the same file he instructs: 'Let me have proposals for a more abundant supply from Great Britain.' With preparations for D-Day ramped up, efforts to deliver enough American-made penicillin for frontline military personnel soon became a matter of urgency. Decisions needed to be made on the quantities of antibiotic imported, how much to administer to individual patients, and how to get medical staff trained in time. Most British doctors did not know how to issue penicillin – until this point, doctors had nothing available to treat infections like pneumonia and many people died of blood poisoning after minor injuries because no drug existed that could cure them. Royal Navy D-Day veteran John Dennett, 101, at the British Normandy Memorial in Ver-sur-Mer to mark the 81st anniversary of the landings (Gareth Fuller/PA) Early in January 1944, Prof FR Fraser, the Ministry of Health's adviser on the organisation of wartime hospitals, wrote that 50,000-100,000 wounded could be expected from the Second Front. He proposed the Emergency Medical Services might need as many as five billion units of penicillin per month for this. Further documents show discussions on whether the antibiotic should be supplied as calcium or sodium salts, or in tablet form. Ultimately, it was agreed powdered calcium salts would be issued for superficial wounds and sodium salts for use in deep wounds. On May 24 1944, less than a fortnight before D-Day, Prof Fraser reported: 'Sufficient supplies of penicillin are now available for the treatment of battle casualties in EMS hospitals, but not for ordinary civilian patients.' Plans were made for casualties from the frontline in France to be brought back to coastal hospitals in Britain for treatment. A week before D-Day, on May 30 1944, hospitals were instructed to treat battlefield patients en route: 'In an endeavour to prevent the development of gas gangrene and sepsis in wounds the War Office have arranged for the treatment of selected cases by penicillin to be commenced as soon after injury as possible.' Military reenactors watch the sunrise over Gold Beach in Arromanches-les-Bains, Normandy, on the 81st anniversary of the D-Day landings (Gareth Fuller/PA) Injections of penicillin were to be given to them at intervals of not more than five hours and patients would be wearing a yellow label with the letters 'PEN'. The time and size of penicillin doses should be written on it, they were told. Dr Jessamy Carlson, modern records specialist at the National Archives, said: 'File MH 76/184 gives a glimpse into the extraordinary levels of preparation undertaken in advance of the D-Day landings. 'Only six weeks before, penicillin is just reaching our shores in quantities which will allow it to play a major role in improving the outcomes for service personnel wounded in action.' As Allied forces made inroads into Europe, restrictions on the use of penicillin for civilians began to relax, but only in special cases. In July 1944, Ronald Christie, professor of medicine, wrote to Prof Fraser to tell him: 'The War Office approves of American penicillin being used for medical conditions in service patients and for air raid casualties among civilians.' On the home front, demand for the new 'wonder' drug began to increase, according the National Archives. It was decided that penicillin for civilians should only be supplied to larger hospitals where the staff had been properly trained to administer it. Only in 1946 did it become fully available for the general public.
Scottish Sun
3 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
The ‘golden dose' of Mounjaro that experts warn could be deadly – as slimmers rave about it saving money
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A GROWING number of slimmers are trying to squeeze extra jabs out of empty Mounjaro pens in a risky bid to cut costs. The weight-loss injections, which can cost hundreds of pounds a month, are designed to deliver a fixed amount once a week, typically over four weeks. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 2 Experts have warned against trying to get an extra dose from the weight-loss pens Credit: Getty But online users claim there's still a small amount of drug left after the final shot. They say the 'fifth' dose can be drawn out with a syringe for a bonus jab, dubbed the 'golden dose'. One TikTok user claimed the trick saved her a fortune. By getting five jabs from a four-dose pen, users reckon they can claw back £615 a year. The reports come after NHS England said only a small number of people will be able to get Mounjaro from their GP. It means most people will still have to pay for it privately. 'The drugs are expensive but weight loss is strongly desired, so as a commodity, these drugs are hotly sought-after,' said Professor Naveed Sattar, a cardiologist and obesity expert at the University of Glasgow, said. 'It's no surprise people are going to such extraordinary lengths," she told the inews. Medics say the DIY hack is dangerous and could lead to infection, overdose or death. "People are reading these tips on online forums and being tempted to use them to save money," said Professor Penny Ward, a pharmaceutical expert at King's College London. Women taking fat jabs need 'effective contraception' - as health chiefs warn of serious harm to unborn babies "But they're risking serious side effects from overdosing by doing this - as well as the potential to develop a life-threatening infection. "The potential to develop a life-threatening infection. It's not a good idea at all," she told MailOnline. Talk of the so-called 'golden dose' is also spreading on Reddit weight-loss forums. In one thread with more than 50 comments, a user wrote: "After four pumps of your uk injection pen they tell you to throw it away. "But there is an extra dose or thereabouts in the pen you can self inject with an insulin needle." Another replied saying: "Known much more on here as the fifth dose." 2 There's also the danger of taking too much Mounjaro, experts warn Credit: Alamy Slimmers have also taken to TikTok to rave about the 'discovery'. In one video, a nurse demonstrates how to use a needle to extract leftover medicine from the pen. She wrote: "I do not condone or encourage anybody to take their golden dose this is just what I am doing." Huge risks Professor Penny warned that this practice can be dangerous for "several" reasons. "These injections contain a slight overfill to ensure the full recommended dose is delivered each time," she said. "But by drawing this out with a separate syringe and using it as a so-called fifth dose, you're exposing yourself to serious risk of infection.' Once the pen has been used, it's no longer sterile, meaning any leftover liquid could be contaminated with harmful bacteria. Injecting it could lead to abscesses or, in extreme cases, life-threatening sepsis. The bigger the dose, the bigger the risk of pancreatitis Professor Penny Ward There's also the danger of taking too much. 'If you're using your own syringe, it's difficult to measure the correct amount - you may end up taking more than intended,' she warned. Overdosing on the jab can trigger nasty side effects like vomiting and diarrhoea, or in rare cases, pancreatitis - a serious and painful condition that may need hospital treatment. Around one in five cases result in serious complications, with up to 30 per cent proving fatal. The risk rises sharply with higher doses, as the drug can trigger digestive enzymes that begin attacking the pancreas itself. Symptoms include sudden, severe tummy pain, often spreading to the back, along with fever, nausea and a racing heartbeat. "The bigger the dose, the bigger the risk of pancreatitis," Professor Ward warned. 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 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. Mounjaro - dubbed the "King Kong" of weight loss jabs - works by mimicking hormones released by the body when you're full. This makes people feel fuller for longer and therefore less hungry. It appears to be to be more potent than Wegovy - another popular weight loss jab - causing about 20 per cent weight loss after a year's use, compared with Wegovy's 15 per cent. Mounjaro's active ingredient is tirzepatide, a lab-made compound that mimics two gut hormones - GLP-1 and GIP - which help control blood sugar and appetite. This is why it was initially approved to treat diabetes type 2, which happens when people can't control their blood sugar. But in December 2024, it was also cleared for use on the NHS for weight loss in people with a BMI of over 30, or over 27 plus one weight-related condition. 'Excess solution' should be 'discarded' If you notice there is a considerable amount of medication left in your pen after the last dose, Professor Penny added, it may mean that you're not using the injection properly. "Speak to your pharmacist about your technique, or check that you definitely have the right size syringe, as this can impact the amount of medication left over," she said. A spokesperson for Lilly - the drug's manufacturer - said users should not do this, as the remaining liquid may not be a full dose. 'It is important to note that there will be a residual amount of medicine left after the fourth dose," they said. "This does not correspond to a full dose." 'Any excess solution in the pen after use should be discarded.' Dr Alison Cave, chief safety officer of the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, added: "Medicines are approved according to strict dosage guidelines. "Failure to adhere with these guidelines, such as tampering with pre-dosed injection pens, could harm your health or cause personal injury. "People should follow the dosing directions provided by their healthcare provider when prescribed weight-loss medicines and use as directed in the patient information leaflet."
The Sun
3 hours ago
- The Sun
The ‘golden dose' of Mounjaro that experts warn could be deadly – as slimmers rave about it saving money
A GROWING number of slimmers are trying to squeeze extra jabs out of empty Mounjaro pens in a risky bid to cut costs. The weight-loss injections, which can cost hundreds of pounds a month, are designed to deliver a fixed weekly dose. But online users claim there's still a small amount of drug left after the final shot. They say it can be drawn out with a syringe for a bonus jab, dubbed the 'golden dose'. One TikTok user claimed the trick saved her a fortune. By getting five jabs from a four-dose pen, users reckon they can claw back £615 a year. The reports come after NHS England said only a small number of people will be able to get Mounjaro from their GP. It means most people will still have to pay for it privately - which can cost hundreds of pounds a month. 'The drugs are expensive but weight loss is strongly desired, so as a commodity, these drugs are hotly sought-after,' said Professor Naveed Sattar, a cardiologist and obesity expert at the University of Glasgow, said. 'It's no surprise people are going to such extraordinary lengths," she told the inews. Medics say the DIY hack is dangerous and could lead to infection, overdose or death. "People are reading these tips on online forums and being tempted to use them to save money," said Professor Penny Ward, a pharmaceutical expert at King's College London. Women taking fat jabs need 'effective contraception' - as health chiefs warn of serious harm to unborn babies "But they're risking serious side effects from overdosing by doing this - as well as the potential to develop a life-threatening infection. "The potential to develop a life-threatening infection. It's not a good idea at all," she told MailOnline. Talk of the so-called 'golden dose' is also spreading on Reddit weight-loss forums. In one thread with more than 50 comments, a user wrote: "After four pumps of your uk injection pen they tell you to throw it away. "But there is an extra dose or thereabouts in the pen you can self inject with an insulin needle." Another replied saying: "Known much more on here as the fifth dose." 2 Slimmers have also taken to TikTok to rave about the 'discovery'. In one video, a nurse demonstrates how to use a needle to extract leftover medicine from the pen. She wrote: "I do not condone or encourage anybody to take their golden dose this is just what I am doing." Huge risks Professor Penny warned that this practice can be dangerous for "several" reasons. "These injections contain a slight overfill to ensure the full recommended dose is delivered each time," she said. "But by drawing this out with a separate syringe and using it as a so-called fifth dose, you're exposing yourself to serious risk of infection.' Once the pen has been used, it's no longer sterile, meaning any leftover liquid could be contaminated with harmful bacteria. Injecting it could lead to abscesses or, in extreme cases, life-threatening sepsis. There's also the danger of taking too much. 'If you're using your own syringe, it's difficult to measure the correct amount - you may end up taking more than intended,' she warned. Overdosing on the jab can trigger nasty side effects like vomiting and diarrhoea, or in rare cases, pancreatitis - a serious and painful condition that may need hospital treatment. Around one in five cases result in serious complications, with up to 30 per cent proving fatal. The risk rises sharply with higher doses, as the drug can trigger digestive enzymes that begin attacking the pancreas itself. Symptoms include sudden, severe tummy pain, often spreading to the back, along with fever, nausea and a racing heartbeat. "The bigger the dose, the bigger the risk of pancreatitis," Professor Ward warned. 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 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. Mounjaro - dubbed the "King Kong" of weight loss jabs - works by mimicking hormones released by the body when you're full. This makes people feel fuller for longer and therefore less hungry. It appears to be to be more potent than Wegovy - another popular weight loss jab - causing about 20 per cent weight loss after a year's use, compared with Wegovy's 15 per cent. Mounjaro's active ingredient is tirzepatide, a lab-made compound that mimics two gut hormones - GLP-1 and GIP - which help control blood sugar and appetite. This is why it was initially approved to treat diabetes type 2, which happens when people can't control their blood sugar. But in December 2024, it was also cleared for use on the NHS for weight loss in people with a BMI of over 30, or over 27 plus one weight-related condition. 'Excess solution' should be 'discarded' If you notice there is a considerable amount of medication left in your pen after the last dose, Professor Penny added, it may mean that you're not using the injection properly. "Speak to your pharmacist about your technique, or check that you definitely have the right size syringe, as this can impact the amount of medication left over," she said. A spokesperson for Lilly - the drug's manufacturer - said users should not do this, as the remaining liquid may not be a full dose. 'It is important to note that there will be a residual amount of medicine left after the fourth dose," they said. "This does not correspond to a full dose." 'Any excess solution in the pen after use should be discarded.' Dr Alison Cave, chief safety officer of the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, added: "Medicines are approved according to strict dosage guidelines. "Failure to adhere with these guidelines, such as tampering with pre-dosed injection pens, could harm your health or cause personal injury. "People should follow the dosing directions provided by their healthcare provider when prescribed weight-loss medicines and use as directed in the patient information leaflet." 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.
