I started taking weight loss jabs for holiday but ended up in hospital after brutal side effect
Claire Reid, 49, began using the GLP-1-class weight loss injection in March after seeing others have success with it.
4
4
The mum-of-two was 'fed up' of not fitting in her clothes and wanted to lose weight for her upcoming holiday in Dubai with her daughter.
Claire paid around £200 every month for the jab that she purchased from a reputable online pharmacy, claiming she only had to fill out a questionnaire to be given the drug.
The family of drugs known as GLP-1 RAs, originally developed to treat diabetes, is now often being used for weight loss as they have been found to suppress a patient's appetite.
She lost a whopping four stone when she first began using the fat jabs, dropping from 15 stone to just 11 stone in four months.
However, Claire began feeling unwell in June as she could not eat or drink anything without feeling sick.
Claire said her pee turned black due to being dehydrated, and she was feeling more and more unwell, but was embarrassed to tell anyone that she was on the jab.
The mum said she would pass out daily, usually at the end of the day, and was taken to hospital by her kids when she began falling unconscious in the car.
Doctors at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary reportedly said the jab could be the cause of the problem and put her on an IV drip for a week before she was able to go home.
Claire, from Aberdeen, said: "I was going on holiday to Dubai with my daughter and I was fed up with not fitting in my clothes.
"I wasn't really that big, but that was the motivation to start.
I went on fat jabs but the hair loss was unbelievable so I quit - I'd rather be chubby with hair than skinny and bald
"I ordered them online, I didn't go to the doctor.
"There were no instructions on how to deal with it, it works for a lot of women quite well.
"I couldn't eat, so I was just collapsing because I had no food or water, I wasn't able to process anything in my body.
"I felt very sick and had no appetite. Even on holiday, I couldn't eat.
I kept collapsing at the end of the day because when you're not drinking or eating anything, your body just shuts down
Claire Reid
"It's not nice going on holiday and not eating because your whole life revolves around food.
"I kept collapsing at the end of the day because when you're not drinking or eating anything, your body just shuts down.
"It was always at the end of the day, but I didn't say anything, I was embarrassed.
"I was never going to the toilet, and when I did, my urine was black. I had to force myself to drink water.
"We were in the car and I was just passing out, going in and out of consciousness, my daughter and son started panicking, and they took me straight to the doctor, who referred me to hospital.
"They put me on an IV. I told them I've been taking the jab, and they said this could be what it is."
Claire has now sworn off the jabs but claims she is still struggling with eating and feeling tired.
The mum feared she could have died and now aims to raise awareness about buying the medication online.
What are the other side effects of weight loss jabs?
Like any medication, weight loss jabs can have side effects. Common side effects of GLP-1 injections 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
Claire said: "I'm still not hungry and still not gaining weight. Any food at all makes me feel sick.
"I was very scared, your body needs food and fluid.
"I thought I could die. I stopped just now, and I've never been like this before, trying to get the jab out of my system.
"The consultant said this is a big problem because the people selling it to you can't see you, they're just asking a quick questionnaire. And then you're left on your own.
"Your appetite won't come back, it's absolutely terrible. I'm so weak and tired all the time.
"There's not enough awareness about the dangers of taking it, everyone wants to lose weight and feel great, but there are risks."
4
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Independent
29 minutes ago
- The Independent
FDA flags problems with two Boston Scientific heart devices tied to injuries and deaths
U.S. health regulators are warning doctors and patients about safety issues with two separate Boston Scientific heart devices recently linked to injuries and deaths. The Food and Drug Administration issued two alerts Wednesday about electrical problems tied to the company's heart-zapping defibrillator systems and a separate issue with a heart implant used to reduce stroke risk. The agency said the company's Endotak Reliance defibrillator wires can become calcified, leading to failures in delivering life-saving shocks to the heart, according to the FDA. Defibrillators are surgically placed in the upper chest, where they monitor irregular heartbeats and use electrical shocks to jolt the heart back to normal. As of July 24, Boston Scientific has reported 386 serious injuries and 16 deaths associated with this issue, the agency said. Ten of the deaths were judged to be due to the device failing to function properly, the company said in an email. Four were linked to attempts to surgically remove the devices from patients and two others were deemed unrelated to the implants. Boston Scientific's wires were distributed between 2002 and 2021 and are no longer available, the company noted in its letter to doctors. Some patients will need to have the devices replaced, though physicians should weigh the risks of the removal procedure. In a separate notice, the FDA said Boston Scientific recently updated instructions for implanting its Watchman device, which closes a portion of the heart's left atrium to reduce the risk of stroke. In a letter to physicians, the company noted that there is an increased risk of blockages in the bloodstream depending on the level of anesthesia for patients undergoing the initial implantation procedure. Watchman is an alternative to long-term treatment with blood thinners for patients at increased risk of stroke. As of July 30, the company has reported 120 serious injuries and 17 deaths related to the issue, the FDA said. A company investigation concluded that the safety issue 'is not associated with the design or manufacture of any component of the Watchman system. Heart devices, including defibrillators and other implants, are Boston Scientific's largest business, making up two-thirds of its $5 billion in revenue for the most recent quarter. Shares of Boston Scientific Corp. fell nearly 1.8 percent Wednesday to close at $102.95 in trading. ___ The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute's Department of Science Education and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
The Sun
30 minutes ago
- The Sun
Man, 45, died ‘taking de-worming drug for animals after seeing fake claims online it could cure cancer'
A MAN died after taking a de-worming drug for animals as he believed it would cure cancer, an inquest heard. Lee Redpath, 45, was rushed to hospital with signs of liver failure after dosing himself with an anti-parasitic drug called fenbendazole across a three-week period. 7 7 7 He tragically died in Addenbrooke's Hospital, in Cambridge, on April 29. Lee had ordered the drug, believing it to be safe, from a supplier in Ukraine. The 45-year-old saw fake social media posts which claimed fenbendazole could be a cancer cure - despite it being banned for human use. It's designed to be used against a number of gastrointestinal parasites in animals including giardia, roundworms, hookworms, whipworms, tapeworms and pinworms. However, even A-list celebrities have promoted the drug for humans, including actor Mel Gibson. He told Joe Rogan earlier this year how three of his friends were cured of stage four cancer after taking it with the anti-parasitic Ivermectin. The inquest, held in Lawrence Court, Huntingdon, Cambs, heard how Lee believed the de-wormer could prevent cancer. His long-term partner Lauren Laul gave evidence at the inquest. She told how her boyfriend believed it was safe to use and popular in the States. 'He saw it online, thought it was safe, people in America are using it," said Lauren. 'He didn't have medical assistance taking it so I think some sort of warning should be made. 'I am seeing it advertised online and people can get it themselves like Lee did and unknowingly be killing themselves because they didn't have all the information.' Lauren also suggested Lee may have been taking them for as long as two years before his death. Dr Gwilym Webb, a consultant hepatologist at Addenbrooke's warned fenbendazole had 'no proven benefit for preventing or treating cancer in humans.' 7 7 7 He told the inquest Lee was not eligible for a liver transplant due to alcohol misuse in the three months before. But a post-mortem concluded Lee's liver failure was due to the fenbendazole. Assistant coroner for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, Caroline Jones, concluded Lee died of liver and renal failure due to fenbendazole induced liver injury on a background of alcohol related cirrhosis. 'I was satisfied as to the toxic effects of fenbendazole and that it was this that was the primary cause of the injury," she told the inquest. 'It is a potent anti-worming treatment which was taken at far higher relative doses than had ever been envisaged and over a far longer time scale. 'During his admission he advised doctors that he had been taking the drug fenbendazole, which he purchased online from a supplier in the Ukraine after seeing videos about its supposed anti-cancer properties. 'It was thought likely fenbendazole was the primary cause of the acute injury. Lee's conditions deteriorated despite treatment but he was not a candidate for transplant. 'He improved briefly but on April 27 his condition worsened, it was recognised Lee's organs were failing and he passed away at 6.06 pm on April 29. 'While Lee may have taken fenbendazole with good intentions to improve his health, it constituted a deliberate act with the unintended consequence of his death.' Lauren urged the coroner to write a prevention of future deaths report, but Miss Jones denied her request. The coroner said there was not "sufficient evidence", although she was "concerned" about people buying the drug online. Lee's death was recorded as misadventure. 7
The Independent
an hour ago
- The Independent
Patients whose lives were ruined after being ‘needlessly given cancer drug for years' sue NHS trust
More than 20 patients who say their quality of life was wrecked when they were needlessly given a highly toxic cancer drug are suing the NHS trust involved. Some people were prescribed temozolomide – which should normally be used for only six months – for more than a decade during treatment by the University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust. They say the overprescribing left them with side-effects including secondary cancers and crippling fatigue. Earlier this year the Care Quality Commission was looking into at least 14 cases, but lawyers say more are emerging all the time. An investigation by lawyers Brabners found that, over the past two decades, numerous patients with brain and spinal tumours under the care of Professor Ian Brown were routinely exposed to prolonged and in some cases 'unnecessary' use of the chemotherapy drug, which has severe side-effects including extreme fatigue, confusion, sickness and seizures. The time periods temozolomide was given for allegedly ran contrary to medical and scientific guidelines. Standard NHS procedure is to use the drug over six months, and the drug manufacturer advises it be used for up to 12 months. One man said he was prescribed it for nearly two years longer than necessary, suffering extreme fatigue and low mood as a result. A woman in her twenties said she was misdiagnosed with cancer, receiving the drug needlessly for about eight years. Some patients are now having treatment for secondary cancers allegedly linked to overuse of temozolomide, the lawyers claim. Others claimed its prolonged use left them unable to pursue career ambitions and normal day-to-day activities because the chemotherapy was debilitating, with a long recovery time. Some reported loss of fertility or abnormal blood test results. The legal team says data shows that the trust's spending on the drug of £3.6m from 2009 to 2024 is 10 times that of other NHS oncology departments. The lawyers are now calling for an extended patient safety review and independent investigation, focusing in particular on treatment received by patients under Prof Brown dating back to 2006. The trust has been conducting an internal patient safety review, covering 2017 to 2023, when Prof Brown retired. A patient who identified only as Michael received an extra 22 cycles of temozolomide at the trust, despite his scans being stable. Prof Brown was not present during consultations, and Michael said he was always seen by a clinical nurse specialist. After suffering extreme fatigue and low mood, he learnt through news reports of mistreatment –not from the trust – that he should not have remained on treatment for so long, according to his lawyers. Another patient, identified only as Becky, says she received at least 100 cycles of the drug unnecessarily after being misdiagnosed with a brain tumour. Fiona Tinsley, head of medical negligence at Brabners, said: 'The extent of this scandal, and the physical and mental impact it has had on Prof Brown's patients cannot be underestimated.' She added: 'We believe there are many more patients out there who haven't yet come forward and some who may have sadly passed away. 'While we welcome the ongoing investigations being undertaken by the General Medical Council and Royal College of Physicians, we believe a full independent inquiry is necessary – including an extension of the trust's own review back to 2006 – not only to ensure justice for victims, but that processes are put in place to better identify and prevent such failings happening again.' A spokesperson for the trust told The Independent: 'We have comprehensively reviewed and spoken to all individuals who were receiving temozolomide (TMZ) treatment at the end of 2023 to ensure appropriate support and care plans are in place. 'A glioblastoma is an aggressive brain tumour with fewer than two per cent of patients surviving longer than 10 years. This is an extremely complex condition and all modes of treatment – surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy – carry the risk of complications and side-effects. 'National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) guidelines recognise that clinicians can exercise professional judgment appropriate to individual circumstances when offering treatment to patients. 'We have commissioned the Royal College of Physicians to conduct an independent review of a representative cohort of patients who received greater than 12 cycles of adjuvant TMZ between 2017 and 2023. 'As this process is ongoing, it would be inappropriate to comment further at this stage." It's understood that CQC inspectors have been in touch with the trust to understand the details, and seek assurances that patients are not at risk. The regulator will be reviewing more information to judge whether it needs to be involved.
