Latest news with #AimeeChapman
Time of India
2 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
Woman sheds 4 stone(25 kilos) in 4 months on Mounjaro, then suffers liver failure—how the drug works and its risks
Aimee Chapman, 34, from Southampton, lost four stone in just four months using Mounjaro—but her rapid transformation came at a devastating cost. The former waitress was admitted to intensive care last summer with liver failure and a perforated oesophagus, complications doctors directly linked to the weight-loss injection. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Chapman had purchased Mounjaro from a major online pharmacy in March 2024, hoping that losing weight would help her be 'taken more seriously' by doctors after being diagnosed with fibromyalgia, a chronic pain disorder. At first, the results were everything she hoped for. But just a few months in, her health began to unravel. "I couldn't really do much. I was only eating a couple of times a week," she said. "I stopped being able to walk. I would take a couple of steps and have to stop. Then I couldn't stop being sick. I was throwing up all the time and started throwing up blood. I was sick between 50 and 60 times." Chapman collapsed multiple times. "My husband came home and found me passed out on the hallway one night," she said. Initially, she believed it was a virus. 'I was in a bit of denial about it being linked to the jab because I was fine up until now.' It wasn't until she experienced severe chest pains that she went to Winchester Hospital A&E. There, doctors discovered a hole in her oesophagus—allowing air to leak around her heart and lungs. As her blood pressure and potassium levels dropped, she was transferred to intensive care at Southampton General Hospital, where doctors found her liver was 'failing.' A transplant was considered. "They had said it was down to the weight-loss jab but they didn't know why or how to fix it," she said. "I was terrified. It all happened so quickly… I was told the hole in the oesophagus can kill people and I may have needed a new liver. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now They said I could've died." Though her condition was stabilized within two weeks, her ordeal continued. By September, she began losing large clumps of hair—eventually diagnosed as a vitamin B12 deficiency. 'It kept happening and the handfuls kept getting bigger. I would be so sad,' she said. 'My hair was such a massive part of my identity and to cut it off just felt really traumatic.' While she doesn't want to 'tell people what they can and can't take,' Chapman says, 'I regret ever taking them. I'd say to other people thinking about trying them, don't do it online, go through your doctor who can give you blood tests and check how you're doing.' What exactly is Mounjara? According to Mounjaro (tirzepatide) is a once-weekly injection primarily prescribed to manage type 2 diabetes by lowering blood sugar levels. In addition to its intended purpose, the medication is also known to promote weight loss. It is meant to be used alongside a healthy diet and regular exercise. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Mounjaro on May 13, 2022, and got a at the end of 2023 for weight loss in adults. Currently, there is no generic version available. Tirzepatide is sold under two brand names—Mounjaro and Zepbound—both manufactured by Eli Lilly and Company. While they contain the same active ingredient, they are approved for different medical uses. How does Mounjaro work? According to the National Library of Medicine, mounjaro (tirzepatide) works through a unique dual-action approach by targeting two key gut hormone receptors. Here's how it helps manage blood sugar and promote weight loss: Activates Two Hormone Receptors Slows Down Stomach Emptying Controls Appetite Increases Satiety Influences Brain Reward Pathways What are the known side effects? Like many medications in its class, Mounjaro is associated with a range of side effects, most of which involve the gastrointestinal (GI) system. According to Eli Lilly and Co. and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration ( ), the most commonly reported side effects include: Nausea Vomiting Diarrhea Constipation Abdominal pain or discomfort Decreased appetite Indigestion or heartburn
NDTV
3 days ago
- Health
- NDTV
Woman Claims Liver Failure, Organ Damage After Using Mounjaro For Weight Loss
Quick Read Summary is AI generated, newsroom reviewed. A 34-year-old UK woman, Aimee Chapman, faced life-threatening complications, including a perforated oesophagus and liver failure, after using the weight-loss drug Mounjaro bought online. Her case highlights risks of unsupervised weight-loss drug use. A 34-year-old woman from Southampton, UK, has claimed she suffered life-threatening complications after using a weight-loss drug she purchased online. Aimee Chapman, who lost over 25 kilograms while taking Mounjaro- a drug increasingly popular for weight management- was later admitted to intensive care with a perforated oesophagus and liver failure, conditions that doctors reportedly linked to the medication, Daily Mail reported. Chapman, a former waitress diagnosed with fibromyalgia, said she turned to Mounjaro in March 2024 after struggling to find effective medical support for her chronic pain. She believed losing weight would help her be taken more seriously by healthcare professionals. Initially, the medication appeared effective- she shed around four stone (roughly 25 kg) within four months. However, she soon began experiencing fatigue, nausea, and frequent vomiting. "I was throwing up all the time, sometimes vomiting blood-up to 60 times," she told The Daily Mail. "I collapsed a couple of times. My husband once found me passed out in the hallway." As her condition worsened, she was rushed to Winchester Hospital's emergency department after developing severe chest pain. Doctors found a hole in her oesophagus, a rare and serious condition that allowed air to leak into the chest cavity around her heart and lungs. She was later transferred to the intensive care unit at Southampton General Hospital, where doctors noticed signs of liver failure and considered her for a transplant. Her blood pressure and potassium levels had dropped sharply. "They said it was linked to the weight-loss injection, but didn't know exactly how or why," she said. The incident highlights growing concerns about the unsupervised use of weight-loss drugs, particularly those purchased online without proper medical guidance. Mounjaro, originally developed to manage type 2 diabetes, has gained popularity for its weight loss effects, but experts have repeatedly warned of potential side effects when used without prescription or monitoring.
Wales Online
5 days ago
- Health
- Wales Online
'I took weight-loss jabs and had side effects that almost killed me'
'I took weight-loss jabs and had side effects that almost killed me' Aimee, 34, was told she had a hole in her oesophagus and her liver was failing Aimee was hospiatlised with liver failure (Kennedy News and Media) A woman's bid to shed a few pounds using a weight-loss jab went horribly wrong when her hair fell out in clumps and she nearly lost her liver. Aimee Chapman began using the GLP-1-class weight loss injections in March last year after stumbling upon a post on social media. The 34-year-old hoped the fat jabs would help her lose weight and 'be taken more seriously' by doctors if she were slimmer. The family of drugs known as GLP-1 RAs, originally developed to treat diabetes, are now often being used for weight loss as they were found to suppress a patient's appetite. Aimee paid around £200 for a month's worth of jabs that she purchased from an online pharmacy - meaning it was completely legal and regulated. She lost four stone when she first began using the injectables, dropping from 14 stone to just 10 stone in four months. However, in June last year, Aimee began feeling more and more unwell - experiencing low energy levels, chest pains, diminished appetite and constant vomiting. After deciding to have her symptoms investigated in hospital, doctors discovered that Aimee had developed a hole in her oesophagus caused by vomiting 'more than 60 times'. Aimee's hair started to fall out in clumps (Kennedy News and Media) Aimee's liver then began showing signs of failure, with doctors even considering an organ transplant if her symptoms failed to improve. Luckily, Aimee was able to return home after 11 days in hospital - but soon began to notice her hair was coming out in clumps, a sign of vitamin deficiency that she believes is linked to the weight-loss jab. Aimee, who doesn't work due to her disability, is now calling on others who are considering using the injectables to do their research and consult a doctor. Aimee, who lives in Southampton, Hampshire, said: "I'd never even thought about it until I saw a post on social media saying you can just buy [weight-loss jabs]. "I noticed that as my weight changed, I was taken less seriously by doctors. My thinking was if I could weigh less, I would at least get taken a bit more seriously. It wasn't about getting thinner or looking better for me. That hadn't even crossed my mind. The hair loss was linked to malnutrition (Kennedy News and Media) "[After a few months of using the jabs] I started noticing I didn't have a lot of energy, I couldn't really do much. I was only eating a couple of times a week. I stopped being able to walk. I would take a couple of steps and have to stop. Then I couldn't stop being sick. "I was throwing up all the time and started throwing up blood. I was sick between 50 and 60 times. I collapsed a couple of times. My husband came home and found me passed out on the hallway one night. I was in a bit of denial about it being linked to the jab because I was fine up until now. I just thought I was poorly and it was some sort of virus." But when Aimee began experiencing chest pains, she went to Winchester Hospital's A&E where doctors discovered a hole in her oesophagus that was leaking air around her heart and lung. Aimee was then admitted to the intensive care unit when her blood pressure and potassium levels began to plummet. Aimee lost so much hair she had to shave her head (Kennedy News and Media) Aimee was later rushed to Southampton General Hospital's ICU when doctors noticed her liver function was deteriorating, prompting them to consider an organ transplant. Aimee said: "They were trying all sorts of things to get my liver levels back to normal. It was failing. "They had said it was down to the weight-loss jab but they didn't know why or how to fix it. There was so little out there medical-wise, doctors didn't know how to fix it. I was terrified. It all happened so quickly and I hadn't realised how serious it was until I was transferred and it sunk in that it was worse than I thought it was. "After coming out of ICU, the nurse told me this has happened because of these jabs and I can never take one ever again even if I had type-2 diabetes. I don't think they know whether this was a general side-effect or whether this was a rare case. I was really surprised about how much of my body it affected. Aimee with her husband Christopher (Kennedy News and Media) Article continues below "I was told the hole in the oesophagus can kill people and I may have needed a new liver. They said I could've died." Luckily, Aimee's health began to improve and she was discharged from hospital. But, the decline in her health and a consequential vitamin B-12 deficiency led to Aimee's hair falling out in September last year. Aimee said: "It kept happening and the handfuls kept getting bigger. I would be so sad. My hair was just above my bum when I went into hospital. My husband just said why don't you just cut it off? My hair was such a massive part of my identity and to cut it off just felt really traumatic. But I said to myself it was just hair, it'll grow back. "This feels like another result of the injections. I'm not going to tell people what they can and can't take but I do believe more research needs to be done into these jabs. I regret ever taking them. I'd say to other people thinking about trying them, don't do it online, go through your doctor who can give you blood tests and check how you're doing."
Daily Mail
6 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
Warning over deadly risk of Mounjaro that 'ripped a hole' in 34 year-old woman's gullet and made her go bald
A woman who shed four stone on Mounjaro but suffered life-threatening side effects has warned the public to be wary of the blockbuster weight loss jabs. Aimee Chapman, 34, from Southampton, was admitted to intensive care last summer with liver failure and a perforated oesophagus—complications doctors linked to the popular injections. The former waitress bought the drug from a major online pharmacy in March 2024. She hoped that weight loss would lead to he being 'taken more seriously' by doctors, after being diagnosed with fibromyalgia, a chronic pain condition. Initially the medication proved successful, with Ms Chapman shedding four stone in just four months. A few months in, her energy levels plummeted, and more troubling symptoms began to emerge. She said: 'I couldn't really do much. I was only eating a couple of times a week. 'I stopped being able to walk. I would take a couple of steps and have to stop. Then I couldn't stop being sick. 'I was throwing up all the time and started throwing up blood. I was sick between 50 and 60 times. 'I collapsed a couple of times. My husband came home and found me passed out on the hallway one night. 'I was in a bit of denial about it being linked to the jab because I was fine up until now. I just thought I was poorly and it was some sort of virus.' When she began experiencing chest pains, she went to Winchester Hospital's A&E where doctors discovered a hole in her oesophagus—the tube connecting the back of the mouth to the stomach. This was allowing air to fill the space around her heart and lungs. Her blood pressure and potassium levels then began to plummet, forcing doctors to admit her to intensive care. Ms Chapman was later rushed to Southampton General Hospital's ICU, where doctors noticed her liver was 'failing', prompting them to consider an organ transplant. 'They had said it was down to the weight-loss jab but they didn't know why or how to fix it,' she said. 'I was terrified. It all happened so quickly and I hadn't realised how serious it was until I was transferred and it sunk in that it was worse than I thought it was. 'I was told the hole in the oesophagus can kill people and I may have needed a new liver. They said I could've died.' Luckily, doctors were able to stabilise her condition within two weeks, and she was discharged from hospital. The ordeal was not over, however. A few months later, in September, Ms Chapman began to notice large clumps of her hair falling out. Subsequent blood tests revealed the cause of the problem—a deficiency in the vitamin B12, which is essential for maintaining the supply of oxygen to the hair follicles. A wealth of research has shown that any form of rapid weight loss, whether from medication or surgery, can dramatically increase the risk of nutritional deficiencies. 'It kept happening and the handfuls kept getting bigger. I would be so sad,' said Ms Chapman. 'My hair was such a massive part of my identity and to cut it off just felt really traumatic. But I said to myself it was just hair, it'll grow back. This feels like another result of the injections.' While she doesn't wish to 'tell people what they can and can't take', she believes 'more research' is needed to confirm the safety of weight loss injections. 'I regret ever taking them,' she said. 'I'd say to other people thinking about trying them, don't do it online, go through your doctor who can give you blood tests and check how you're doing.' In September last year, medics from Kuwait reported the case of a 24 year-old teacher who began suffering from extreme vomiting, nausea and stomach pains after using Mounjaro—often referred to as the 'King Kong' of weight loss jabs. Hospital tests revealed that the patient, who was obese and had a BMI of 34, had 'alarming' levels of liver enzymes, proteins that help break down bile and toxins. This was a sign that her organ was failing and she was admitted to the ICU where she was given a plasma transfusion to flush out the toxins in her blood. She was referred to a transplant team because if left untreated, she could have suffered full blown liver failure, and a transplant would have been her only chance of survival. Writing in the European Journal of Case Reports, doctors from Kuwait who treated her said Mounjaro was 'likely the susceptible cause.' The case came a year after a 37 year-old in Seattle was treated for a similar liver injury after taking the same drug. Experts believe liver damage may happen in rare cases due to the rapid reduction of fat in the liver that could kill healthy cells. Meanwhile, patients have previously spoken of how Ozempic—which works similarly to Mounjaro—have triggered vomiting so violent it's led to a hole in their food pipe. Ozempic and Wegovy contain the active ingredient semaglutide. This mimics the hormone GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) which slows the movement of food through the digestive system, signalling to the body that it's full. Mounjar, meanwhile, use the active ingredient tirzepatide, which targets GLP-1 as well as the hormone glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP), which has a similar hunger-surpressing effect. The dual action is thought to accelerate weight loss, making it more effective than Ozempic. In a statement, Eli Lilly, the drug firm that makes Mounjaro said: 'Patient safety is Lilly's top priority. 'We are committed to continually monitoring, evaluating, and reporting safety information for all Lilly medicines. Mounjaro (tirzepatide) was approved based on extensive assessment of the benefits and risks of the medicine, and we provide information about the benefits and risks of all our medicines to regulators around the world to ensure the latest information is available for prescribers. 'If anyone is experiencing side effects when taking any Lilly medicine, they should talk to their doctor or other healthcare professional.'
Yahoo
6 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
‘Make a difference;' State leaders work to improve missing persons investigations
Thousands of people, including children, are missing right now in the State of Ohio. [DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] As reported on News Center 7 at 6:00 p.m., there is a push in the statehouse to improve the investigations into missing persons. TRENDING STORIES: Deputies searching for man accused of stealing a package from someone's porch in Greene County 13-year-old boy killed after falling off trailer during Memorial Day parade identified Man taken to hospital after being pulled from river in Dayton More than 16,000 children were reported missing last year in the state of Ohio. While over 95% of those kids were recovered according to the State Attorney General's office, that still leaves dozens that haven't been found. There are also thousands of adults that vanish every year, adults like Aimee Chapman's brother Andy, who has been missing for nearly 20 years. 'Throughout all this time, we have continued to advocate on behalf of Andy and our family and other families of missing persons,' Aimee Chapman said. 'Families are the key to that individuals' habits, friends, and records, and can't emphasize enough families are victims too.' On Tuesday, Governor Mike DeWine announced a new report that lists 18 recommendations and changes to how missing persons cases are investigated. Those suggestions came from law enforcement agencies, the Attorney General's office, and advocacy groups. Some include allowing for administrative search warrants in special cases like missing persons to look through phone records quickly and stiffer charges for parents and family members who take children out of state without permission. 'There are very specific things in here we know will make a difference. It doesn't mean every person that's missing will be found,' DeWine said. 'It doesn't mean everything will work out, but what it does mean is if we do these things, we're going to improve the situation rather dramatically.' All these recommendations would still need to be approved by the state's general assembly. DeWine said at the very least, the report provides a template for improving how current agencies respond to missing persons reports. You can view the full report here. [SIGN UP: WHIO-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
