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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
Time Business News
24-05-2025
- Health
- Time Business News
Understanding Prograf: A Comprehensive Guide to Tacrolimus
Prograf, the brand name for tacrolimus, is a potent immunosuppressant medication primarily used to prevent organ rejection in patients who have undergone liver, kidney, or heart transplants. By inhibiting the body's immune response, Prograf helps ensure the transplanted organ is accepted and functions properly.(PharmaServe, Prograf operates by binding to an intracellular protein known as FKBP-12. This complex then inhibits calcineurin, a crucial enzyme in T-cell activation. As a result, the production of interleukin-2 (IL-2) is suppressed, leading to reduced T-cell proliferation and a weakened immune response .(CenterWatch, Wikipedia) Prograf is primarily prescribed for: Preventing organ rejection in liver, kidney, or heart transplant recipients. in liver, kidney, or heart transplant recipients. Managing ongoing rejection episodes in transplant patients. Treating certain autoimmune conditions, such as lupus nephritis and atopic dermatitis, when other treatments are ineffective.(Houston Chronicle, PharmaServe) The dosage of Prograf is individualized based on the type of transplant, the patient's weight, and blood tacrolimus levels. Typically, it is administered twice daily, either orally or intravenously. It's crucial to take Prograf on an empty stomach, either one hour before or two hours after meals, to ensure optimal absorption .(PharmaServe, Common side effects include: Tremors Headache Nausea and vomiting Diarrhea Hypertension(PharmaServe, Practo) Serious side effects may involve kidney dysfunction, increased risk of infections, and certain cancers. Regular monitoring through blood tests is essential to detect and manage these risks .(PharmaServe) Prograf can interact with various medications, potentially altering its effectiveness or increasing side effects. For instance, drugs that inhibit the enzyme CYP3A, such as ketoconazole, can increase tacrolimus levels, while CYP3A inducers like rifampin can decrease its levels .(PharmaServe) Before starting Prograf, inform your healthcare provider if you have:( Liver, kidney, or heart conditions unrelated to your transplant. A history of diabetes or high blood pressure. Any allergies to tacrolimus or other medications.( Pregnant or breastfeeding women should use Prograf only if absolutely necessary, as it can affect the unborn baby or pass into breast milk .(PharmaServe) Regular follow-up appointments are crucial for patients on Prograf. These visits typically include:( Blood tests to monitor tacrolimus levels and organ function. Assessments for signs of infection or other complications. Adjustments to the dosage based on test results and overall health status. Prograf is a vital medication for transplant recipients, aiding in the prevention of organ rejection. While it offers significant benefits, it's essential to be aware of potential side effects and interactions. Adhering to prescribed dosages, attending regular medical check-ups, and maintaining open communication with healthcare providers can help ensure the best outcomes for patients on Prograf therapy.(Houston Chronicle) TIME BUSINESS NEWS
Miami Herald
17-05-2025
- Health
- Miami Herald
Drug said to be effective against early migraine symptoms
May 14 (UPI) -- Migraines don't just cause headaches. These attacks often are accompanied by symptoms like light and sound sensitivity, nausea, neck pain and dizziness. What's more, those non-headache symptoms tend to crop up before a full-fledged migraine headache takes root. But now, researchers say they've discovered an already approved migraine drug that can stop these other symptoms hours before a headache starts. Ubrogepant successfully warded off early migraine symptoms in patients who took the drug one to six hours before a headache, causing a 72% increased likelihood a person wouldn't experience light sensitivity and an 85% increased likelihood they wouldn't have fatigue. Doubled likelihood they wouldn't experience neck pain or sound sensitivity. The drug also helped people think and concentrate better despite their oncoming migraine, researchers reported Monday in Nature Medicine. The results suggest that ubrogepant could "free patients from a disabling part of migraine," study co-author Dr. Peter Goadsby, a neuroscientist at King's College London, told Nature. Ubrogepant gained approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2019 after studies showed that it reduced headache pain and other migraine symptoms within two hours of taking the pill, according to The drug works by blocking a protein involved in pain and migraines called calcitonin gene-related peptide, or CGRP. Ubrogepant prevents the CGRP protein from attaching to nerve endings. Symptoms that occur prior to a migraine are called "prodome" symptoms. Migraines occur when a brain region called the hypothalamus goes out of whack, and these prodomal symptoms precede the headache. "Not enough attention has been given to prodrome symptoms," Goadsby said, noting that the new study was mean to "fill this gap." For the study, researchers recruited 438 people who could reliably predict oncoming migraine attacks based on their prodomal symptoms. People were randomly assigned to take either ubrogepant or a placebo just before a migraine attack and keep notes on their symptoms. They then waited for their next migraine and took the opposite treatment, be it the medicine or placebo. Participants didn't know what they were taking either time. Patients taking Ubrogepant reported: • Better ability to concentrate within an hour • Reduced light sensitivity within two hours • Reduced fatigue and neck pain after three hours • Reduced sound sensitivity after four hours However, it is essential that people take the drug before their headache if they want to stop these other symptoms, Goadsby said. "People who know their migraine would benefit more from this medicine," he said, arguing that doctors should train patients to detect early migraine symptoms so they can judge when to take ubrogepant. More information Cleveland Clinic has more on migraines. Copyright © 2025 HealthDay. All rights reserved. Copyright 2025 UPI News Corporation. All Rights Reserved.
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Drug said to be effective against early migraine symptoms
May 14 (UPI) -- Migraines don't just cause headaches. These attacks often are accompanied by symptoms like light and sound sensitivity, nausea, neck pain and dizziness. What's more, those non-headache symptoms tend to crop up before a full-fledged migraine headache takes root. But now, researchers say they've discovered an already approved migraine drug that can stop these other symptoms hours before a headache starts. Ubrogepant successfully warded off early migraine symptoms in patients who took the drug one to six hours before a headache, causing a 72% increased likelihood a person wouldn't experience light sensitivity and an 85% increased likelihood they wouldn't have fatigue. Doubled likelihood they wouldn't experience neck pain or sound sensitivity. The drug also helped people think and concentrate better despite their oncoming migraine, researchers reported Monday in Nature Medicine. The results suggest that ubrogepant could "free patients from a disabling part of migraine," study co-author Dr. Peter Goadsby, a neuroscientist at King's College London, told Nature. Ubrogepant gained approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2019 after studies showed that it reduced headache pain and other migraine symptoms within two hours of taking the pill, according to The drug works by blocking a protein involved in pain and migraines called calcitonin gene-related peptide, or CGRP. Ubrogepant prevents the CGRP protein from attaching to nerve endings. Symptoms that occur prior to a migraine are called "prodome" symptoms. Migraines occur when a brain region called the hypothalamus goes out of whack, and these prodomal symptoms precede the headache. "Not enough attention has been given to prodrome symptoms," Goadsby said, noting that the new study was mean to "fill this gap." For the study, researchers recruited 438 people who could reliably predict oncoming migraine attacks based on their prodomal symptoms. People were randomly assigned to take either ubrogepant or a placebo just before a migraine attack and keep notes on their symptoms. They then waited for their next migraine and took the opposite treatment, be it the medicine or placebo. Participants didn't know what they were taking either time. Patients taking Ubrogepant reported: • Better ability to concentrate within an hour • Reduced light sensitivity within two hours • Reduced fatigue and neck pain after three hours • Reduced sound sensitivity after four hours However, it is essential that people take the drug before their headache if they want to stop these other symptoms, Goadsby said. "People who know their migraine would benefit more from this medicine," he said, arguing that doctors should train patients to detect early migraine symptoms so they can judge when to take ubrogepant. More information Cleveland Clinic has more on migraines. Copyright © 2025 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Kyle Richards' daughter Sophia, 25, reveals ‘dramatic' hair loss
Kyle Richards's daughter, Sophia Umansky, shared alarming footage of her hair loss after rapidly losing weight with the help of a weight-loss medication, Mounjaro. The 25-year-old daughter of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star posted a video to her TikTok on Wednesday, quipping that she was expecting to be bald in 'about a week' at the current rate she was experiencing hair loss. 'I started Mounjaro about four months ago, and I would say for maybe the past three weeks or month, I've noticed a dramatic hair loss situation,' she explained. She then shared a 'quick video of what [her] hair loss looks like,' filming clumps of hair in the sink, which she had brushed out before showering. She also showed the hair that she took out during her shower and put on the wall. However, Sophia did not think that the hair loss was a 'direct result' of the medication itself. 'I think it's a direct result of rapid weight loss because of the medication, and not eating enough vitamins, protein, all that kind of stuff,' she said, noting that when she started taking the medication, she was only focused on 'eating enough' and not on what foods she should be having. She's now 'putting in an effort' to eat more protein and have more vitamins. She also shared that she's trying out a new shampoo and conditioner that reduces hair thinning. In addition, she's started taking more collagen, which can provide nutrients to improve the health of your hair. Mounjaoro is a prescription medication for people with Type 2 diabetes. It is the brand name for Zepbound, which the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved as an injection 'for chronic weight management in adults with obesity or overweight with at least one weight-related condition.' The Independent has contacted Mounjaro's manufacturer, Eli Lilly and Company, for comment. However, as Sophia noted in her video, her symptoms are likely a sign of Telogen effluvium, which is when rapid weight loss on your body leads to 'temporary shedding of hair over several months,' according to Sophia isn't the first famous face who's opened up about taking Mounjaro for weight loss. Last month, Meghan Trainor shared that she and her husband, Daryl Sabara, are taking the medication together. 'We did 75 Hard after Riley was born and, man, did we crush,' she said, referencing the viral lifestyle challenge, during an episode of her and her brother's podcast, Workin' On It. 'Then, we heard more and more of our friends—and even our doctors — were on Mounjaro and Ozempic.' She landed on Mounjaro, the brand name for Tirzepatide, after doing her own research and discovering it 'had less side effects' than other medications. The 'Made You Look' singer said that despite knowing how to lose weight without the aid of medication, she decided to ask her doctor about it. 'I could do that, but when I asked my doctor, I was like, 'Tell me everything.' I did the research, and I felt safe,' she said.
