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I realised I'm a ‘Mounjaro lifer' after stopping for 8 weeks – I lost 5st but now my tummy is a ‘bottomless pit' again

I realised I'm a ‘Mounjaro lifer' after stopping for 8 weeks – I lost 5st but now my tummy is a ‘bottomless pit' again

The Sun9 hours ago
A FAT jab user has revealed that after stopping the injections for eight weeks, she has now realised she is a 'Mounjaro lifer.'
Laura, who lost five stone in 13 months thanks to Mounjaro, explained that after pausing the injections, her stomach has now returned to being a 'bottomless pit.'
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The brunette beauty, who was diagnosed with bowel cancer at the age of 38, recently stopped injecting herself with the weight loss jabs for two months whilst she undergoes cancer treatment.
Prior to the pause, she had been using Mounjaro for over a year, and has now realised: 'I have learned that I am 100% a Mounjaro lifer - I can't do this without Mounjaro.'
Posting on social media, the content creator explained that once she finishes cancer treatment, she plans to go back on the fat jabs.
When she first started Mounjaro, she weighed 18 stone 5 lbs, but has since managed to slim down to just 13 stone 5 lbs.
But after losing 5 stone and coming off of Mounjaro, which is known as the King Kong of jabs, Laura revealed that things have been 'so f*****g hard.'
She admitted: 'It has been super, super hard - the food noise has returned fully, the bottomless pit feeling when I eat is there.'
As a result of stopping Mounjaro she acknowledged that she can eat 'endlessly.'
Laura has plans to get down to her goal weight of 10 stone 7 lbs, but stressed that she'll need Mounjaro to do so, as she continued: 'I 100% now know I will be staying on Mounjaro forever more, it's got to be done, I can't do this forever, there's only so much willpower.'
Now, Laura 'can't wait to restart' the fat jabs and plans to start back at 12.5mg.
She confessed: 'I'll be starting back at 12.5mg, which in a way, I'm kind of glad for, so maybe it'll give the lower doses a new lease of life, but what I've learned over the eight weeks is 100% I'm a Mounjaro lifer.'
Weight Loss Jabs - Pros vs Cons
Other Mounjaro 'lifers' react
Laura's TikTok clip, which was posted under the username @ itslauraunfiltered, has clearly left many open-mouthed, as it has quickly amassed 79,800 views.
Not only this, but it's also amassed 1,757 likes, 220 comments and 162 saves.
And it's clear that Laura isn't the only Mounjaro user who has concerns about being a 'lifer', as numerous fat jab users rushed to the comments to share their similar experiences.
One person said: 'I am definitely going to be a lifer. I've battled with obesity for 30 years until now. I can't do it without Mounjaro.'
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 patient.info, 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.
Another added: 'I've not been without it and I'm not at my goal yet, but that's what I think in my head that I'll be taking it for life. Because life is so much nicer on Mounjaro, I just don't want to struggle again.'
A third commented: 'I will never stop taking this. It would be like giving someone glasses to see them away again!'
It has been super, super hard - the food noise has returned fully, the bottomless pit feeling when I eat is there
Laura, Mounjaro user
Meanwhile, someone else admitted: 'I feel the same way. I really enjoy the routine. I'm excited for jab day. I'm on a really low dose. I can't ever imagine stopping.'
Not only this, but another Mounjaro user revealed: 'I'm stopping next week. I'm dreading it.
'I've stopped losing weight over the past two months. I'm quite happy where I am, I'd like to lose another stone…however I can't say I'm not fearful of next week and beyond.'
The reality of Mounjaro
Although many have boasted about weight loss success since using Mounjaro, last year it was revealed that Scots nurse Susan McGowan, 58, died after taking low-dose injections of Mounjaro over a fortnight.
A probe also found that nearly 400 people have gone to hospital after taking weight loss drugs.
The common side effects include nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea, which can lead to severe dehydration.
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.
And if that wasn't bad enough, doctors say they have also seen 'life-threatening complications', including seizures, bowel obstruction and inflammation of the pancreas.
Model Lottie Moss, 27, even said she had a seizure after taking high doses of Ozempic.
The makers of Mounjaro, Lilly UK, said patient safety is its 'top priority'.
Lilly UK stressed: 'Regulatory agencies conduct extensive independent assessments of the benefits and risks of every new medicine and Lilly is committed to continually monitoring, evaluating, and reporting safety data.
'If anyone is experiencing side effects when taking any Lilly medicine, they should talk to their doctor or other healthcare professional.'
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‘I thought cannabis should be legal, until I got psychosis and started eating out of bins'
‘I thought cannabis should be legal, until I got psychosis and started eating out of bins'

Telegraph

time25 minutes ago

  • Telegraph

‘I thought cannabis should be legal, until I got psychosis and started eating out of bins'

For retired charity director Terry Hammond, 78, the distressing issue of cannabis-induced psychosis has come to dominate his life. Around 25 years ago, his bright, creative teenage son Steven, now 42, began smoking skunk – a highly potent synthetic form of the drug – at friends' houses, without his parents knowing. 'He was like so many young boys,' recalls Hammond from his home in Leicestershire. 'He was bingeing on it in secret and thought it would be fine.' But around six months later, in the autumn of 1999, Steven suddenly became paranoid. 'We were watching the BBC news, and he turned to me and accused me of ringing them. He was convinced the presenters were talking about him.' The psychosis didn't stop there. 'He began to think aliens had taken over everybody,' adds Hammond. 'Then he began mumbling in an incomprehensible language, shouting at the walls and locking himself in his room. He was a boy gripped by absolute fear and terror, and his beautiful mind had just been destroyed.' Not knowing how to cope with their now-delusional 6ft-tall son, Terry and his wife Christine, who also have a daughter, Victoria, kept him at home, but lived in fear he might commit violence or take his own life. 'At night, Steven would be screaming at the voices he heard,' Hammond says. 'I had to wash blood off the walls and carpet where he had been thumping his head against his bedroom wall. He had maniacal laughter, and at one point chased someone across the garden with a large piece of wood.' At just 21, and with no family history of mental health problems, Steven was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia – essentially, psychosis that continues indefinitely. He spent three months in the department of psychiatry at the Royal South Hants Hospital in Southampton, where he was put on the antipsychotic drug Olanzapine and given talking therapy. But even now – two decades on – Steven, who lives in a studio flat in his parents' garden, is still affected by his early drug use. 'He cannot work and struggles socially,' says Hammond, who has Steven's permission to share his story and has also written a book, Gone to Pot, to help others in similar circumstances. 'He is still on antipsychotic drugs but continues to hear voices, although he now has the skills to rationalise them. 'It has completely ruined his life, and as parents we have had to suffer the bereavement of losing our son. Fundamentally, it has damaged his brain for good. Young people need to know smoking cannabis is playing Russian roulette with brain damage.' It is a harrowing and deeply personal story. But the issue of how to tackle the growing problem of ever-more potent cannabis on our streets is now causing division among those in power. Sir Sadiq Khan recently backed a report by the London Drugs Commission stating that possession of small amounts of cannabis should be decriminalised. The Mayor of London said there was a 'compelling, evidence-based case' for decriminalisation. But on July 7, Britain's leading police chiefs rebuked this and urged their officers to crack down on the drug. Sir Andy Marsh, the chief executive officer of the College of Policing, said smelling the drug in towns and cities had an 'impact' on how safe he felt and was a sign of crime and disorder. His calls for tougher policing were endorsed by both Sir Stephen Watson, chief constable of Greater Manchester, and Serena Kennedy, chief constable of Merseyside. Last month, David Sidwick, the Conservative police and crime commissioner for Dorset, wrote a letter to the police minister Diana Johnson – signed by 13 other police and crime commissioners – calling cannabis a 'chronically dangerous drug' that is just as harmful as cocaine and crack. Such calls for a fresh approach come alongside evidence showing that cannabis-induced psychosis – where someone experiences hallucinations, delusions, and a loss of touch with reality – has substantially increased in recent years. A 2019 study published in The Lancet by Prof Marta Di Forti shows that cannabis is now responsible for 30 per cent of first-time psychosis cases in south London (rising to 50 per cent in Amsterdam). Further research, not yet published, by Dr Diego Quattrone and Dr Robin Murray, both professors of psychiatric research at King's College London, reveals that cannabis-induced psychosis in the UK is now three times more common than in the 1960s. Their research suggests that 75 per cent of this increase is down to the use of skunk, which now accounts for 94 per cent of cannabis on the UK market. 'Across Europe, in the hubs with the highest cannabis consumption, namely London and Amsterdam, psychosis is up to five times more common than in other areas.' Dr Murray tells The Telegraph. 'Violence is also associated with psychosis, and of the psychotic people who go on to kill, 90 per cent are using either alcohol or cannabis. 'These are not typical domestic murders however. The people who become paranoid as a result of cannabis often have bizarre ideas, for example that God has told them to rid the world of evil, or that someone is persecuting them. And we know some of the multiple shooters in the US have been on high-potency cannabis.' You do not need to look far to find examples of such drug-induced atrocities. Most recently, Marcus Arduini Monzo, 37, was found guilty of murdering Daniel Anjorin, 14, with a samurai sword in Hainault, north-east London, while in a state of cannabis-induced psychosis. In July last year, James Kilroy, 51, of Westport, Ireland, stabbed and strangled his wife Valerie to death. He said he was 'on a mission from God' after smoking cannabis for years. Due to a lack of research, there is not yet unanimous consensus among experts that cannabis can be linked to violence, but a growing number believe this to be the case. Essentially, they attribute this to a key chemical component in the plant – tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) – which causes euphoria but also impairs attention, memory and learning, as well as triggering hallucinations and paranoid ideas in vulnerable individuals. Worryingly – especially for young brains developing up to the age of 25 – the THC can remain in the brain for days or weeks, potentially causing long-term damage to its communication systems. In another alarming trend, THC levels in cannabis have been rising over recent decades. In the 1960s, at the height of 'flower power,' THC levels in 'weed' (or weaker cannabis) were around 3 per cent. Today, most UK cannabis has THC levels of 16 to 20 per cent. In Holland, the figure is between 30 and 40 per cent, and in California, where cannabis is legal, levels can reach 80 per cent. To Murray, this race to ever-stronger strains of cannabis should be a wake-up call. 'We know almost everything bad in America comes over here. And we know that where cannabis is legal, both the potency and consumption rates shoot up. 'It is not easy to get psychosis. Typically, someone may smoke skunk for five years before it kicks in. But in America, the THC is so strong, you can go psychotic in one night. It will hit those who already have a history of mental health problems the worst. We are braced for an epidemic of psychosis.' This warning from both experts and police comes despite cannabis being supposedly illegal in the UK. Categorised as a Class B drug, someone caught in possession can face up to five years in prison and an unlimited fine. But in 2018, it became legal for NHS doctors to prescribe medical cannabis, and there has been a gradual relaxation of policing surrounding it – thought to be because underfunded forces are prioritising other issues. The plant's pungent aroma is now commonplace in most cities. Meanwhile, the think tank the Centre for Social Justice (CSJ) reports that two thirds of police officers believe cannabis is fully or partially decriminalised in practice. (In 2018, the illegal cannabis market in Britain was estimated at £2.6 billion.) Figures released under Freedom of Information show that in the year to September 2024, 68,513 people were found in possession of cannabis, but only 17,000 were charged. For Dr Niall Campbell, a consultant psychiatrist at the Roehampton Priory Clinic, this relaxation in regulation – combined with increased potency – has led to a greater number of patients suffering psychosis. 'I don't think this rise is that surprising given how easy skunk is to buy online, and how ubiquitous it has become,' he says. 'Psychosis often begins with young people smoking a few joints and feeling a bit paranoid. But if they don't stop, over time they can reach a psychotic state which won't go away, even if they stop smoking. Sadly, this psychosis may last a lifetime and once people are told that they can get very depressed or suicidal.' At the eight UK Addiction Treatment Group (UKAT) clinics across the country, it's a similar story. Patients typically stay for 28 days and, in more complex cases, up to six months, in residential facilities, with 35 per cent of patients each year funded by their local authorities. The cost for a 28-day inpatient stay at most UK clinics ranges from £8,000 to £16,000, while outpatient treatment costs between £2,000 and £4,000 per month. In 2024, the group admitted 1,032 people for cannabis addiction, a rise of 20 per cent since 2019. 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'I threw my phone away because I thought it had been tapped and was eating out of bins. It all made total sense to me at the time, and I can understand why people go violent.' After six months of psychosis, a friend alerted mental health services, and Rafferty was sectioned and put on antipsychotics. Five years on, she has stopped smoking with the aid of the local charity Street Connect, which helps those who are homeless or struggling with addiction. 'When I stopped smoking, the psychosis went away. But still, the episode was deep and long-lasting, and the scars haven't gone. I never realised it could make me so vulnerable. 'I used to think drugs should be legalised, but not anymore.' Despite stories like hers, however, Sir Sadiq is not alone in his calls to legalise cannabis. Steve Rolles, senior policy analyst for the Transform Drug Policy Foundation, says: 'Scientists are finding consensus that things are getting worse under the current legislation. Cannabis is more potent, and there are more cannabis-related mental health problems. We feel that if we had responsible regulation with a legalised market that could control potency and put health warnings on products, similar to tobacco, then this may reduce the risks.' But CSJ warns against this, cautioning of a drug-addiction crisis of 'unprecedented proportions.' 'The drug market is becoming increasingly dangerous – not just with more potent cannabis, but also opiates, and the emergence of xylazine, a deadly animal tranquilliser on the streets,' says Edward Davies, CSJ's research director. 'Funding for addiction services has been slashed by 60 per cent since 2012, leaving vast gaps in treatment availability. 'We are calling for urgent investment in treatment and recovery services, plus specialised clinics to address cannabis-induced psychosis. Law enforcement must also be empowered. Without decisive action, the crisis will continue to devastate communities across the UK.'

Arizona resident dies from pneumonic plague, health officials say
Arizona resident dies from pneumonic plague, health officials say

The Guardian

time34 minutes ago

  • The Guardian

Arizona resident dies from pneumonic plague, health officials say

A person has died from pneumonic plague in Coconino county, Arizona, the first such death there since 2007 – though officials are saying the death is unrelated to a recent die-off of prairie dogs in the area that may also be plague-related. Health officials in Coconino county, which incorporates part of the Grand Canyon national park and lies north of Flagstaff, confirmed the death on 11 July. Pneumonic plague, a severe lung infection, is rare in humans, with only about seven cases reported annually in the US. Unlike bubonic plague, which killed millions in medieval Europe, it can be spread through airborne droplets. While both are caused by the Yersinia pestis bacterium, bubonic plague is transmitted through rodent flea bites or contact with contaminated material – and it primarily affects the lymph nodes while pneumonic plague causes pneumonia and respiratory symptoms. Authorities said the person, whose age, name and gender have not been released, had entered the Flagstaff Medical Center emergency department and died on the same day. Hospital operator Northern Arizona Healthcare said in a statement that 'despite appropriate initial management and attempts to provide life-saving resuscitation, the patient did not recover'. The death of the Coconino county resident marks the first recorded pneumonic plague death in the county in 18 years but not the most recent human plague case in Arizona – the state has recorded seven cases of plague since 2006. The 2007 death reportedly occurred after the person involved had contact with a dead animal infected with plague. Nationally, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says about seven human cases of plague are reported annually across the country, but only 15 plague deaths have been recorded in a 23-year period beginning in 2000. Most cases have been seen in rural areas in the west. Typically, the CDC says, Yersinia pestis cycles naturally among wild rodents. And while most people contract the disease though flea bites, they can become infected through exposure to sick pets, especially cats. The plague death comes as officials in the county are investigating a sudden die-off of prairie dogs north-east of Flagstaff that may be caused by plague. County officials have said they do not think the human plague death and the prairie dog mortalities are related. But they also issued guidelines about how to avoid contracting the plague, including avoiding contact with wild animals, touching sick or dead animals, camping near rodent burrows, or sleeping directly on the ground. They advise using insect repellent and tucking the cuffs of your trouser leg into your socks. Coconino county health officials said the risk of human-to-human transmission of pneumonic plague is low. The last such transmission was in Los Angeles in 1924, according to National Institutes of Health (NIH) data. Still, the symptoms of the Black Death – named for black spots that appeared on infected bodies – remain present. US health officials say plague symptoms typically appear within eight days after exposure and may include fever, chills, headache, weakness and muscle pain, and some may develop swollen lymph nodes (called 'buboes'), most commonly in the groin, armpits or limbs. But the timing of the human plague death, and the prairie dog die-off, is raising concerns. Plague is one of many diseases endemic to the south-western US, including West Nile virus, hantavirus and rabies. Trish Lees, communications manager for Coconino county, told the Arizona Republic the number of prairie dogs that have died was unknown.

Ear infection death leads to calls for reviews at three hospitals
Ear infection death leads to calls for reviews at three hospitals

BBC News

time39 minutes ago

  • BBC News

Ear infection death leads to calls for reviews at three hospitals

Three hospitals in Devon and Somerset have been urged to review procedures for sharing files and managing patients being treated at different sites after the death of a inquest in March heard Andrew Tizard-Varcoe died at home in Croyde on 11 May, 2022 due to complications from necrotising otitis externa - a severe ear infection.A report from coroner Philip Spinney said Mr Tizard-Varcoe's treatment at three hospitals - the Royal Devon and Exeter, North Devon District in Barnstaple, and Taunton's Musgrove Park - between April 2021 and May 2022 had been "less than optimal".The BBC has contacted the Royal Devon University NHS Foundation Trust and Somerset NHS Foundation Trust for comment. 'Not followed-up' In a prevention of future deaths report, Mr Spinney said Mr Tizard-Varcoe had a "complex past medical history" and was also being treated at Musgrove Park for a vascular said evidence at the inquest had highlighted occasions where Mr Tizard-Varcoe had been treated without the full clinical picture being available due to the inability of the trusts to access each other's medical Spinney said there had also been three occasions when Mr Tizard-Varcoe was not followed-up as an outpatient in a timely added on 1 November, 2021, Mr Tizard-Varcoe left hospital in Exeter - which is run by Royal Devon University NHS Foundation Trust along with North Devon District - without an oral antibiotic prescription despite advice from microbiologists to have inquest heard this was a clinical decision made by a junior ear, nose and throat (ENT) doctor and the discharge was overseen by a consultant from a different specialism due to Mr Tizard-Varcoe's health needs at the the inquest, an ENT consultant indicated he probably would have prescribed antibiotics based on the microbiologists' advice. Three recommendations Mr Spinney said: "Due to the progression of the infection from the ear canal into the bone at the base of the skull, there is a real possibility that the clinical presentation did not reflect the true situation and this was a missed opportunity to provide continuity of treatment."Mr Spinney made three recommendations for action to be taken following Mr Tizard-Varcoe's included that the trusts involved should consider reviewing their processes for managing patients with multiple health conditions being treated at different said this could help "ensure greater co-ordination, collaboration and optimal treatment".Mr Spinney also recommended a review into arrangements for follow-up outpatient appointments in the ENT departments at both final recommendation said Royal Devon University NHS Foundation Trust should review its arrangements for patients' discharge in circumstances where a patient is being treated across different specialisms to ensure there is consultant oversight in all areas of treatment.

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