The drugs are widely used across the UK for weight management and to treat diabetes
The deaths were of a man and woman, one who was in their 40s and the other in their 60s, but it does not specify which age related to each person(Image: Getty Images)
The deaths of two people in Northern Ireland potentially linked to weight-loss injections have been reported to a government watchdog.
As reported by the BBC, the two cases are among more than 500 suspected adverse drug reaction reports submitted from Northern Ireland over the last two years related to GLP-1 medications. The drugs, prescribed under names such as Wegovy and Mounjaro, are widely used across the UK for weight management and to treat diabetes.
The reports were made to the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), the government agency responsible for ensuring medicines are safe.
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The data was released as part of a Freedom of Information request and shows the deaths were of a man and woman, one who was in their 40s and the other in their 60s, but it does not specify which age related to each person.
One of the individuals who passed away was taking taking Mounjaro, which contains the drug tirzepatide, with the other taking semaglutide under an unspecified brand.
The MHRA said a report of a suspected reaction “does not necessarily mean it has been caused by the medicine, only that the reporter had a suspicion it may have.” It added: “Underlying or concurrent illnesses may be responsible, or the events could be coincidental.”
The data on suspected reactions reported from Northern Ireland in 2024 and 2025 also showed there were six reported cases of acute pancreatitis over the two-year period – three suspected to have been a reaction to Mounjaro, one to Ozempic and two to unspecified brands.
The MHRA collects and monitors information on suspected safety concerns through its Yellow Card scheme. Anyone – medical professionals and members of the public alike – can make a report.
Dr Alison Cave, MHRA Chief Safety Officer: “Patient safety is our top priority and no medicine would be approved unless it met our expected standards of safety, quality and effectiveness. Our role is to continually monitor the safety of medicines during their use, including GLP-1 medicines.
“We have robust, safety monitoring and surveillance systems in place for all healthcare products. When a safety issue is confirmed, we always act promptly to inform patients and healthcare professionals and take appropriate steps to mitigate any identified risk.
“On the basis of the current evidence, the benefits of GLP-1 medicines outweigh the potential risks when used for the licensed indications. The decision to start, continue or stop treatments should be made jointly by patients and their doctor, based on full consideration of the benefits and risks.
“We strongly encourage patients and healthcare professionals to continue reporting suspected side effects to GLP-1 medicines through our Yellow Card Scheme.”
The Department of Health stressed the importance of reporting suspected side effects and adverse incidents to the Yellow Card scheme, adding that it “engages regularly with the MHRA and disseminates information on drug safety to healthcare professionals, including recent MHRA guidance on the safe use of GLP-1 medicines.”
A spokesperson added: “It is important to stress that a reported reaction does not necessarily mean it has been caused by the medicine, only that the reporter had a suspicion it may have. Yellow Card reporting rates can be influenced by many factors including the seriousness of the adverse drug reactions, their ease of recognition and the extent of use of a particular product.
“Reporting can also be stimulated by promotion and publicity about a product. Many factors have to be considered when assessing whether the medicine has caused a reported adverse reaction, as underlying illnesses may be responsible or the events could be coincidental. When monitoring the safety of medicines, MHRA experts carry out careful analysis of all these factors.
“The Department continues to encourage patients, healthcare professionals and carers to report any suspected side effects to the Yellow Card scheme – every report counts.”
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