A Cornwall woman says the diabetes and weight-management drug Mounjaro has left her in chronic pain, with depression and a marked decline in quality of life. Pauline Miller, who lives in St Keyne near Liskeard, is among thousands nationwide who have been prescribed the injection to help control diabetes, and her experience comes as the NHS plans to widen access next year. While some users report positive results, others have raised concerns about side effects.
Ms Miller describes herself as a once-active grandmother who lived with diabetes and an underactive thyroid. About a month after starting Mounjaro on the NHS, her dose was increased, and she says the drug’s effects turned negative. She stopped taking it when symptoms began, but she continues to suffer. “I’m in pain constantly, and I feel depressed,” she said. The pain started in her back on the left side, then shifted to the front near her belly button, and she now experiences persistent discomfort that makes her gag and feel nauseated. “It’s just constant pain, so I’m on steady painkillers.”
Mounjaro’s patient information from the manufacturer, Lilly, notes possible side effects including pancreatitis. Ms Miller suspects issues with her gallbladder and bowel, describing a gnawing pain just above the bladder accompanied by ongoing nausea and sickness.
The programme to roll out weight-loss drugs through the NHS began three years ago, with the goal of reaching hundreds of thousands of patients by 2028. In parallel, more people are purchasing the drugs privately online. The Medicines and Healthcare Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is conducting research into the side effects of Mounjaro and similar medications.
Nigel Benwell, a Plymouth resident who was also prescribed Mounjaro for type 2 diabetes, says the drug has been life-changing for him. “I haven’t lost as much weight as I hoped, but my health has improved significantly. My blood sugar is normal, my blood pressure has dropped, and I feel fitter and more energetic.” He notes the treatment helped restore mobility and stamina, allowing him to take trips such as a journey to New York that had previously been out of reach. He acknowledges he can’t reverse all diabetes-related damage but believes the medication is preventing further deterioration.
Earlier this month, the World Health Organization urged broader access to these therapies, highlighting potential benefits in tackling obesity for many people. NHS gastroenterologist Dr Alan Desmond welcomed weight-loss drugs as valuable tools but stressed they aren’t a universal solution. “These medications should be readily available to those who truly need them,” he said, adding that side effects can be common and occasionally serious—such as pancreatitis, gallbladder problems, or dehydration—in roughly 5-10% of users. He cautioned that some patients find the drugs challenging to continue over the long term.
Lilly emphasises that if patients experience side effects they should consult a healthcare professional. A company spokesperson noted that while reports of adverse events are taken seriously and monitored under the MHRA’s Yellow Card scheme, such events may also be influenced by other factors or pre-existing conditions.
The Department of Health referred BBC inquiries about the next phase of Mounjaro plans to NHS England, which has not yet commented.
Contemporary readers should consider the varying experiences with Mounjaro: benefits for some, significant adverse effects for others. How should the NHS balance expanding access with robust safety monitoring, and what questions do you have about emerging obesity and diabetes treatments?
