Gran dies after 'sudden and severe pain' when increasing dose of Mounjaro

An inquest has heard that a 73-year-old grandmother died after experiencing sudden and severe pain following an increase in the dosage of her Mounjaro weight loss injection. Caroline Savage, from Wortwell in Norfolk, was admitted to Norfolk and Norwich Hospital on October 18, 2024, after complaining of acute abdominal pain. Despite receiving medical attention, she collapsed at home several hours later and died shortly after midnight. Ms Savage had been using Mounjaro privately for approximately four months prior to the incident. She had struggled to lose weight through diet and exercise, reaching a weight of 128 kg (20 stone) in July 2024. Her private prescribing doctor, Dr Harvinder Chahal, had warned her about potential side effects such as abdominal pain and constipation. However, her weight had decreased to 114 kg (18 stone) by October, and she reported no significant adverse effects from the medication. On October 18, Ms Savage experienced intense abdominal discomfort and sought emergency care. An ambulance was dispatched at 1:30 pm, and she arrived at the hospital’s rapid assessment and treatment area at about 2:45 pm. Due to overcrowding in the emergency department, she remained in the ambulance while being evaluated. A senior clinical fellow in emergency medicine initially suspected pancreatitis, a rare but known complication of weight-loss medications. This possibility was ruled out after reviewing her blood test results. Following the evaluation, advanced clinical practitioner Laura Rea stated that Mounjaro’s recognized side effects, including abdominal pain and bloating, formed a reasonable working diagnosis. There was no immediate evidence suggesting a surgical emergency, leading to the decision not to admit her or perform a CT scan. Consultant Dr Diego Olmo-Ferrer also examined Ms Savage and conducted a focused ultrasound to exclude an abdominal aortic aneurysm. Both assessments concluded that she could be safely discharged with pain relief and instructions to monitor her condition. Ms Savage left the hospital at approximately 6:30 pm. Later that evening, her husband, Jeremy Savage, a former Tory councillor, discovered her unresponsive on the floor after hearing a thud. He administered CPR and called for an ambulance, but she could not be revived. A post-mortem examination revealed that she had died from faecal peritonitis, a condition resulting from a perforation in part of her intestines. The inquest, held at Norfolk’s Coroner Court, examined whether Ms Savage’s death might be linked to the increased dosage of Mounjaro. While there is no established evidence directly linking the drug to faecal peritonitis, the hearing considered possible connections. Mounjaro is known to slow the movement of food through the digestive system, potentially exacerbating conditions like diverticular disease, which can lead to intestinal perforation. Ms Savage’s family expressed concerns that the treating physicians may have been too quick to attribute her symptoms to the drug rather than pursuing further investigations. They argued that her symptoms warranted more thorough scrutiny instead of being dismissed as typical side effects. Solicitor Alison Brockhurst, representing the hospital, acknowledged that record-keeping could have been improved but maintained that appropriate medical protocols were followed. Ms Savage had been using Mounjaro not only to manage her weight but also to alleviate symptoms related to lipoedema, a condition characterized by the accumulation of fatty tissue. Her case highlights ongoing discussions about the safety and monitoring of weight-loss drugs, particularly when used outside standard clinical guidelines. The inquest continues to explore all aspects of her treatment and the circumstances surrounding her death.