Sorry to hear this. This article was in the Times today. Sharing in case it is of any use. Hope you feel better today.
Why you need to know about pancreatitis (even if you’re not on a weight-loss jab)
The MHRA has received hundreds of reports of the condition in people taking drugs such as Ozempic, Wegovy and Mounjaro
Dr Mark Porter
Monday June 30 2025, 5.00pm, The Times
Even though I am 62 and have been a doctor for nearly 40 years, my mother still sends me medical stuff she thinks I may have missed. This used to come in the form of newspaper clippings but now it’s WhatsApp messages linking to articles. And this week it was the news that the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has received hundreds of reports of pancreatitis in people taking drugs such as Ozempic, Wegovy and Mounjaro for type 2 diabetes and/or to lose weight.
Mum is still sometimes one step ahead of me but not this time. It has been known for a while that the GLP-1 receptor agonist family of drugs may increase the risk of inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis). And given use has risen exponentially recently as people turn to them as weight-loss aids, it’s no surprise that the MHRA is receiving so many reports (see below). The absolute risk remains small — about 1 in 300, according to early studies — but the more people go on them, the greater the problem will be. And pancreatitis can be very serious.
The organ is probably best known as the home of insulin-producing cells that help to maintain healthy blood sugar levels, but it also releases enzyme-rich “juices” into the gut to break down carbohydrates, fats and proteins. And in pancreatitis these enzymes are activated prematurely, meaning they start working on the gland itself. And if they can help us to digest the toughest steak, imagine what they can do to your insides.
While it is a relatively rare condition, a typical district general hospital serving half a million or so people will still admit two to three people a week with pancreatitis. The outcome varies depending on the type and severity of the illness, with acute pancreatitis (fast-onset) generally being more dangerous than the chronic (slow-burn) type. Most cases of acute pancreatitis are mild but even these can have a mortality rate of 1 in 50. And more severe inflammation can kill as many as 1 in 3 of those affected.
While the link with “skinny jabs” is in the limelight, these only account for a small minority of cases. About half of all cases of acute pancreatitis are linked to gallstones — the gallbladder and pancreas share a common duct and stones blocking this can cause pancreatic secretions to back up — and a quarter are linked to excessive alcohol consumption. Other risk factors include infections like mumps, trauma to the abdomen, tumours, obesity-related metabolic disruption (eg abnormal blood fats) and some types of medication (like statins and some blood pressure pills). However, in about one in ten cases there is no identifiable trigger.
The first step in managing acute pancreatitis once suspected is to admit the person for urgent specialist management. While blood tests for enzyme levels and scans can help to clinch the diagnosis, there is no time to wait for these in the community. As with suspected meningitis, there is no time for tests; you send the patient in.
The classic presentation is sudden-onset upper abdominal pain that can radiate through to the back or kidney area, often accompanied by nausea and vomiting. In alcohol-related cases the onset may be slower but once established the pain is typically constant: unlike indigestion it tends not to wax or wane, or be relieved by antacids.
Indeed the pain is often so severe that the person can’t stand up straight and prefers to lie with their knees drawn up to their chest. In more advanced cases there may also be a fever, signs of shock (low blood pressure and fast heart rate) and even sepsis (mottled skin, cold extremities and confusion). Internal bleeding may be evident as blue discolouration around the tummy button and/or in the flanks and groins.
The role of GPs like me is to connect the dots, then dial 999. Once in hospital, management varies depending on the severity and underlying cause. Immediate care will include pain relief and intravenous fluids, with antibiotics where indicated, but there is no specific “cure”. The next step will be urgent imaging to see if there is a treatable cause like a gallstone obstructing the pancreas (this can be removed using an endoscope passed into the bowel). This is followed by continuing supporting care — often in an Intensive Therapy Unit — with intravenous fluids and, if needed, feeding to rest the bowel and pancreas.
About one in three of those who recover will go on to have recurrent episodes of pancreatitis — either acute or chronic — and dietary and lifestyle changes, such as stopping smoking and drinking, are important. Some people will be left with digestion and absorption problems due to pancreatic damage and oral enzyme supplements may be required, while others (particularly those with the chronic form) are at higher risk of developing secondary diabetes.
But Mum knows all this. Obviously.
For more information visit cks.nice.org.uk