After being prescribed new weight loss injectables including Ozempic, Trish Webster, an Australian mother died after trying to lose weight for her daughter’s wedding.
In an interview with 60 Minutes Australia, Trish’s husband Roy explained how his wife had seen an ad on TV for the weight loss drug and seemed set on fitting into a particular dress.
She requested a prescription from her doctor in 2022 but suffered gastrointestinal side effects during her use, which she ignored and kept taking anyway.
Ozempic is a drug used to treat people with type two diabetes and has been approved in several countries- including the US and Australia- for weight loss usage for people with diabetes.
But huge numbers are not taking it to aid normal weight loss which has led to widespread shortages for those who require the drug to treat diabetes.
When contacted for comment about the story Ozempic manufacturer Novo Nordisk stated to People magazine which said ‘We stand behind the safety and efficacy of Ozempic when used as indicated.’
After several months, Roy detailed how his wife switched to another injectable called Saxenda, in an attempt to lose even more weight—the drug works by suppressing the appetite.
After five months, Trish had reportedly lost 35 lbs, but with a list of side effects that included vomiting, diarrhea, and nausea.
In January 2023 things took a turn for the worse when Trish stopped breathing.
‘She had a little bit of brown stuff coming out of her mouth and I realized she wasn’t breathing, and started doing CPR,’ Roy told 60 Minutes.
‘It was just pouring out and I turned her onto the side because she couldn’t breathe.’
It was that same night that Trish died on January 16, with acute gastrointestinal illness identified as the cause of death.
‘I couldn’t save her; that’s the hard part,’ Roy admitted. ‘If I knew that could happen, she wouldn’t have been taking it.’
While Roy believes that the weight loss drugs caused her death, her official cause of death does not mention the medications.
Sarah Carter is a health and wellness expert residing in the UK. With a background in healthcare, she offers evidence-based advice on fitness, nutrition, and mental well-being, promoting healthier living for readers.
