Teenager’s death linked to weight-loss jab Mounjaro after she complained of nausea, inquest concludes

A LAW student died in her London university accommodation after taking a weight-loss drug, an inquest has concluded. Josephine Nasr had been prescribed tirzepatide – the ingredient behind Mounjaro – weeks earlier by her doctor in the US despite not being obese, the East London coroner’s court heard last week. Josephine Nasr was prescribed tirzepatide by her doctor in the US Credit: Instagram/amrita_nigam She died last September in her university halls of residence in East London Credit: Instagram/amrita_nigam The 19-year-old was given the drug Zepbound, which is sold in the UK under the name Mounjaro. Doctors told Graeme Irvine, the coroner, that the drug may have triggered a fatal heart rhythm. Sign up for the Health newsletter Thank you! The 19-year-old, from Corona, California, was found on September 23 last year when staff broke in to her room to check on her. She was found with an empty vial of the weight-loss drug next to her. READ MORE ON WEIGHT LOSS JABS Josephine, a second-year student at the University of East London, had only just returned from her home in the Californian city of Corona the previous week. Coroner Graeme Irvine concluded that her death was caused by a cardiac arrhythmia – a fatal heart rhythm – caused by the heart condition myocardial bridging. It was also caused by imbalance of electrolytes, he added, caused by hypoglycemia – low blood sugar – in turn caused by prescribed tirzepatide. Mr Irvine said: “This is a terrible tragedy and the fact that it happened to someone who was thousands of miles away from her family only made it worse. Most read in Health “Please accept my sincerest condolences.” During the inquest, the coroner heard that Josephine had spoken to family members at about 8.30pm that evening, but was found dead a little over two hours later. She had told her father, George, her mother Lorin Mansour and her sister, Anastasia, that she had been feeling nauseous and had been vomiting. The family, who were getting ready for a trip to Egypt, became worried about her and urged her to get some fresh air. Her sister was concerned Miss Nasr would become dehydrated as a result of vomiting and called a private healthcare provider in order to get her some IV fluids. But when Anastasia then tried to call her sister, but got no answer, and then tried to contact someone from the university’s security team to request a welfare check. Josephine was found with an empty vial of the weight-loss drug next to her Credit: Instagram/amrita_nigam She told her parents and sister on the night of her death that she had been feeling nauseous and had been vomiting Credit: Instagram/amrita_nigam By the time she managed to speak to a member of the security team, the nurse had arrived at the campus to administer the IV fluids. Security staff then accompanied the nurse to Miss Nasr’s flat, knocked on the door, but got no answer. The security staff let themselves in and found her lying on the bathroom floor. Emergency services were called, but London Ambulance Service (LAS) pronounced the teenager dead at the scene. The inquest heard that Miss Nasr, whose body mass index (BMI) indicated that she was overweight but not obese, had been prescribed the medication by her doctor in the United States, George Solimon, in the summer of 2025. Common tirzepatide side effects include vomiting and nausea, the inquest heard. A post-mortem, carried out by pathologist Alan Bates, found that Josephine had a congenital heart condition, myocardial bridging, which could have contributed to her going into a fatal arrhythmia. However, Dr Bates also said that vomiting caused by Terzepatide can cause a drop in blood sugar, hypoglycemia, which can cause an electrolyte imbalance that can cause arrhythmia and that Miss Nasr’s heart condition could have made it worse. He added: “She was an otherwise healthy young woman.” When her family were notified of her death, they were at Los Angeles International Airport getting ready to fly to Egypt, where they have family connections. The Nasrs cancelled their trip, and Mr Nasr flew to London to identify his daughter’s body and prepare her repatriation. Miss Nasr was due to graduate in international law and legal studies in 2027. A post-mortem found that Josephine had a congenital heart condition Credit: Instagram/amrita_nigam What are the side effects of weight loss jabs? Like any medication, weight loss jabs can have side effects. Common side effects of injections include: Nausea: This is the most commonly reported side effect, especially when first starting the medication. It often decreases over time as your body adjusts. Vomiting: Can occur, often in conjunction with nausea. Diarrhea: Some people experience gastrointestinal upset. Constipation: Some individuals may also experience constipation. Stomach pain or discomfort: Some people may experience abdominal pain or discomfort. Reduced appetite: This is often a desired effect for people using Ozempic for weight loss. Indigestion: Can cause a feeling of bloating or discomfort after eating. Serious side effects can also include: Pancreatitis: In rare cases, weight loss jabs may increase the risk of inflammation of the pancreas, known as pancreatitis, which can cause severe stomach pain, nausea, and vomiting. Kidney problems: There have been reports of kidney issues, including kidney failure, though this is uncommon. Thyroid tumors: There’s a potential increased risk of thyroid cancer, although this risk is based on animal studies. It is not confirmed in humans, but people with a history of thyroid cancer should avoid Ozempic. Vision problems: Rapid changes in blood sugar levels may affect vision, and some people have reported blurry vision when taking Ozempic. Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar): Especially if used with other medications like sulfonylureas or insulin. Her father said: “She was full of joy and always helped others before herself. She loved travelling and the ocean.” Her mother said that, while her daughter was quiet, she was committed to her family. She added: “We are part of the Coptic Church, and the way Josephine was willing to help people showed that she lived her faith.” Coroner Mr Irvine also found that, although Anastasia Nasr had spent some time trying to contact the University of East London, the university had changed its policies. And, even if Anastasia had been able to get hold of security earlier, it was unlikely that it would have made a difference. It comes as figures released last week show that more than 200 deaths in the UK have been linked to weight loss jabs including Mounjaro. There have also been 15,000 reports of “serious” adverse effects to the fat jabs, the UK drugs regulator, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), said. The data is collected through the MHRA’s Yellow Card scheme, which allows patients and medical professionals to report side-effects they suspect were caused by a certain drug. The yellow card scheme, set up in the 1960s, allows doctors, pharmacists and patients themselves to report adverse reactions believed to be caused by prescription and over-the-counter drugs, implants and alternative medicines. This can lead to them being reviewed, having warnings added to the label or even being taken off the market. You can report suspected side effects here or search the Google Play or Apple App stores for MHRA Yellow Card. More than one report of side-effects can be made per patient under the scheme, meaning the figure does not reflect the total number of individuals complaining of side-effects. In 2024, it was revealed that Susan McGowan died from multiple organ failure, septic shock and pancreatitis after taking two low-dose injections of tirzepatide. The death certificate for the 58-year-old nurse from North Lanarkshire, who died in September 2024, listed acute pancreatitis as one of the immediate causes of death. Her use of Mounjaro was recorded as “a contributing factor”. It was the first death officially linked to the drug in the UK. Comment now