'Weight loss jabs gave me my life back'

Sammi Hill was in a "dark hole" for years before deciding to start using the weight loss jab Mounjaro

For five years, Sammi Hill took hardly any pictures of herself, avoided socialising and "couldn't stand to look" in a mirror.

The 33-year-old said she gained 8st (51.8kg) following the births of her two daughters - now aged four and five - and struggled to lose the pounds.

She said she was later diagnosed with depression, which left her demotivated and lacking in confidence.

Last year, she began using the weight loss drug Mounjaro and said it helped "get her life back".

But a hike in the price of the drug means she is now reconsidering whether to continue using it.

She told the BBC she believed the price hike could negatively affect the mental health of people who are trying to improve their lives.

Last month, the US manufacturer of Mounjaro announced it was putting up the list price of the drug by as much as 170%, which could have meant the cost of the highest dose going up from £122 to £330 per month.

But the BBC understands the highest dose will now be sold to suppliers for £247.50.

'Locked myself away'

The mother of three said she was unwell throughout her last pregnancy and suffered from hip and joint pain that left her needing crutches, which she said affected her weight.

"It was really hard because I couldn't even stand to look at myself," she said.

"I locked myself away for five years. I was 10st (63.5kg) when I met my partner, and then I went up to 18st (114.3kg)."

At her lowest point, Sammi - from Mapperley in Nottingham - said she struggled to find motivation to get out of bed and brush her teeth.

Sammi said she had a lack of motivation for years while she struggled to lose weight and tried to manage depression

Sammi said she had tried numerous antidepressants over the years, but found her mental health improved the most after using the weight loss drug, which she bought from an online pharmacy.

She started using Mounjaro in July last year and within the space of a year, said she had lost 4st (25.4kg).

The drug works as an appetite suppressant by mimicking a hormone that makes people feel fuller.

It also affects metabolism and helps regulate energy balance.

Patients can be prescribed Mounjaro but the drug is also available to buy privately.

For many, the side effects - which can include feeling sick, vomiting, bloating, constipation and diarrhoea - are manageable and tend to go away in time.

However, experts have warned the complications can be worse if the drugs are abused.

Meanwhile, there have been hundreds of reports of patients having problems with their pancreas, which is now being studied by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).

Sammi got married in August and said she had managed to maintain her new weight after taking a break from Mounjaro

Sammi started on a low dose of the drug but did not gradually increase the dose as patients generally do when using Mounjaro.

She said she believed she did not need to, having seen positive effects on a low dose.

"It's helped me with my confidence and I've learned a lot about myself along the way," Sammi said.

"A lot of people might think it's a cheat, but it's not, it's a boost.

"I didn't have the motivation to get up in the morning to brush my teeth, never mind getting up and doing a work out.

"It's taken me out of that really dark hole that I was in."

'Not just about weight'

Since using Mounjaro, Sammi said she had learned how to eat more healthily and understood portion sizes that worked for her.

She decided to take a break from using the drug ahead of her wedding in August and said she managed to maintain the weight.

Sammi hoped to start using Mounjaro again in September with the aim of losing another 4st (25.4kg), but due to the price hike, she said she was considering waiting.

While the drug will be sold to suppliers in the UK at a discounted rate, pharmacies and other private weight loss services will add their own mark-up to consumers.

Manufacturer Eli Lilly said the UK price of Mounjaro had to increase to be more in line with higher prices in Europe and the US.

It means the price rise for patients is unlikely to be as large as initially feared, but Sammi believes it will still have a negative impact on people's lives.

Sammi added for many, it was "not just about the weight".

"It is worrying because it's taking away that lease of life from people who can't afford it. It is expensive as it is," she said.

Additional reporting by Maria Rubio

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