A total of 82 deaths were recorded in the UK in January related to the use of diabetes and weight loss drugs such as Ozempic and Mounjaro, the  Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has said, reports The Daily Mail.

Figures from the MHRA show up to 18 deaths were linked to Mounjaro.

Another 29 fatalities occurred in those taking Ozempic, Rybelsus or Wegovy, also known as semaglutide.

Meanwhile, some 35 people died after having Saxenda and Victoza.

Such drugs belong to the class of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor (AR) agonists. They slow down stomach emptying, inhibit glucagon release, and stimulate insulin production, thereby lowering blood glucose levels in people with type 2 diabetes.

Previous studies have shown that weight loss injections can cause a number of side effects, including pancreatitis, internal organ dystrophy, and depression.

Medical experts, including members of the European Society of Emergency Medicine, are calling for tighter controls on the prescribing of these drugs.

Alison Cave, MHRA chief safety officer, stressed that the decision to use these products should be made in conjunction with a doctor, taking into account all the risks and benefits.

The number of patients using Ozempic and its analogues in the UK is expected to double in the coming year to half a million.