Ozempic and Other Weight Loss Drugs May Cause Hair Loss

This is especially helpful when you first start taking a new drug or using a combination of treatments. If your doctor confirms you’ve had a serious allergic reaction to Mounjaro, they’ll likely have you switch to a different treatment. If you develop symptoms of pancreatitis while using Mounjaro, let your doctor know right away. They’ll order tests to determine the cause of your symptoms.

Common Mounjaro side effects

While you’re using Mounjaro, your doctor will monitor you for symptoms of thyroid cancer. And tell them right away if you have any symptoms of thyroid cancer, such as a hoarse voice, lump in your throat, or neck pain. Your doctor will likely also avoid prescribing Mounjaro if you have multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN2). MEN2 is a rare genetic (inherited) condition that may lead to thyroid cancer. A licensed telehealth professional will evaluate your health.

Boxed warning: Risk of thyroid cancer

If they confirm that you have pancreatitis, you’ll likely need to go to the hospital for treatment and stop using Mounjaro. Mounjaro may cause mild side effects other than those listed above. There have been issues with Mounjaro availability with drug shortages for some strengths due to increase for the demand. You may give insulin in the same area as this medicine, but they should not be given right next to each other. You may change the day of the week you use this medicine as long as there is at least three days between doses. Your doctor will usually start you on a low dose, which will be gradually increased, but not more than once every 4 weeks.

Mounjaro for Weight Loss: How Does It Work?

The problem is that stale advice isn’t likely to move the needle. A metabolic dysfunction that affects your body right down to the cellular level. It’s not known whether Mounjaro passes into breast milk or what effect it might have on a breastfed child. Before starting Mounjaro treatment, talk with your doctor if you’re breastfeeding or planning to do so. Keeping notes and sharing them with your doctor will help them learn more about how Mounjaro affects you. They can then use this information to adjust your treatment plan if needed.

Ozempic Causing Hair Loss? Why Some People Are Shedding More Than Pounds

The most common side effects of Mounjaro include nausea, diarrhea, decreased appetite, vomiting, constipation, indigestion, and stomach (abdominal) pain. Zepbound is an injectable prescription medicine that may help adults with obesity, or with excess weight (overweight) who also have weight-related medical problems, lose weight and keep it off. Zepbound should be used with a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity. If you experience hair loss that is worrisome or does not go away when using Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro or Zepbound, contact your weight loss healthcare provider or dermatologist for a further evaluation.

Do Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro & Zepbound cause hair loss?

"Hair loss is unlikely related to the drugs, but more likely related to weight loss that is a result of these drugs," Surampudi told the outlet. Ali said there’s a reason for that, because the hair loss people are experiencing likely isn’t a side effect of the drug itself. Hair loss is a common side effect of significant weight loss during a short period of time, and people who undergo bariatric, or weight loss surgery, are usually warned ahead of time that this could be a side effect. The drugs work by targeting receptors in the body that are involved with producing insulin and regulating digestion. “What is really striking for folks is that there are no scalp symptoms. It doesn’t hurt, there’s no itching, but you can run your hands through your hair and you have a handful of hair.

FDA investigates unusual side effects of diabetes, weight loss drugs - WSAW

FDA investigates unusual side effects of diabetes, weight loss drugs.

Posted: Thu, 04 Jan 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]

This material is provided for educational purposes only and is not intended for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Data sources include Micromedex (updated 1 Apr 2024), Cerner Multum™ (updated 21 Apr 2024), ASHP (updated 10 Apr 2024) and others. Let your healthcare provider know about all the medicines you take, as well, as some medicines are responsible for hair loss. Be sure to include prescription drugs, over-the-counter medicines, and any vitamins, herbal or dietary supplements you take. Find out what mix of healthy food and beverages you should be consuming, and how often. While this may not prevent temporary hair loss with Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro or Zepbound.

“There is generally a three-month lag after weight loss stops, when you hit that plateau, that the shedding will slowly start to dissipate and hair will start to grow back,” Massick said. Because semaglutide and tirzepatide suppress appetite, people typically eat significantly less than their bodies are used to while taking the drugs. Tell your healthcare provider if you have changes in vision during treatment with Zepbound.

So, there’s a chance a person taking the drug will notice hair loss. Subreddit forums have multiple posts from users asking if hair loss is normal when taking the drugs. TikTok is also full of videos with questions, stories, and explanations. All offered reassurances for people experiencing hair loss along with weight loss. Iron is important, particularly during menstruation, Surampudi said, and everyone may benefit from taking a vitamin D supplement while on weight loss drugs.

Your provider will likely also recommend diet and exercise in combination with the medication. Of course, exercise and eating nutritious food is important. But will those steps alone help people with obesity achieve a healthy weight (and lower their risk for other chronic conditions like heart disease, diabetes and fatty liver disease)? Dehydration can occur because nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea are common side effects of this drug.

We hope this answered your questions in regards to a potential Mounjaro hair loss side effect, potential ways to reduce your risk and information about stress shedding. Another reason that hair loss on Mounjaro may occur is Type 2 diabetes. If applicable to you, a recent study has shown that African American women with type 2 diabetes have a higher risk of losing hair. Mounjaro is in many ways similar to another popular diabetes drug, Ozempic®, which has also been garnering buzz for its weight loss effects. Some side effects of tirzepatide may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine.

On average, tirzepatide users saw a weight reduction of 18.4%, while those using a placebo lost 2.5%. In the secondary endpoint, change in body weight, patients experienced a significant average weight loss of 26.6% (29.2 kg or 64.4 lb.) from the beginning of the study over a period of 84 weeks. According to the Cleveland Clinic, rapid weight loss can trigger telogen effluvium, a common type of hair loss that affects people after they experience severe stress or a change to their body. In recent weeks, patients have shared on social media their experiences with hair loss after taking Ozempic, an FDA-approved prescription medication for people with type 2 diabetes. It's one of the brand names for semaglutide and tirzepatide — also known as Wegovy and Mounjaro — which works in the brain to impact satiety. Wegovy’s clinical trials suggested that 3% of people who took the drug said they experienced hair loss, slightly higher than the 1% of the participants in the placebo who reported the same.

To learn more about what to expect when using Mounjaro for weight loss, talk with your doctor. They can advise you on how soon you may see results with Mounjaro. There isn’t a specific amount of weight loss that’s expected each week with Mounjaro. Weight loss results with this drug can differ for each person who uses it. If you have questions about the possible FDA approval of Mounjaro for weight loss, talk with your doctor.

In people who have kidney problems, diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting may cause a loss of fluids (dehydration), which may cause kidney problems to get worse. It is important for you to drink fluids to help reduce your chance of dehydration. This is not all the information you need to know about Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro or Zepbound for safe and effective use and does not take the place of your doctor’s directions. Review the full product information and discuss this information and any questions you have with your doctor or other health care provider.