Doctor warns Mounjaro users to seek medical evaluation if they start to notice three things
A doctor has issued a warning to Mounjaro users about the three signs that mean you should seek medical evaluation.
For those not familiar, the GLP-1RA drug was initially created to help people with type 2 diabetes, but has since become increasingly popular as a weight management tool.
And after a mass rollout on the NHS, it’s been reported that a whopping 220,000 people who have the ‘greatest need’ are expected to receive the weekly injectable in the next three years.
The injections work by suppressing appetites, regulating blood sugar and slowing down digestion, making it easier for people to lose weight.
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While people have been shouting about incredible results and health improvements, there are also a number of side effects that users have been faced with.
Gastrointestinal issues like nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea and constipation, are listed as common side effects, while others are more rare.
As the drug continues to increase in popularity, some users have noticed that they’ve started to lose more than just weight.
Mounjaro users have been reporting hair loss, with some people claiming their locks have been falling out and thinning since they started taking the medication.
To explain, while hair loss is not directly a side effect of the drug, losing weight rapidly, can cause telogen effluvium - which is rapid but temporary hair loss caused by stress or a change to your body.
Basically, your body is being put under so much stress and undergoing a sudden change when you lose a lot of weight in a short space of time.
In turn, your hair follicles enter their resting and shedding phase of the hair growth cycle, which can lead to hair loss.
Should you be worried about losing your hair on Mounjaro?
It’s understandable that seeing your hair fall out can cause panic, so Dr Suzanne Wylie, GP and medical adviser for IQdoctor, has delved into when you should seek medical help.
She explained that this type of hair loss is usually reversible and ‘once the body adjusts and weight stabilises, most patients see hair regrowth within six to twelve months’.
Dr Wylie said: “To help reduce the risk of hair loss while taking Mounjaro, patients are encouraged to lose weight gradually, ideally one to two pounds (around half to one kilogram) per week, and to ensure they are consuming enough protein, iron, zinc, and B vitamins as part of a balanced diet.”
She added that maintaining good scalp and hair care practices, such as avoiding excessive heat styling or tight hairstyles, can be beneficial.
If you’re losing some hair, try not to worry too much, as Dr Wylie has pointed out that hair loss alone is not generally a reason to stop taking Mounjaro, especially if the medication is providing important health benefits.
However, she says that patients should seek further medical evaluation if one of three specific things happen.
The first is if the shedding becomes severe, the second is if it lasts longer than six months, and the third is if it’s accompanied by other symptoms such as fatigue or scalp inflammation.
Dr Wylie said: “In these cases, it’s important to rule out other possible causes like thyroid dysfunction or nutritional deficiencies.
“This side effect is not unique to Mounjaro and has also been observed with other medications in the same class, including those used for weight loss such as semaglutide.
“In all cases, hair loss appears to be more closely related to the pace and extent of weight loss rather than the medication itself.”
Eli Lilly, Mounjaro's manufacturer, said: "Patient safety is Lilly’s top priority. We take any reports regarding patient safety seriously and actively monitor, evaluate, and report safety information for all our medicines.
"The Mounjaro (tirzepatide) Patient Information Leaflet warns that hair loss is a common side effect in patients treated with Mounjaro for weight management.
"We encourage patients to consult their doctor or other healthcare professional regarding any side effects they may be experiencing and to ensure that they are getting genuine Lilly medicine."
Madison Burgess