Key takeaways
- Hair loss wasn’t reported in Mounjaro’s clinical studies, but some people have reported it after the drug was approved. Hair loss has also been reported with some other glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) agonists.
- Telogen effluvium, a type of temporary hair loss, may occur after weight loss. Eating a balanced diet with essential nutrients can help prevent and treat this condition.
- The most common side effects of Mounjaro are digestive issues like nausea, diarrhea, decreased appetite, vomiting, constipation, and indigestion. If you experience hair loss while using Mounjaro, talk with your doctor or pharmacist about management options.
Mounjaro is a prescription drug used to help manage blood sugar levels in adults and some children with type 2 diabetes. Doctors recommend using it in addition to diet and exercise.
Like any medication, Mounjaro can cause side effects, and some of the most common include nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea early in treatment. Hair loss isn’t commonly reported for Mounjaro, but it is possible with other GLP-1 medications.
Read on to learn more about hair loss and GLP-1 agonists, as well as more common side effects to expect with Mounjaro.
Hair loss was not reported as a side effect in Mounjaro’s clinical studies. But hair loss has been reported by some Mounjaro users after the drug was approved for use.
Mounjaro is a type of drug called a dual glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist. Hair loss has also been reported with other GLP-1 agonists, including Ozempic (after it was approved for use) and Zepbound (during clinical studies of the drug).
The following table lists some common GLP-1s and whether they’re known to cause hair loss.
| Drug name | Indication | Is hair loss a side effect? |
|---|---|---|
| semaglutide (Wegovy) | • weight loss • lower the risk of cardiovascular problems in certain people • metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) | No |
| semaglutide (Ozempic) | • manage blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes • lower the risk of worsening kidney disease and death from cardiovascular disease in certain people | Yes* |
| semaglutide (Rybelsus) | manage blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes | No |
| tirzepatide (Mounjaro) | manage blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes | Yes* |
| tirzepatide (Zepbound) | • weight loss • obstructive sleep apnea in certain people | Yes |
| liraglutide (Saxenda) | weight loss | No |
| liraglutide (Victoza) | manage blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes | No |
| dulaglutide (Trulicity) | manage blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes | No |
| exenatide (Byetta) | manage blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes | Yes* |
| exenatide (Bydureon BCise) | manage blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes | Yes* |
* Hair loss was not reported in the clinical trials of this drug, but was reported by people after the drug was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and made available in the market.
Since side effects can vary from person to person, it is hard to know for sure that you may experience hair loss while using Mounjaro or other GLP-1 agonists. If you experience hair loss from Mounjaro, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They can recommend options to help manage this side effect.
Telogen effluvium (a type of hair loss) may also occur after weight loss. Some of the GLP-1 agonists are used for weight loss. While doctors do not prescribe Mounjaro for weight loss, it can cause weight loss due to side effects like nausea and reduced appetite.
Telogen effluvium is typically temporary. Consuming a balanced diet that provides the essential micronutrients and macronutrients can help both prevent and treat telogen effluvium.
Medical perspective“If you don’t follow the recommended diet while on a GLP-1 drug, you may not get enough nutrients. This can cause problems like fatigue, hair loss, or muscle weakness. Poor diet choices can also make side effects like nausea or constipation worse. And for people with diabetes, it may increase the risk of low blood sugar.”
Learn more about the recommended diet with GLP-1s.
Note: Quotes represent the opinions of our medical experts. All content is strictly informational and should not be considered medical advice.
While Mounjaro doesn’t cause hair loss, more common side effects reported in the drug’s studies were digestive system side effects, including:
- nausea
- diarrhea
- decreased appetite
- vomiting
- constipation
- indigestion
- abdominal pain
These side effects should be mild and temporary.
It’s possible Mounjaro may cause hair loss as a side effect, but this is likely to be rare and wasn’t reported in clinical trials. More common side effects of the drug are digestive system side effects, such as nausea and vomiting.
If you have questions or concerns about hair loss while using Mounjaro, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
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