Mounjaro Side Effects & How To Decrease Them

Considering using Mounjaro to reach your weight loss goals? This injectable prescription medication can help lower blood sugar levels and aid weight loss. However, we understand that you might be concerned about potential Mounjaro side effects.

Common symptoms include nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, loss of appetite and injection site reactions. Vision changes like blurred or blurry vision could happen, too. You might also feel very dizzy, tired or have body aches. These tend to start early after taking Mounjaro but often improve with time.

The good news? You can take steps to help control these unwanted effects. Sticking to a bland, low-fat diet, drinking plenty of water, getting mild exercise and touching base with your doctor helps. If you’re experiencing severe stomach pain or symptoms that worry you about your pancreas, please don’t hesitate to seek medical care immediately.

In this guide, we’ll explore Mounjaro’s potential side effects, their symptoms and suggestions to help you feel better. Work with your doctor so Mounjaro can assist your weight loss journey safely.

MounjaroMounjaro is a new weight loss injection that helps to reduce appetite and fight cravings. It has been shown to help people lose up to 20% of their body weight in clinical trials.

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Key Takeaways:

• Mounjaro (which has the active ingredient Tirzepatide) treats diabetes in adults and aids in weight loss but can cause side effects like stomach issues, fatigue, and reactions at the injection site. These tend to improve over time.
• You can reduce common side effects from Mounjaro with a balanced diet, light exercise, drinking fluids, and taking it as prescribed by your doctor.
• Seek emergency care immediately for severe symptoms like intense pain, vomiting/diarrhoea preventing hydration, vision issues interfering with daily living, or signs of dehydration.
• Stay in frequent contact with your doctor when first taking Mounjaro so any persistent or worsening side effects can be addressed quickly through changes in medication routine, dosing, or additional treatments.

Understanding Mounjaro’s Unwanted Effects

Common Issues

Mounjaro can cause some bothersome but usually manageable side effects. Upset stomach and diarrhoea are some of the most common digestive side effects. About 20% of people taking Mounjaro during studies had diarrhoea, nausea, or vomiting. These tend to show up most in the first week or two. But they often get better over about 3 months as your body adjusts.

If stomach issues don't go away or seem severe, contact your doctor. They may adjust your dosage, which sometimes helps. Consuming bland foods like rice, toast, applesauce, and crackers can calm symptoms, too. Stay hydrated with water and electrolyte drinks. And avoid greasy meals which are harder to digest.

You might also feel more fatigue, weakness and body aches than normal when beginning Mounjaro. About 6% of people report headaches too. If these linger for more than a month with no relief, let your healthcare provider know. Resting more for the first month helps counter tiredness until it passes.

Some people experience allergic reactions when they inject Mounjaro, like skin rash or redness, itching and bumps under the skin. Using an ice pack before injections can numb the area and prevent irritation. Switching injection sites and proper cleaning of the skin can help as well. If you notice any reactions getting worse or suspect an infection, please seek medical attention. Your comfort and safety are our top priorities.

Serious but Rare Issues

While most issues with Mounjaro are mild, more severe problems are possible. In very rare situations, a few people have had serious problems with their pancreas or gallbladder. Suspend Mounjaro and call your doctor promptly if you have symptoms like:

• Severe stomach pain that lasts over 6 hours
• Nausea and vomiting that prevent hydration
• Fever
• Yellowing skin or eyes

These could signal serious problems with the pancreas, gallbladder blockages, or liver problems. Quick treatment is important to avoid life-threatening complications.

A few people in studies also had severely low blood sugar after taking Mounjaro, especially if combined with other diabetes medications. Symptoms requiring emergency care include:

• Fast heartbeat
• Cold sweating
• Anxiety
• Confusion
• Extreme hunger

Sharing a complete list of your medications with your doctor can help safeguard against risks like hypoglycemia (low blood sugar). Having quick-acting glucose tablets or gel on hand can be a lifeline in managing blood sugar dips. It’s a simple step that can make a big difference.

In very rare cases, thyroid tumours have happened during treatment. Contact your doctor promptly about unusual symptoms like:

• Hoarse voice or trouble speaking
• Neck pain
• Swelling at the front of the neck
• Problems breathing or swallowing

Your doctor can check for tumours or growths related to the risk of thyroid cancer when appropriate. Let them know of any hormone-related conditions you have or changes you notice during medication. Monitoring health together reduces more worrisome risks over the long run.

Tips to Reduce Unwanted Effects

Eating Right

Adjusting your diet can help minimise digestive symptoms and discomfort. Focus on bland foods that are gentle on your digestive tract. Great options include plain oats, bananas, white rice, dry toast, boiled potatoes, crackers and baked fish.

Stay hydrated by sipping water, herbal tea, flat soda or electrolyte drinks. Dehydration from diarrhoea and vomiting makes side effects feel more severe. Replenishing fluids is crucial. Broth-based soups also provide hydration plus nutrients.

Avoid spicy, greasy foods, raw veggies, acidic items like tomatoes or orange juice, and gas-producing foods like beans and cabbage. These can further irritate your stomach and intestines. Limit caffeine and alcoholic drinks as well until side effects resolve.

Adjusting Your Routine

Getting mild exercise, like short walks, aids digestion and relieves constipation. Light activity also combats fatigue and weakness by increasing blood flow and energy. Just be sure to stop if dizzy or nauseous. Yoga and stretching benefit without taxing reserves.

Ask your healthcare provider whether adjusting the timing or dosage of your Mounjaro injections might minimise adverse effects. Taking it at bedtime often lets you sleep through the worst discomfort. But never alter prescription drugs on your own, as that could cause complications.

Check-in with your doctor at least monthly when beginning Mounjaro treatment. Report any lingering symptoms like stomach pain or vision changes right away for early intervention. Monitoring health together helps maximise health benefits and weight loss goals while controlling risks.

Knowing When to Get Help

Recognising Severe Side Effects

While many mild side effects caused by Mounjaro improve on their own, some require emergency medical attention. Contact your doctor right away or seek emergency treatment if experiencing:

• Severe pain in your stomach persisting for more than 6 hours
• Intense nausea resulting in repeated vomiting and preventing hydration
• Diarrhoea ongoing for over 2 days, leaving you dehydrated
• Symptoms of dehydration like rapid heartbeat, minimal urine, dry mouth, weakness and dizziness, indicating your body lacks fluids and electrolytes
• A fever, along with very bad stomach pain and skin turning yellow, might mean there’s a serious problem with the pancreas
• Vision impairment like moderate blurred vision or partial loss of sight that interferes with daily living and tasks

Getting timely treatment for severe reactions improves outcomes and prevents lasting harm. Monitoring for dangerous symptoms and urgently consulting licensed healthcare professionals avoids further illness progression and eases suffering. Don’t try to push through intense abdominal pain, vomiting or alarming vision changes alone without medical guidance.

Talking to Your Doctor

Consistent check-ups with your doctor while adjusting to Mounjaro facilitate addressing concerning symptoms early. Arrive prepared to appointments by:

• Keeping a daily health journal detailing any side effects, food triggers, injection site reactions, blood sugar changes, and lifestyle adjustments, along with rating energy and pain levels. Call 999 if you think you’re having a medical emergency or your symptoms feel life-threatening.
• Listing all current prescription and over-the-counter medications, including vitamins, supplements, birth control and dosage details for potential interaction reviews
• Voicing any questions related to possible continued medication reactions, expected timelines until improvement or alternatives if current treatment plans prove ineffective

Clear communication allows your provider to recommend timely medication adjustments as needed while preventing lasting complications. Remain engaged until your healthcare professional has answered all queries regarding the safe usage of Mounjaro, the expected duration of symptoms and monitoring guidelines customised to your health history and risk factors.

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FAQs

What does Mounjaro do to your body?

Mounjaro is an injected diabetes treatment and weight loss medication. It works similarly to hormones that are normally released from your gut to control blood sugar after you eat. Mounjaro causes the stomach to empty slower, prompts insulin release from the pancreas to lower glucose levels and suppresses appetite.

How long should you stay on Mounjaro for weight loss?

Most patients take Mounjaro for 3 months up to 1 full year, targeting weight reduction. You’ll then talk to your healthcare provider about potentially adjusting doses or stopping use once goals are met. Others continue long-term injections to regulate blood sugar if diabetic.

What foods or other medications can you not take with Mounjaro?

Avoid alcohol, which can worsen some side effects. Be cautious about combining Mounjaro with other glucose-lowering medications due to increased hypoglycemia risks. Discuss all current prescriptions, supplements and medical history with your healthcare provider before starting Mounjaro to maximise safety.

Does Mounjaro negatively affect your mood?

Some people mention mood shifts like more anxiety or irritation when using Mounjaro. Monitoring mental health allows for properly addressing changes through medication switches, counselling referrals or lifestyle changes as needed. Most emotional symptoms improve over time.

Sources:

• Rahul Mishra, Rishi Raj, Ghada Elshimy, Isain Zapata, Lakshmi Kannan, Priyanka Majety, Dinesh Edem, and Ricardo Correa (2023). Adverse Events Related to Tirzepatide - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9915969/
• Rouchan Ali, Sharma Arvind Virendra, Pooja A Chawla (2022). Bumps and humps in the success of Tirzepatide as the first GLP1 and GIP receptor agonist - https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772632022000216
• Thomas A. Wadden, Ariana M. Chao, Molly Moore, Jena S. Tronieri, Adam Gilden, Anastassia Amaro, Sharon Leonard, and John M. Jakicic (2023). The Role of Lifestyle Modification with Second-Generation Anti-obesity Medications: Comparisons, Questions, and Clinical Opportunities -https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10748770/