From the Guidelines
Mounjaro (tirzepatide) is associated with several side effects, including gastrointestinal symptoms, pancreatitis, hypoglycemia, and thyroid C-cell tumors, and should be used with caution and careful monitoring, as recommended by recent guidelines 1. The most common side effects of Mounjaro include:
- Gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, decreased appetite, constipation, abdominal pain, and indigestion, which can be mitigated by slow dose titration and dietary modifications 1
- Pancreatitis, a rare but serious side effect that requires immediate medical attention 1
- Hypoglycemia, especially when used with insulin or insulin secretagogues, which can be managed with careful monitoring and dose adjustments 1
- Thyroid C-cell tumors, a potential risk seen in animal studies, although the human relevance is unknown 1
- Injection site reactions, such as redness or itching, which are usually mild and self-limiting 1 Other potential side effects of Mounjaro include:
- Fatigue, burping, hair loss, or gastroesophageal reflux, which can be managed with supportive care and lifestyle modifications 1
- Kidney problems, which require careful monitoring and dose adjustments in patients with pre-existing kidney disease 1 To minimize side effects and ensure safe use, Mounjaro should be:
- Started at a low dose (2.5 mg weekly) and gradually increased over time, allowing the body to adjust to the medication 1
- Used with caution in patients with a history of pancreatitis, thyroid C-cell tumors, or kidney disease 1
- Monitored closely for signs of hypoglycemia, pancreatitis, and other serious side effects, with immediate medical attention sought if necessary 1
From the FDA Drug Label
MOUNJARO may cause serious side effects, including: inflammation of your pancreas (pancreatitis). low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) serious allergic reactions kidney problems (kidney failure) severe stomach problems. changes in vision. gallbladder problems. The most common side effects of MOUNJARO include: nausea diarrhea decreased appetite vomiting constipation indigestion stomach (abdominal) pain
The side effects of Mounjaro (tirzepatide) include serious side effects such as:
- Pancreatitis: inflammation of the pancreas
- Hypoglycemia: low blood sugar
- Serious allergic reactions
- Kidney problems: kidney failure
- Severe stomach problems
- Changes in vision
- Gallbladder problems And common side effects such as:
- Nausea
- Diarrhea
- Decreased appetite
- Vomiting
- Constipation
- Indigestion
- Stomach (abdominal) pain 2 2
From the Research
Side Effects of Mounjaro (Tirzepatide)
The side effects of Mounjaro (tirzepatide) are primarily gastrointestinal in nature, as reported in several studies 3, 4, 5, 6, 7.
- The most common adverse events associated with tirzepatide include:
- Nausea
- Diarrhea
- Decreased appetite
- Vomiting
- These gastrointestinal events are typically mild to moderate in severity and tend to decrease over time 6, 7.
- Compared to other treatments like insulin degludec, tirzepatide has a lower risk of hypoglycemia 6.
- The incidence of major adverse cardiovascular events with tirzepatide is similar to that of other treatments like insulin glargine 5.
- Treatment discontinuation due to adverse events was more common in tirzepatide groups than in the insulin degludec group 6.
Comparison of Side Effects with Other Treatments
- Tirzepatide's safety profile is consistent with that of GLP-1 receptor agonists 3, 6.
- The side effect profile of tirzepatide is comparable to semaglutide, another GLP-1 receptor agonist 4, 5.
- A lower starting dose and smaller dose increments of tirzepatide may be associated with a more favorable side effect profile 7.