Is anxiety a side effect of Mounjaro (tirzepatide)?

Anxiety as a Side Effect of Mounjaro (Tirzepatide)

Yes, anxiety can be a side effect of Mounjaro (tirzepatide), though it is relatively uncommon compared to gastrointestinal side effects.

Evidence on Psychiatric Side Effects

Recent pharmacovigilance data shows that psychiatric adverse events, including anxiety, have been reported with GLP-1 receptor agonists including tirzepatide 1. In a comprehensive analysis of adverse event reports:

• Psychiatric adverse events comprised only 1.2% of total reports for tirzepatide and other GLP-1 agonists
• Anxiety was the second most commonly reported psychiatric adverse event (38.7% of psychiatric reports)
• Depression was the most common psychiatric adverse event (50.3%)

Common Side Effect Profile of Tirzepatide

The most frequently reported side effects of tirzepatide are gastrointestinal in nature 2:

• Gastrointestinal adverse events occur in 39-49% of patients (dose-dependent)
• Nausea and diarrhea are the most common specific complaints
• Most side effects are mild to moderate in severity
• Side effects typically occur primarily during dose escalation

Risk Assessment and Management

If you experience anxiety while taking Mounjaro:

1. Monitor timing and severity:

   • Note if anxiety occurs during dose escalation (more common)
   • Assess if symptoms are mild, moderate, or severe

2. Discuss with healthcare provider:

   • Dose adjustment may help (slower titration or dose reduction)
   • Your provider can evaluate if the anxiety is medication-related or has another cause

3. Consider risk-benefit ratio:

   • Tirzepatide has shown superior weight reduction compared to other medications (20.9% weight reduction at highest dose) 3
   • Only 6.2% of patients on the 15mg dose discontinued due to adverse effects in clinical trials 3

Important Considerations

• Serious neurological or psychiatric adverse events are rare but have been reported 4
• If experiencing severe anxiety, suicidal thoughts, or other significant psychiatric symptoms, seek immediate medical attention
• Patients with pre-existing anxiety disorders should discuss this with their provider before starting tirzepatide

Monitoring Recommendations

• Be particularly vigilant during the first few weeks of treatment and with dose increases
• Report persistent or severe anxiety to your healthcare provider promptly
• Distinguish between normal concerns about a new medication and pathological anxiety symptoms

Remember that while anxiety has been reported as a side effect, the majority of patients tolerate tirzepatide well, with gastrointestinal effects being far more common than psychiatric effects.