Can Mounjaro Cause Hair Loss?
Currently, there is no evidence that Mounjaro (tirzepatide) causes hair loss.
However, many conditions and medications can cause hair loss. If you notice hair loss, you need to contact your doctor. A medical professional can help you identify the causes.
Sometimes, drugs only cause slower hair growth. Other medications cause only temporary hair loss [1]. To normalize your hair, it may be enough that you change the drug for an alternative.
When you experience any side effects while taking Mounjaro, it is best to consult your doctor.
What is Mounjaro?
Mounjaro is one of two brand names for tirzepatide. This medication is an injectable drug used to treat type 2 diabetes. It is primarily used to manage blood sugar levels in adults with type 2 diabetes [2, 3].
Mounjaro is a hormone-mimicking drug. It stimulates the same receptors as the glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1). Activating these receptors gives you a feeling of fullness and releases insulin. Both of those end effects help lower the glucose in the blood [4, 3, 5, 6].
Additionally, Mounjaro can also be prescribed for obesity. However, this therapy is an off-label treatment [7, 8].
What Side Effects Can Cause Mounjaro?
Mounjaro is a medication with many potential side effects.
Among the most common Side Effects are:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Decreased appetite
- Constipation
- Abdominal pain
- Indigestion
- Gas
- Bloating
- Heartburn
- Mild increase in heart rate [9, 10, 11].
Mounjaro can also cause mild reactions at the injection site. After the administration, you can experience pain, swelling, redness, or skin discolouration [9, 10].
Serious side effects are seldom caused by Mounjaro. Among them are pancreatitis, acute gallbladder disease, severe diarrhoea, nausea or vomiting, and hypoglycemia [9, 10].
Mounjaro can increase the risk of thyroid cancer.
As with many other drugs, Mounjaro can cause allergic reactions. They can be both mild and severe. Symptoms of allergy to Mounjaro include skin rash, itchiness, and flushing. Rarely, Mounjaro can also cause severe anaphylaxis. In this condition, you have severe swelling of your tongue and throat, which can lead to breathing problems [9, 10].
If you experience side effects after Mounjaro, it is crucial to contact your doctor. You should immediately contact emergency medical services in cases of severe side effects.
Are There Any Substitutions For Mounjaro?
Yes, there are alternative drugs for Mounjaro. Your doctor can change your treatment, especially in cases where you have severe side effects.
Here are the alternatives to Mounjaro:
- Metformin
- Ozempic (semaglutide)
- Trulicity (dulaglutide)
- Victoza (liraglutide)
- Jardiance (empagliflozin)
- Invokana (canagliflozin)
- Steglatro (ertugliflozin)
- Januvia (sitagliptin)
- Farxiga (dapagliflozin) [12, 13].
Causes of Hair Loss in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.
It is possible that while you take Mounjaro, you can experience hair loss. However, this condition can be caused by type 2 diabetes. Several factors can contribute to your hair loss.
The primary reason is chronic vascular impairment, which can damage hair follicles and result in hair loss [14].
Diabetes mellitus type 2 can also cause other conditions that can lead to hair loss. For example, autoimmune diseases like scleroderma and lupus erythematosus [15].