So you’ve started taking Mounjaro and are pretty pleased with the results. You’ve lost weight and are beginning to feel like a lighter, healthier you. But when you brush your hair, you’ve noticed that more strands seem to be coming out than usual.
It’s not just you—hair loss is a common side effect of the medicine. But why is Mounjaro linked to hair loss, and what can you do about it? Read on to find out.
Can Mounjaro cause hair loss?
In a word: yes. According to the medicine’s patient information leaflet, hair loss may affect up to one in ten people using Mounjaro weight loss injections.
Around 5% of people in the clinical trial SURMOUNT-1 experienced hair loss after starting Mounjaro, compared to about 1% taking placebo.
Why might Mounjaro cause hair loss?
But here’s the thing: Mounjaro isn’t believed to bring on hair loss directly. Rather, it’s more likely a knock-on effect of weight loss.
When your body goes through a stressful event, like losing weight or giving birth, it can cause more of your hairs to move further along in their growth cycle (i.e. from the growth towards the shedding phase). So, they come out sooner.
This type of hair loss is called telogen effluvium—and usually, it’s temporary and reversible.
How to prevent and manage hair loss on Mounjaro?
The good news is that most of the time, your hair will start to regrow on its own once the trigger causing the hair loss has been removed, AKA when weight loss stabilises.
In the meantime, here are some ways to keep your locks lush and healthy.
Eat a balanced diet
Not getting enough of certain nutrients—like vitamins D, B, iron, and protein—has also been linked to hair loss.
Try to eat five portions of fruit and vegetables each day, with one portion being 80g. And don’t forget to eat enough lean protein (around 0.8g/kg of body weight). Check in with your provider about whether you might benefit from supplements.
Keep stress in check
When you’re stressed, your body releases corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH), which triggers the release of cortisol from your adrenal glands. We don’t fully understand how, but increased levels of CRH may play a role in blocking hair follicle regrowth.
Some ways to help deal with stress are to lean on your support network and exercise regularly. If your stress is intense or not going away, your provider may be able to help.
Lose weight gradually
How much, and how quickly, you lose weight are thought to play a role in temporary hair loss, too. For instance, studies show that over half of people experience it after having bariatric surgery—compared to up to one in ten people taking Mounjaro, who would typically lose a few percentage points of their weight each month.
So, it might help to commit to a long-term programme that combines medication with healthy lifestyle changes.
Do other weight loss drugs cause hair loss?
They could. Hair loss is listed as a side effect of Wegovy but not of Saxenda. However, because losing weight is what drives the hair loss, it’s possible that some people on Saxenda might experience it, too. Saxenda is associated with less weight loss compared to Mounjaro and Wegovy though.
In a clinical trial that involved 2,116 people taking Wegovy, 3% had hair loss compared to 1% in the placebo group.
What are the most common side effects of Mounjaro injections?
Those would be nausea, diarrhoea, being sick (vomiting), stomach pain, low blood sugar and constipation. These side effects are estimated to affect over one in ten people.
Is Mounjaro right for you?
We get that it can feel overwhelming (or even scary!) to learn about a medicine’s side effects. But it’s important to weigh these up against its potential benefits. With Mounjaro, that could be losing up to 25% of your starting weight.
As part of our weight loss programme, our clinicians and coaches can advise on which medicine might be best and help you forge healthy lifestyle habits that last. Plus, we’ll post weight loss medication to you each month.
We know you can reach your health goals—and we’re so excited for you to get there. Take our quiz to see if you’re eligible for the programme. It won’t take more than a few minutes.
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