Written by Yazan Emkidh

Most people use Mounjaro (tirzepatide) to lose weight, look good and feel their best. So, if you’ve heard reports that Mounjaro causes hair loss, it’s natural to be concerned.

Like any medication, Mounjaro comes with potential side effects. That’s why your healthcare provider will lay out the risks and benefits before prescribing it. So is hair loss one of them?

Below, we explore the link between Mounjaro and hair loss. Plus, you’ll get tips on how to prevent and manage it while staying on track with your weight loss.

Does Mounjaro Cause Hair Loss?

Yes, some patients experience hair loss during treatment. It is listed as a common side effect in the patient information leaflet. This is supported by clinical trial data.

Results from clinical trials suggest only a small percentage of patients will notice hair loss. Around 4% to 5% of Mounjaro and other weight loss medication users reported hair loss to some degree.

However, experts believe it’s not necessarily the drug itself that causes hair loss. Instead, weight loss on Mounjaro could trigger a condition known as telogen effluvium.

Telogen effluvium happens when sudden changes in the body cause hair follicles to enter the resting phase and shedding phase of the hair growth cycle. This leads to increased hair loss, which is often temporary.

Rapid weight reduction is a common trigger for telogen effluvium, as it can put the body under stress. Other triggers include illness, malnutrition, high stress and childbirth. 

Why Am I Experiencing Hair Loss on Mounjaro?

Mounjaro itself does not directly cause hair loss. Rather, it is significant weight loss associated with Mounjaro that can cause telogen effluvium. This can lead to hair loss.

When you lose a lot of weight over a short period of time, the body can also prioritise more important bodily functions, like organ function, metabolism, and immunity. The body doesn’t view hair growth as a vital function in the short-term. As a result, hair growth may stop or slow down. This can indicate that you’re losing weight too quickly.

Several other factors may contribute to hair loss during treatment with Mounjaro, including:

  • Hormonal Changes: Weight fluctuations can disrupt the balance of hormones in the body. These hormonal shifts can interfere with the hair growth cycle. This potentially causes hair to fall out more quickly than usual.
  • Increased Stress on the Body: The body perceives major physical change, including rapid weight loss, as stress. Stress, in turn, triggers hair shedding and causes conditions like telogen effluvium.

Is Hair Loss on Mounjaro Permanent?

While hair loss can be concerning, hair shedding triggered by rapid weight loss is usually temporary and reversible. As the body adapts to weight loss, your hair growth will typically return to normal. Most people see hair regrow within three to six months, once their treatment has stabilised.

If you’re still experiencing hair loss after this time, it may indicate another problem. This could be a nutrient deficiency, thyroid issue, or another health condition. In such cases, consult a healthcare professional to identify the root cause.

How to Prevent and Manage Hair Loss on Mounjaro

If you’re experiencing hair loss while taking Mounjaro, consider the following tips:

  • Aim For Steady Weight Loss: Hair loss, especially if it is significant, might indicate that you are going too fast. Aim to lose 1-2 lbs per week. This will help you avoid putting unnecessary strain on your body.
  • Maintain a Balanced Diet: A well-rounded diet is essential for overall health, including hair health. Make sure you’re eating enough protein, iron, zinc, and biotin. Deficiencies in these nutrients can contribute to hair loss.
  • Stay Hydrated: Drinking enough fluids supports overall health, including hair growth.
  • Reduce Stress: Managing stress is important for preventing further hair loss. High stress levels can exacerbate telogen effluvium and contribute to additional shedding. Consider adding stress-reducing practices into your routine, such as journaling, meditation and regular exercise.
  • Use Gentle Hair Care Products: Avoid excessive heat styling, harsh chemicals, and tight hairstyles that can strain hair follicles.
  • Consider Supplements: Supportive supplements such as biotin, zinc, and collagen have been shown to support hair growth. Consult your healthcare provider before taking any new supplements to ensure they are appropriate for your needs.
  • Be Patient: Hair regrowth takes time. Stressing over hair thinning or loss can make it worse. So focus on your overall health and give your body time to adjust to changes.

Should I Be Worried? When to Seek Help

Losing your hair can be upsetting. If your hair is shedding on Mounjaro, in most cases, it’s temporary and part of the body’s adjustment process.

By taking the right steps, outlined above, you can support your body’s overall health. This will help reduce your likelihood of experiencing significant hair loss.

“There is no evidence Mounjaro causes hair loss,” says Richard Wood, a pharmacist at Simple Online Healthcare. 

“Make sure you are giving your body the nutrition it needs and take things slow. This will mean you’re doing everything you can to reduce your chances of hair loss during your treatment.”

If you are struggling with hair loss during treatment, please get in touch and we can help manage your side effects and maybe adjust your Mounjaro treatment. If you’re a patient with Simple, call us on 0141 774 5023.

If hair loss persists beyond six months, worsens, or is accompanied by other symptoms, consult a healthcare professional. They can check for underlying issues, like nutrient deficiencies, thyroid problems or health conditions contributing to or causing the shedding.

Key Takeaways

  • Hair Thinning is a Reported Side Effect of Mounjaro. But it is likely due to rapid weight loss rather than the medication itself.
  • Hair Loss Associated with Mounjaro is Typically Mild, Temporary, and Reversible. For most patients, hair will regrow within three to six months.
  • How to Manage Hair Loss: Maintaining a nutrient-rich diet, staying hydrated, and managing stress can help minimise hair shedding.
  • Talk to Your Healthcare Provider if You’re Worried. If hair loss continues for more than six months, or is accompanied by other side effects, seek medical advice.
  • Do Not Adjust or Stop Your Treatment Without Guidance. Talk to your prescriber first and let them know you’re experiencing hair loss.

Clinically reviewed by: Richard Wood, GPhC reg: 2078802

References

mounjaro KwikPen 2.5mg solution for injection in pre-filled pen – Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC) – (emc). (n.d.). https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/product/15481/smpc#gref 

How to Use, Dosing & Side Effects | mounjaro® (tirzepatide). (n.d.). https://mounjaro.lilly.com/how-to-use-mounjaro 

Do Ozempic, Wegovy, mounjaro & Zepbound cause hair loss? (n.d.). Drugs.com. https://www.drugs.com/medical-answers/ozempic-wegovy-mounjaro-cause-hair-loss-3575019/ 

Hughes, E. C., Syed, H. A., & Saleh, D. (2024, May 1). Telogen effluvium. StatPearls – NCBI Bookshelf. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK430848/ 

How stress causes hair loss. (2021, April 20). National Institutes of Health (NIH). https://www.nih.gov/news-events/nih-research-matters/how-stress-causes-hair-loss 

Choi, S., Zhang, B., Ma, S., Gonzalez-Celeiro, M., Stein, D., Jin, X., Kim, S. T., Kang, Y., Besnard, A., Rezza, A., Grisanti, L., Buenrostro, J. D., Rendl, M., Nahrendorf, M., Sahay, A., & Hsu, Y. (2021). Corticosterone inhibits GAS6 to govern hair follicle stem-cell quiescence. Nature, 592(7854), 428–432. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-021-03417-2

Almohanna, H. M., Ahmed, A. A., Tsatalis, J. P., & Tosti, A. (2018). The role of vitamins and Minerals in hair loss: a review. Dermatology and Therapy, 9(1), 51–70. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13555-018-0278-6

Tee-Melegrito, R. A. (2022, February 25). How to journal for anxiety. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/how-to-journal-for-anxiety#journaling-tips 

Package leaflet: Information for the patient (n.d.). Available at: https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/files/pil.15481.pdf.

Authored By:

Yazan is in his final year at Strathclyde University, studying to earn a Masters in Pharmacy. With several years experience working as a Pharmacy Assisstant under his belt, he aims to provide clear, concise information for our patients.