If you’re one of the many people curious about Mounjaro (tirzepatide), you’ve likely seen the drug discussed on platforms like Reddit. While these online communities are popular, sorting through countless posts to find accurate information can be challenging.

To help you sort through the details, here are some of the most-asked questions about Mounjaro with medically-reviewed answers. This way, you can be better informed and have a more productive conversation with your doctor.

Mounjaro is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to manage blood sugar levels with diet and exercise in adults with type 2 diabetes. So if your doctor prescribes the drug for this purpose, your blood sugar levels will likely increase if you stop treatment.

In addition, the following effects were observed in a 2024 study of people with overweight or obesity, without diabetes, who stopped tirzepatide (the active ingredient in Mounjaro):

  • Weight regain: Within a year of stopping tirzepatide, people regained 14% of their lost body weight.
  • Increased appetite: Without tirzepatide, increased appetite, cravings, and “food noise” returned, which made it difficult for people to stick to a low-calorie diet.
  • Worsening of certain risk factors: Improvements in risk factors like high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels, and high blood sugar during treatment were reversed as weight was regained.

Keep in mind that Mounjaro is not FDA-approved for weight loss, but it may be prescribed off-label for this purpose. With off-label use, doctors prescribe a drug for a purpose other than what it’s approved for.

If you’re concerned about the effects of stopping Mounjaro, talk with your doctor. They can help you understand what to expect when you stop treatment. They can also create a plan to monitor and manage your blood sugar levels.

When Mounjaro was taken alone in studies, hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) did not occur. However, the risk of low blood sugar increases if you use Mounjaro with certain other diabetes medications, such as insulin.

If you’re taking other diabetes drugs with Mounjaro, your doctor may lower the dosage of these medications to help reduce the risk of low blood sugar.

It’s also important to know about the signs and symptoms of low blood sugar in case it happens. These include:

  • dizziness or lightheadedness
  • sweating
  • confusion
  • headache
  • blurred vision
  • slurred speech
  • feeling shaky or jittery
  • fast heartbeat
  • anxiety, irritability, or mood changes

If you’re concerned about low blood sugar with Mounjaro, talk with your doctor. They can discuss a plan to manage this side effect if you experience it.

Mounjaro is approved to manage blood sugar levels in adults with type 2 diabetes. It’s prescribed with diet and exercise. Weight loss may occur with Mounjaro as a result of slowed digestion, decreased appetite, and improved response to insulin.

In studies, people with type 2 diabetes taking Mounjaro alone lost between 6.4 kg and 7.8 kg (about 13.6 pounds [lb] and 17.2 lb) compared with placebo (a drug with no active ingredient). (One kg is about 2.2 lb.) This was after 40 weeks of treatment. Typically, higher doses of the drug caused more weight loss.

Zepbound is another prescription medication that contains the same active ingredient as Mounjaro, tirzepatide. It’s prescribed for weight loss and weight management in adults with overweight or obesity.

Talk with your doctor if you have questions about how much weight you can lose with Mounjaro. They can tell you what to expect during your treatment. They can also discuss whether Zepbound is a better option for you.

Mounjaro commonly causes digestive side effects, such as:

To lower the risk of these side effects, your doctor will start you on a low dose of Mounjaro and increase it slowly every 4 weeks until your blood sugar levels are managed. Be sure to follow your doctor’s recommended dosage schedule.

At every dose increase, these side effects may worsen since your body will be exposed to more medication. But they may go away once your body gets used to the higher levels. Also keep in mind that some people may not experience these side effects while using Mounjaro.

To help manage these side effects, your doctor may recommend:

  • staying hydrated to help prevent kidney problems
  • contacting them right away if you have severe side effects or ones that don’t go away
  • making changes in your diet, such as eating smaller or less greasy meals
  • taking medications to treat nausea, constipation or diarrhea

If side effects are still a problem, your doctor might lower your dose or change how often it increases.

To get the best results with Mounjaro, you can focus on the following:

  • Follow your doctor’s treatment plan: Mounjaro is prescribed with a balanced diet and physical activity. Sticking to a exercise plan and having a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean protein can help you get the best results with the drug.
  • Increase your dose only as prescribed: Your treatment plan may also include a dose escalation every 4 weeks. This is to make sure the drug is as effective as possible while lowering the risk of side effects.
  • Administer Mounjaro correctly: Proper injection technique helps your body absorb the drug effectively. Be sure to inject Mounjaro once weekly and rotate injection sites with each dose.
  • Communicate openly with your doctor: It’s important to tell your doctor about all medications you take, any health conditions you may have, and any future surgeries. These may affect Mounjaro’s effectiveness or increase the risk of side effects from the drug. Also tell your doctor about the side effects you experience. They can help you manage them or find a different treatment option for you.

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Mounjaro is a dual glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist used to help people with type 2 diabetes manage their blood sugar. While online communities, like those on Reddit, share a broad range of personal experiences, your response to Mounjaro may be different. For specific questions and to ensure you have the best treatment plan, it’s important to talk with your doctor directly.

Disclaimer: Healthline has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.