How does Mounjaro make you feel?

Mounjaro is a brand-name injection of a drug called tirzepatide.

Doctors commonly prescribe it to treat type 2 diabetes, and it can also help you lose weight. As with all medications, Mounjaro can cause several side effects. These include gastrointestinal problems, appetite loss, and abdominal pain.

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What conditions can Mounjaro help with?

Mounjaro is a new medication approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for treating type 2 diabetes. This drug can help improve blood sugar levels alongside a healthy, balanced diet and regular physical activity. Mounjaro does not currently have approval for treating type 1 diabetes.

Doctors sometimes prescribe Mounjaro for treating people with obesity as an off-label medication. This is because Mounjaro has strong weight loss properties and can reduce your appetite, making you feel full quicker.

However, tripeptide has recently received FDA approval for the treatment of obesity under the brand Zepbound.

Side effects of Mounjaro

When you take Mounjaro, you may experience side effects that can range from mild to severe. These are usually only temporary and will go away in a few days or weeks.

However, speak with a doctor if your side effects do not go away, get worse, or cause severe problems.

Some of the mild side effects that people have reported when taking Mounjaro include:

• nausea
• diarrhea
• appetite loss
• indigestion
• passing wind and burping
• pain at the injection site
• headaches
• dizziness or lightheadedness
• mood changes, such as anxiety and irritability

Mounjaro may also cause some serious but rare side effects, including:

• serious allergic reactions
• gallbladder problems, which may appear as upper abdominal pain
• pancreas inflammation (pancreatitis)

Mounjaro may also cause thyroid tumors or cancer to develop in people who have multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2 (MEN2) or a family history of medullary thyroid cancer. However, this is extremely rare.

You must seek medical attention immediately if you experience any of the following symptoms after taking a dose of Mounjaro:

• difficulties breathing or swallowing
• fainting or feeling dizzy
• very rapid heartbeat
• swelling of your lips, tongue, throat, or face
• severe rash and itching

These may be signs of a severe allergic reaction that may also lead to an anaphylactic shock. This is a life threatening condition that needs immediate medical treatment.

Benefits of Mounjaro

Mounjaro can help lower your blood sugar by increasing insulin production from your pancreas and lowering the amount of sugar your liver produces. It does this by triggering two receptors: glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) hormone and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) hormone.

These hormones play a key role in regulating your blood sugar levels. Mounjaro works by activating both receptors and significantly improving blood sugar management in people with type 2 diabetes.

Mounjaro can also help people lose weight by slowing the rate at which the food passes through the body, making people feel full for longer and reducing their hunger.

The combination of improved blood sugar level management and weight loss can also reduce the risk of developing serious cardiovascular complications often linked to obesity and diabetes.

Tirzepatide, the generic version of this drug, has recently received FDA approval to treat obesity.

What should you consider before using Mounjaro?

It can be beneficial to speak with a healthcare professional, such as a doctor or pharmacist, before taking Mounjaro. They can help you understand what risks and possible side effects you may encounter while taking this drug.

You should not use Mounjaro if you have MEN2 or a family history of thyroid cancer. This is because it can significantly increase the risk of developing cancer or other serious illnesses.

Mounjaro can also interact with several drugs, such as birth control pills, reducing or altering their effectiveness.

While the effects of Mounjaro on fetuses during pregnancy are currently unknown, the medication can transfer into breast milk. More research is necessary to understand the effects of the drug on those who are nursing.

For this reason, before taking Mounjaro, people should inform doctors if they:

• are pregnant
• intend to become pregnant
• are currently breastfeeding or chestfeeding
• plan to breastfeed or chestfeed

Taking Mounjaro is a known risk factor for developing acute pancreatitis. For this reason, it may not be suitable if you have previously experienced inflammation of the pancreas.

Summary

Mounjaro is an FDA-approved medication for treating type 2 diabetes and managing blood sugar levels. As Mounjaro can lower appetite and slow down the digestion process, making you feel fuller for longer, doctors also prescribe it to help people with obesity lose weight.

However, Mounjaro has several side effects. Most people only develop mild side effects that often go away after a few days or weeks, such as nausea and appetite loss. However, serious health complications include allergic reactions, pancreatitis, and a risk of medullary thyroid cancer for individuals with a family history of MEN2.

If you are worried about any symptoms you develop after taking Mounjaro, consider speaking with a healthcare professional. They can check whether the drug may be causing any severe side effects.

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