Mounjaro side effects got too bad 😭

55 lbs down by December is a strong run for that timeline - side effects at higher doses hit a lot of people. Dose timing, eating window adjustments, or stepping back temporarily are the usual levers. Forum-sourced protocol for managing Mounjaro GI load is more refined than what most providers offer.

I've been on Mounjaro since spring of '25 and I'm down 55 pounds. It felt so good to actually lose some weight after struggling for years because of my disability.

Around December, I started getting major stomach problems (think sulfur burps and cramps), but it wasn't too bad, so I just took some supplements and avoided stuff that triggered it. But by January, the pain was so bad I was doubled over and throwing up. I had this twisting, burning pain across my whole belly for hours. A few times I almost went to the ER because it felt like my gallbladder attacks before I had it removed. My doctor checked for Pancreatitis, but my blood work came back normal. He thinks it's probably IBS and gave me some pills to take before eating. They seemed to help a little, but I was still having terrible pain almost exactly a day after my Mounjaro shot. I was eating super bland - rice, toast, water, supplements, and those pills. But the pain kept coming back after my dose.

So after another couple weeks of hoping things would change, I finally stopped Mounjaro altogether. It was a really tough choice, but I couldn't deal with another night of that level of pain. It's been almost two weeks since I stopped. No pain since then. But I'm so down mentally. I keep bursting into tears, convinced that all the weight is coming back. I'm trying to eat healthy and not snack, even though the food cravings are back. Because of my disability, I can't really exercise, since too much movement makes my chronic illness flare up. But I need to do something! I don't want to gain weight. I want to keep going down. I've seen some people say they stopped Mounjaro because of pain, then started again at a lower dose after a few months. I'm thinking of trying that.

Anyone who's been through this, please give me any advice or suggestions!

Hopefully, the new formulations and maybe pill options will be widely available soon. They might have better tolerability. Assuming it's really the MJ causing the pain. There's nothing wrong with pausing (like the book *Weightless* says). Maybe a couple of months off with a strategy for handling food noise – like having healthy snack options available. Then decide about restarting later. Also, have you considered more scans to rule out other possible issues? Best of luck!

I'm really sorry you're dealing with this. Have you considered trying a different medication?

Some have also mentioned dose splitting. They're injecting their dose multiple times per week (splitting it into 2 or more smaller doses).

I do dose splitting because I had extreme GI side effects. I tolerate it better with more frequent, smaller doses versus large doses all at once.

Or the oral semaglutide might be an option, but I don't have any experience with that.

Hey! I've got IBS-C and struggled with constipation before starting Mounjaro. I experienced similar issues, and my doctor said my IBS was exacerbating the gastro side effects. I found that taking prescription-strength miralax (I think the OTC version is the same, just cheaper in a huge bottle with a script) at night really helps. Even if I've been regular, once I get backed up, it's all downhill. I'd get terrible gas, throw up, have severe stomach pains, and sometimes even get super sweaty. Getting the poop issues under control has eliminated those problems. I've been on MJ since fall of 2022 and now on maintenance at 15 mg. I have PCOS, insulin resistance, and a bunch of other stuff.

What dosage were you taking? Could microdosing, like a very small amount, potentially prevent the negative side effects?

7.5 worked great at first but when it stopped, weight loss stalled and then i started gaining. a1c ticked back up. on 10 now and the daily nausea and waking up about to throw up most nights has me thinking about quitting. been stuck eight months.

I had similar problems. It was gastroparesis caused by tirzepatide. Thankfully, it was temporary, and my stomach went back to normal after stopping the GLP-1. I've restarted tirzepatide after a 2-month break and I'm microdosing at large intervals (.5mg per 10 days) to avoid peak drug exposure and severe slowing of gastric emptying. It's been okay so far

Are you sure the supplements aren't causing the problem?

Maybe switching to Ozempic could be a solution?

You mentioned eating only plain rice and toast because of the pain. Rice can cause constipation, so maybe you were making things worse without realizing it. One thing that's helped me become more regular is using my morning protein shake instead of milk in a bowl of Protein Cheerios. The oats add fiber without drying you out even more.

Just a heads up, if you're taking zinc: Taking zinc on an empty stomach can cause awful stomach pain. It happened to me. I had to go to the ER, and they said it can happen to some people.

I'd stop the peppermint oil. Sometimes those things can make GI issues worse.

I don't know if this will help, but it did for me. I had a lot of issues with Mounjaro. Now I take a daily probiotic, a stool softener drink, a glass of apple juice, and a few more supplements. If you want a list, I can send it. But the main thing is, a lot of nausea, cramps, and uncomfortable side effects can be treated with cannabis. Even just a little bit, if you don't like being stoned, works wonders. I've lost over 100 pounds in a year, and I'll be the first to tell you I couldn't have done it without it. Now, I have had some other health issues with Mounjaro besides that's made me want to quit it but I’m 40# from my ideal weight. I definitely have to stay away from certain foods, too. I could write a book about this, so hit me up if anyone wants more information. Good luck, friend, and every form of weight loss sucks, unfortunately.

Would you be better off with bariatric surgery? It's more of a permanent solution and has less risk of regaining the weight.

What kind of supplements are you taking? Could that be the problem? I stick to what my doctor recommends. Also, what dose are you on, and how quickly did you increase it? Could you go down a dose? Sorry you're going through this.

There are other good medications specifically for food cravings and addiction, like Contrave. You could also try walking or water aerobics/swimming, which are easier on your body.

There's always another way.

Just curious...

Eating only toast (empty calories) and (at least) rice doesn't sound like healthy food for your gut.

Did you ever try eating mostly (preferably organic) vegetables to rule that out? I eat a lot of avocado, carrots, eggplant, different mushrooms, bell peppers.

Did you use something like macrogol to keep your bowels moving (very important for many people)?

Thanks for all the suggestions, everyone! I'm definitely going to look into some of these things. Food-IMO, I think I will ask for some scans to make sure nothing else is going on, good idea. Riley03, I will ask my doctor about other meds, too. I really appreciate it!

Lift_Health said:

I'm convinced that all the weight is coming back.

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I know how you feel! I was so worried about regaining everything I'd lost. I've seen people have success tapering off slowly. Don't lose hope!