Can Mounjaro cause headaches?

Started taking Mounjaro and suddenly dealing with headaches? While Mounjaro (tirzepatide) is an effective weight loss medication, it does come with side effects. The most common ones include nausea, vomiting, constipation, and diarrhoea (1). But what about headaches? Are they a known side effect or just a coincidence?

Here, we’ll explain whether your headaches are caused by Mounjaro, how weight loss injections can lead to headaches, what you can do to ease the pain, and prevent it from coming back.

Is a headache a side effect from Mounjaro?

Short answer: Yes, headaches can be a side effect of Mounjaro. They’re considered a “common” side effect, affecting between 1 in 10 and 1 in 100 people who use the medicine.

The good news? Mounjaro headaches usually don’t last forever. Most side effects, including headaches, tend to ease within the first month of starting Mounjaro or increasing your dose as your body gets used to the medication. But why do they happen in the first place?

Why does Mounjaro cause headaches?

Mounjaro doesn’t directly cause headaches, but your headaches probably aren’t random, either. They’re usually triggered by one (or more) of the following reasons:

1. Your blood sugar drops too quickly

Mounjaro helps lower blood sugar (glucose), which is great for diabetes management and weight loss. But in some cases, it can cause your blood sugar levels to drop too much or too quickly, especially when you first start taking it or increase your dose (1-2).

Headaches are a well-known sign of low blood sugar (3). Other signs include feeling dizzy, shaky, or weak, blurred vision, a tingling sensation in your lips, or feeling anxious, irritable or confused (4). If your Mounjaro headaches come with these symptoms, low or rapidly changing blood glucose levels could be to blame.

2. You’re dehydrated

Mounjaro quietens food noise and suppresses appetite (5). This makes it a highly effective weight loss drug, but it can also mean you’re not drinking enough, as our sensations of hunger and thirst are tightly linked. Insufficient fluid intake can cause dehydration, which is a common cause of headaches.

Dehydration is even more likely if you’re experiencing other Mounjaro side effects, like vomiting and diarrhoea, which make you lose even more fluids (6). Severe nausea—another very common side effect—can also cause dehydration, as even drinking water could make you feel more sick, causing you to limit your intake.

3. Your blood pressure has dropped

Several clinical trials have shown that Mounjaro can lower blood pressure (7). While this is beneficial for people with diabetes, obesity, or high blood pressure (hypertension), a sudden drop in blood pressure can cause dizziness, blurred vision, and—your guessed it—headaches (8).

You might have already noticed that these blood pressure symptoms overlap with the signs of low blood pressure, making it tricky to tell which one is causing your Mounjaro headache. Both dehydration and low blood sugar can also cause low blood pressure, so it might be a combination of all three that is triggering a headache.

How can I get rid of a Mounjaro headache?

There are several things you can try to make your Mounjaro headache go away:

• Stay hydrated – Drink a glass of water (or other fluids like tea, low-fat milk, and sugar-free drinks) to help hydrate the body. If nausea is making it hard, sip small amounts at a time rather than drinking a big glass all at once.
• Eat a healthy snack – To stabilise your blood sugar levels, try eating a balanced snack with protein and complex carbs (like whole-grain toast with peanut butter) whenever you feel a headache coming on.
• Take painkillers if needed – If your headache persists, paracetamol or ibuprofen can help. However, be mindful not to rely on painkillers daily. You should only take painkillers to treat the occasional headache rather than for constant relief.

If your headaches don’t improve even with these tips or become severe, don’t ignore them. Talk to your doctor about adjusting your Mounjaro dose or exploring other options.

How Can I Prevent Mounjaro Headaches?

While headaches often improve as your body gets used to Mounjaro, here are some ways to reduce your chances of getting them in the first place:

• Drink plenty of water throughout the day, even if you don’t feel thirsty.
• Eat healthy, balanced meals to help keep your blood sugar levels stable.
• Avoid skipping meals, which can cause blood glucose to fluctuate.
• Limit your alcohol intake (alcohol can make dehydration and blood sugar fluctuations worse).
• Lack of sleep can worsen headaches, so aim for eight hours each night.

What other Mounjaro side effects are there?

Headaches are just one potential side effect of Mounjaro. Others include:

• Nausea and vomiting
• Diarrhea or constipation
• Fatigue
• Dizziness
• Heartburn (acid reflux)
• Bloating and burping

Most side effects improve with time, but if they’re persistent or severe, you don’t have to suffer through them. We’ve put together an ultimate guide of Mounjaro side effects to help you understand what’s normal, what to watch out for, and when to seek help from a doctor.

If Mounjaro’s side effects are too much, or you’re looking for alternative weight loss medications, we can help with that, too. At Oxford Online Pharmacy, we offer expert, doctor-driven advice, discreet online consultations, and a range of the best weight loss injections and tablets.

Browse our weight loss treatments here or start an online consultation today.

Citations

1. Mishra R, Raj R, Ghada Elshimy, Zapata I, Kannan L, Priyanka Majety, et al. Adverse Events Related to Tirzepatide. Journal of the Endocrine Society. 2023 Jan 26;7(4).
2. Gettman L. New Drug: Tirzepatide (MounjaroTM). The Senior Care Pharmacist [Internet]. 2023 Feb 1;38(2):50–62
3. Islam MR, Nyholt DR. Glucose-Related Traits and Risk of Migraine—A Potential Mechanism and Treatment Consideration. Genes. 2022 Apr 22;13(5):730.‌
4. National Health Service. Low Blood Sugar (hypoglycaemia) [Internet]. NHS. 2023.
5. Ard J, Fitch A, Fruh S, Herman L. Weight Loss and Maintenance Related to the Mechanism of Action of Glucagon-Like Peptide 1 Receptor Agonists. Advances in Therapy. 2021 May 11;38(6):2821–39.
6. Farzam K, Patel P. Tirzepatide [Internet]. PubMed. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2024. Available from:
7. Kanbay M, Copur S, Siriopol D, Yildiz AB, Gaipov A, van Raalte DH, et al. Effect of tirzepatide on blood pressure and lipids: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Diabetes, Obesity & Metabolism [Internet]. 2023 Dec 1;25(12):3766–78.‌
8. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. Low Blood Pressure [Internet]. www.nhlbi.nih.gov. 2022.