Side Effects of Tirzepatide: Common, Severe, and Boxed Warning

Tirzepatide is the medication inside of the medications Mounjaro and Zepbound. This medication has been found to help people with type 2 diabetes help manage their condition, and can also help certain people lose weight.

There are some possible side effects of using tirzepatide, many of them are common and might be managed with at-home measures like diet changes or over-the-counter medications. It’s important to familiarize yourself with the possible tirzepatide side effects. 

Below, we will cover the common, severe, and black boxed warnings that can happen with tirzepatide medications.

What are the common side effects of tirzepatide?

The most common tirzepatide side effects tend to deal with gastrointestinal upset. These have been reported in 5% or more of the users in clinical trials. 

The percent of users that reported these effects at different dosages during studies for the medications Mounjaro and Zepbound will be in parentheses next to the common effects below.

The most common side effects of the type 2 diabetes tirzepatide medication Mounjaro at different dosages:

• Nausea (12% at 5mg, 18% at 15mg)
• Diarrhea (12% at 5mg, 17% at 15mg)
• Reduced appetite (5% at 5mg, 11% at 15mg)
• Vomiting (5% at 5mg, 9% at 15mg)
• Constipation (1% at 5mg, 7% at 15mg)
• Indigestion or upset stomach (8% at 5mg, 5% at 15mg)
• Abdominal pain (6% at 5mg, 5% at 15mg)

The most common side effects of the weight loss tirzepatide medication Zepbound at different dosages:

• Nausea (25% at 5mg, 28% at 15mg)
• Diarrhea (19% at 5mg, 23% at 15mg)
• Vomiting (8% at 5mg, 13% at 15mg)
• Constipation (17% at 5mg, 11% at 15mg)
• Abdominal pain (9% at 5mg, 10% at 15mg)
• Indigestion or upset stomach (9% at 5mg, 10% at 15mg)
• Injection site reactions (6% at 5mg, 8% at 15mg)
• Fatigue (5% at 5mg, 7% at 15mg)
• Hypersensitivity reactions (5% at 5mg, 5% at 15mg)
• Belching or burping (4% at 5mg, 5% at 15mg)
• Hair loss (5% at 5mg, 5% at 15mg)
• Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) (4% at 5mg, 5% at 15mg)

Other possible side effects that may occur include touch sensation changes, taste changes, and dry mouth. This is not the extensive list of possible side effects, refer to your medication package insert for the full information.

As you can see, most of these are related to digestion. It may be possible to help keep these at bay or be less severe by making changes to your diet and lifestyle habits. Foods that are fatty, greasy, processed, heavy, or spicy may come along more digestive issues than other choices. Also, eating smaller meals, and not eating your last meal too late can help make digestion smoother.

These digestive issues might be worse when you first start tirzepatide, and just after your dosage is increased. But, some people find that after these adjustment and increase periods, these gastrointestinal side effects get better. Try out diet and lifestyle adjustments and give the medication time to see if you start to feel better. However, if these side effects are severe, negatively affect your life, and not getting better with time, let your doctor know. They may be able to adjust your dosage or suggest ways to help.

What are the less common but more serious side effects of tirzepatide?

Some of the side effects of tirzepatide are less likely to happen, but may be more severe. If these happen to you, it’s important to talk with your doctor or get medical care as soon as possible.

Some of the more severe side effects of tirzepatide include:

• Increased risk of thyroid C-cell tumors
• Pancreatitis
• Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar)
• Kidney issues
• Diabetic retinopathy vision issues
• Gallbladder disease
• Heart rate increases
• Suicidal ideation or behavior
• Severe gastrointestinal issues
• Severe hypersensitivity reactions

What are the precautions to know about tirzepatide medications?

Tirzepatide medications have some precautions for people with certain other medical conditions or states. If these apply to you, your doctor may approach tirzepatide treatment more carefully, or it may mean that this medication is not a good fit for you at all.

Tirzepatide medications precautions:

• People with existing severe gastrointestinal diseases
• People with existing kidney issues
• People with gallbladder disease or a history of gallbladder disease
• People with a history of pancreatitis
• People at high risk for hypoglycemia
• People with a history of diabetic retinopathy
• People who are pregnant or are trying to become pregnant
• People with a history of hypersensitivity reactions to tirzepatide or related medications

What is the tirzepatide black box warning?

A black box warning is the highest warning that can be issued to prescription medications. They are not issued for all medications, but when they are, they are meant to be taken extremely seriously when deciding who is an appropriate candidate for the medications. 

Tirzepatide has a black box warning dealing with the increased risk of thyroid tumors with the use of this medication. This warning states that people with a personal or family history of Medullary Thyroid Carcinoma (MTC) should not use tirzepatide at all. This is a complete contraindication for the medication. Tirzepatide is also contraindicated in users with a history of Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Syndrome type 2 (MEN2).

If you have a history of thyroid issues, or are concerned about this warning, speak with your doctor to figure out the best route for you.

What to do if you experience side effects from tirzepatide?

If you are experiencing side effects from using tirzepatide medications, they will most likely fall into the category of the more common digestive issues mentioned above. Give your body time to adjust to the medication to see if they improve. Certain diet and lifestyle changes may also help. However, if they linger, worsen, or are bothersome to you, let your doctor know. Dosage adjustments may be warranted to help you feel better while using this medication.

If you experience any of the severe side effects from tirzepatide, it’s important to seek medication care right away. Some of these can be dangerous and will need a medication profession to help. If you do experience one or more of the severe side effects, tirzepatide may not be the best medication choice for you, and you may not continue on your tirzepatide treatment.

If you are unsure if your side effects are normal, or if they may get better with time, talk with your doctor.

Strut Health compounded oral tirzepatide lozenges

Here at Strut Health, we offer compounded tirzepatide lozenges made on-site in a U.S. compounding pharmacy at affordable prices. We also carry semaglutide medications and other weight loss compounded options.

To see if tirzepatide medications are a good fit for you, select your weight loss treatment, and complete a free online questionnaire-based consultation in under 15 minutes. One of our U.S. doctors will review your information and make sure the treatment is a good fit for you. If it is, you will be charged the listed transparent pricing, and your medication will be shipped to your front door with our free shipping.

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