Mounjaro, Ozempic, and Wegovy are all injectable medications that were first used as treatments for type 2 diabetes. Now, Wegovy and Mounjaro are licensed for weight loss in the UK.
While they share some similarities, there are some differences in how the drugs work, how effective they are, and who is able to take them.
As well as the side effects listed in the drug packaging, like nausea, vomiting, and diarrhoea, some people complain of other side effects including hair loss. In this article, we'll explore whether these injectable medications are linked to hair loss and how to look after your hair while taking weight loss drugs.
Understanding Mounjaro, Ozempic, and Wegovy
What Are Mounjaro, Wegovy, Ozempic, and Rybelsus?
Wegovy, Ozempic, and Mounjaro are all injectable medications used for type 2 diabetes and/or weight loss. Rybelsus is another medication used to treat the same conditions, but it's taken as a tablet instead of injected.
Rybelsus, Wegovy, and Ozempic all contain the same drug: semaglutide. Wegovy and Ozempic are just different brand names, with Wegovy licensed for weight loss and Ozempic for diabetes.
Semaglutide belongs to a family of drugs known as glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists. This means they have a similar structure to the hormone GLP-1.
GLP-1 is produced naturally in the body and is responsible for the feeling of fullness. It also controls how quickly the stomach empties and regulates glucose levels. By tricking the body into thinking GLP-1 levels are higher, the medication works to reduce appetite, slow stomach emptying, and increase the feeling of fullness.
Mounjaro contains the drug tirzepatide, which is a little bit different to the other medications. It's a GLP-1 agonist, but the drug is also a glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) agonist.
What does this mean? Essentially, Mounjaro has a similar structure to two different hormones in the body: GIP and GLP-1. When taking Mounjaro, the body responds as if there are high levels of GIP and GLP-1. Similarly to semaglutide, tirzepatide makes you feel fuller for longer, helping you to eat less food.
The Link Between Weight Loss Medications and Hair Loss
The main connection between these drugs and hair loss seems to be losing large amounts of weight quickly. Rapid weight loss, whether that's due to medication or losing weight in other ways, can trigger a condition called telogen effluvium.
This temporary hair shedding can occur when the body undergoes a stressful event, like rapid weight loss. As weight loss is usually due to eating less food, this may lead to nutritional deficiencies, which in turn can cause temporary hair loss.
There's also some speculation that the hormonal changes caused by these medications could trigger male/female pattern hair loss (androgenic alopecia) in those predisposed to it. However, more research is needed to confirm this for certain.
More research is needed in this area, but let's discuss the evidence we do have connecting these weight loss medications to hair loss.
Investigating Hair Loss: Causes and Concerns
Can Weight Loss Treatments Cause Hair Loss?
Some patients taking semaglutide in clinical trials reported hair loss and hair thinning.
Additional clinical trials found 3% of patients taking Wegovy (semaglutide) experienced hair loss compared to 1% of people taking a placebo. But what about Mounjaro? One study found around 4% of people taking Mounjaro experienced hair loss/alopecia.
One paper, which included data from 8 studies, found that people taking tirzepatide were more likely to experience hair loss than those taking other weight loss medications like semaglutide. However, more research is needed before we can draw the conclusion that one medication is worse when it comes to hair loss.
Experts suggest that hair loss is a consequence of the rapid weight loss these drugs can induce, rather than due to the drugs themselves. But how does rapid weight loss lead to people's hair falling out?
What Causes Hair to Fall Out When Losing Weight?
There are a few different reasons why losing weight can cause hair loss.
Nutritional deficiencies
Whether from dieting, medications, or weight loss surgery, losing weight can lead to deficiencies in key nutrients like iron, zinc, vitamin D, and protein.
These nutrient deficiencies can disrupt the normal hair growth cycle, leading to increased shedding and loss of hair.
Stress and hormonal changes
Rapid weight loss puts a lot of stress on the body, which can push more hair follicles into the resting (telogen) phase prematurely.
Weight loss can also cause hormonal changes that may further contribute to increased hair loss. For example, even moderate weight loss can lower thyroid hormone levels, which can lead to telogen effluvium.
Understanding Telogen Effluvium
Telogen effluvium is a form of temporary shedding or hair loss that's linked to stressful events like weight loss. Even if you don't find weight loss to be mentally stressful, the significant changes to your body are a form of stress.
Stress causes more hair follicles to move from the growth phase and enter the resting (telogen) phase of the hair growth cycle early, leading to increased shedding and thinning of the hair.
As weight loss medications like Wegovy can reduce body weight by 15% in just a year, it's not surprising that more and more people taking these drugs are noticing hair loss. Luckily, there are several things you can do to look after your hair whilst taking these weight loss drugs.
Managing Hair Loss While Using Weight Loss Medications
Tips for Preventing Hair Loss
As you're eating less thanks to the drugs suppressing your appetite, it's even more important to check you're getting all the nutrients you need. Iron, zinc, vitamin D, and protein are most important for hair health. It's best to get these through your diet, but consider taking nutritional supplements if needed. Make sure not to take more than the daily recommended amount of vitamins A and E, as this can worsen hair loss. Speak to a healthcare professional if you're worried.
Try to manage your stress levels and avoid putting your body through additional stress. Many people find stress-reducing techniques like meditation and yoga to be helpful.
When to See a Healthcare Professional
Most common side effects of weight loss medications are generally short-lived and improve with time as the body adjusts. Higher doses may increase the risk of side effects, so your doctor or pharmacist may suggest reducing your dose if you're suffering with hair loss or other side effects.
If you experience sudden, patchy hair loss or excessive shedding while using weight loss medications, it's important to consult your doctor. They'll be able to rule out any other underlying conditions that could be causing the hair loss.
A healthcare professional may be able to adjust your medication and/or prescribe treatments to help improve hair growth.
The Perspective of Healthcare Professionals
What Doctors Say About GLP-1 Receptor Agonists
Professor John Wilding is a cardiovascular and metabolic medicine expert at the University of Liverpool, and a researcher involved in the first clinical trials of semaglutide. He advises: "Most of the other side effects that are talked about with these drugs are either very rare or may not be genuine issues, but they still have to be looked at, reported and considered.”
Professor Franklin Joseph emphasises the importance of using weight loss medications alongside a healthy lifestyle. He says: "It's crucial that all weight-loss medications are used as an aid to weight loss and supported by an overall, clinically well supervised program that supports healthy eating, regular physical activity, and long-term behaviour change."
Weight loss is about more than just medication, and is more likely to be sustainable if you create healthy, realistic diet and exercise habits. Healthy hair habits, like not wearing tight styles, not using heat styling tools every day, avoiding brushing too hard, and stopping smoking can help support healthy hair growth whilst you're on your weight loss journey.
Conclusion and Summary
Mounjaro, Ozempic, and Wegovy may cause hair loss in some people, but this is likely due to the stress that rapid weight loss puts on the body. Give yourself time to adjust, eat a nutrient-rich diet, and try to avoid other causes of stress if you're struggling with hair loss.
If you're worried, discuss your weight loss medications with a healthcare professional, like the team at Quick Meds. They can offer advice on dosage and other ways to support hair growth.
FAQs
Is hair loss a common side effect of Mounjaro, Ozempic, and
Hair loss is listed as a side effect of semaglutide and tirzepatide, though not all patients will experience it.
Hair loss associated with these weight loss medications is probably not a direct side effect of the drugs themselves but is more likely to be due to the rapid weight loss they can induce.
How long does the hair loss typically last after starting these medications?
As your body adjusts to the medication, you may notice that your hair loss improves, especially as your weight stabilises. However, hair growth is a slow process and it can take several months to notice a big difference.
Can hair loss be prevented or minimised while taking these weight loss drugs?
When losing weight, it's important to eat a varied diet that includes all the vitamins and nutrients needed for hair growth. This will help you avoid a nutritional deficiency that can worsen hair loss. If you notice you're losing your hair whilst taking a weight loss drug, you may benefit from increasing the dose more slowly, but make sure to discuss this with a healthcare professional.
Should I stop taking the medication if I experience hair loss?
A doctor or pharmacist may advise you to do reduce your dose or stop taking the medication altogether but don't stop taking the medication without discussing it with a healthcare professional first.
Is hair loss from Mounjaro, Ozempic, and Wegovy permanent?
No, the type of hair loss caused by losing weight is usually reversible and caused by a condition called telogen effluvium. Your hair should grow back with time when your weight loss levels off.
How soon after stopping Wegovy will my hair regrow?
It varies from person to person, but hair can take several months to regrow. It may be even longer than this before you see a noticeable improvement, but generally, the hair loss that happens when you lose weight is reversible.