Man who lost six stone on Mounjaro warns of ‘horrible’ side effects no one mentioned
A man has opened up on the brutal side effects he experienced while losing six stone on Mounjaro.
When combined with dietary changes and an active lifestyle, GLP-1 and GIP receptor drugs have allowed people who previously struggled with their weight to completely transform their bodies.
It was these viral success stories which led Antony Hawman to start using the medication.
"I decided I wanted to be healthier, which was the main aim," the 48-year-old, who is 6'1" and weighed 123kg (19.5 stone) at his heaviest, said.
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Antony's decision to use the drug wasn't only physical, as he also struggled with intense food cravings, adding: "I would think about food all the time, and I’d use it as a crutch: if I was sad, I’d eat, if I was happy, I’d reward myself with food."
So when you factor in that Mounjaro slows down your digestion and can reportedly quieten the 'food noise', it seemed like a no-brainer for Antony.
The medication would provide major results for the business owner, allowing him to lose nearly 40kg (six stone) and go from an XL or XXL in July 2024. Antony is now a medium and wears a size 30 or 32 waist.
However, it wasn't without horrible side effects.
'Pretty miserable'
A few months after beginning his Mounjaro journey, Anthony began to experience severe vomiting, diarrhoea and dehydration.
According to Mounjaro manufacturer Eli Lilly, the most common side effects include nausea, diarrhea, vomiting and stomach pain. These symptoms can lead to dehydration and potential kidney problems if not properly treated.
"I moved up to 7.5mgs in my third month and had a pretty miserable weekend of chronic stomach pains, diarrhoea and dehydration," he recalled.
"It wasn’t until I did my research via some chat rooms on TikTok, where a woman in Texas, believe it or not, told me to go back down to 5mgs, get some electrolytes and a decent probiotic and stick with it as long as it was working and then decide whether to move up.
"I definitely felt the messaging was to move up the doses each month and that how it works
"You’d have some side effects and they would pass. I figured out the hard way, that actually, the side effects were pretty grim but if you stick to the lower doses while you are still seeing weight loss and give yourself time to get used to the side effects, the journey was actually fine."
'I have completely changed my mindset on food'
Antony reduced his dose and then started taking the probiotic Symprove daily, which has allowed his side effects to completely disappear. Despite the unpleasant side effects, Antony does not regret using Mounjaro and added that he wished he'd found the drug sooner.
"I was on hypertension drugs for hereditary hypertension and have been able to come down to the lowest level of medication from previously being on a cocktail of high doses, which truly is the best outcome," he added.
"As long as you do your research and understand how to nourish your body and take some form of exercise, Mounjaro is an incredible tool, but it’s just that, a tool.
"The best part is I have completely changed my mindset on food. I feel in control instead of it controlling me."
LADbible has contacted Mounjaro manufacturer Eli Lilly for a comment.
What are the other side effects of Mounjaro?
Eli Lilly says the most common side effects of Mounjaro, which affect more than one in 10 people, are nausea, diarrhoea, vomiting, stomach pain and constipation.
Slightly less common side effects include allergic reactions, dizziness, low blood pressure, bloating, burping, flatulence, heartburn, fatigue and gallstones.
Rare side effects include gallbladder infection and changes in taste.
People taking Mounjaro have also complained of the following:
'Mounjaro hair'
One study found that around one in 20 people taking tirzepatide (the active ingredient in Mounjaro) for weight loss experienced hair loss.
A Mounjaro user complained on Reddit: "My sister today just did my hair, dyed it and then straightened it after I washed it.
"Right at the end she turned around and said, I think your hair is falling cos you have these big gaps on your head. I asked her to take a photo and I’m horrified."
Superdrug explained: "It’s unlikely that the medication itself is causing hair loss, but the rate at which your body is losing weight causes your hair to shed rapidly.
"Losing weight quickly can be recognised by the body as a form of stress, and research shows this disrupts the normal hair follicle cycle, resulting in hair loss."
Eli Lilly previously told LADbible: "The Mounjaro (tirzepatide) Patient Information Leaflet warns that hair loss is a common side effect. We encourage patients to consult their doctor or other healthcare professional regarding any side effects they may be experiencing and to ensure that they are getting genuine Lilly medicine."
Effect on vision
Popstar Robbie Williams, who said he was taking Mounjaro last year, struggles to see individual faces in the crowd at his shows after a decline in his vision since taking the jabs.
He told The Sun: "I don't believe it's age; I believe it's the jabs."
One study looked at nine patients experiencing vision problems after taking semaglutide (the active ingredient in Ozempic and Wegovy) or tirzepatide.
It noted that seven of them suffered a stroke of the optic nerve, which can cause irreversible loss of vision in one or both eyes. The eighth had inflammation of the optic nerve head, and the ninth had a stroke of the retina.
Eli Lilly previously told LADbible: "Patient safety is Lilly’s top priority. We take any report involving patient safety seriously, and actively monitor, evaluate, and report safety information for all our medicines, including Mounjaro (tirzepatide), which is being used to help millions of patients around the world.
"If anyone is experiencing side effects when taking a Lilly medicine, they should consult their doctor or other healthcare professional."
Brenna Cooper