You probably never thought you'd hear the terms 'Mounjaro' and 'magic mushrooms' in the same sentence at the start of the year.
But for one user, starting a course on the tirzepatide medication was apparently eerily similar to taking a psychedelic trip.
Mounjaro - and similar GLP-1 drug Wegovy - was approved by the NHS for weight-loss purposes earlier this year, with Brits already using the injectable medication estimated to number around 500,000 via the private market (per Reuters).
Originally created to treat Type 2 diabetes, the medication uses an active ingredient called tirzepatide which works by reducing a person's digestion speed.
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This makes them feel fuller for longer and reduces appetite. Combined with a change in diet and exercise routine, patients previously struggling to lose weight have been able to transform their appearance.
However, this isn't without reported side effects.
What are the side effects of using Mounjaro for weight loss?
According to information shared by Diabetes UK, the most common reported side effects of Mounjaro include:
• Feeling sick
• Indigestion
• Constipation
• Diarrhoea
• Risk of low blood sugar
• Risk of high blood sugar
Some users have also reported more niche side effects like 'Mounjaro hair' as well as illnesses such as acute pancreatitis and biliary disease. However, one Reddit user may have taken first prize for the most unique side effect of all.
During a discussion about initial side effects upon starting the drug on r/Mounjaro, redditors were discussing the sensation they felt as the appetite suppressant effects begin to kick in.
For one user, this allegedly left them feeling as though they'd taken a dose of hallucinogenic mushrooms, writing: "I felt a bit goofy for a few days. My stomach was feeling exactly like it does on magic mushrooms.
"There is no other feeling like it, until Mounjaro."
The sensation didn't linger around for too long, however, with the Redditor explaining that it passed after 'a few days' adding: "Now after about 11 weeks I’m feeling quite normal most of the time."
I'd imagine the sensation is pretty unique, as a search for Mounjaro and magic mushrooms returns people querying about using the Class A drug alongside the weight-loss jabs – but hey, everyone reacts differently to medication.
The psychedelic side effect isn't the only more obscure reaction reported recently either, with one content creator revealing to LADbible a side effect which 'no one really prepares you for'.
Responding to the claims in a statement, Mounjaro manufacturer Eli Lilly told LADbible: "Mounjaro (tirzepatide) should only be used when prescribed by a licensed healthcare professional, and prescriptions should be fulfilled and supplied by registered pharmacies or providers.
'We encourage patients to consult their doctor or other healthcare professional to discuss any possible side effects they may be experiencing and to ensure that they are getting genuine Lilly medicine."
Brenna Cooper