I went on fat jabs but the hair loss was unbelievable so I quit – I'd rather be chubby with hair than skinny and bald
A WOMAN who went on Mounjaro to lose weight has been forced to quit after suffering horrendous hair loss.
Carrie initially took to TikTok to bemoan how much her hair has thinned out since starting on the fat jabs, as she said: "No one tells you this, but if you're thinking about going on Mounjaro think again.
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Carrie's hair was long and luscious before she started on Mounjaro
Credit: tiktok@outdoordisputes/
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She started losing hair in her second month on the fat jabs - when she was on 5mg
Credit: tiktok@outdoordisputes/
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And by her fourth month, when she'd moved up to 7.5mg, her hair loss was at its worst
Credit: tiktok@outdoordisputes/
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And she made the decision to quit after the hair loss became too much to bear
Credit: tiktok@outdoordisputes/
"Because you have to choose between your hair and your weight."
"Just because I don't suit being bald. I tried that TikTok filter and it's just not..."
"Chubby with hair," she captioned her video.
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And the comments section was immediately filled with people weighing in, with many agreeing with Carrie.
"Mounjaro left me with 3 strands of hair!!" one wrote.
"I've been on it 3 months and I've been taking vitamins from the doctors," another added.
"I've still got really bad hair loss, I'm hoping it gets better."
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"I said this!!!! I said my hair is thin and not growing anymore!" a third admitted.
"I lost almost half my hair, I started taking collagen and bought expensive ish shampoo and conditioner," someone else wrote.
Doc gives advice on how to tackle Mounjaro side effect of excess loose skin
"Barely lose hair now!"
"I hear you girl, I lost so much hair. But now I'm skinny and trying to grow it back," another added.
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However, others accused her of "scaremongering", with one insisting they'd lost five stone and "not one hair".
"Not true. I have lost 140lb and I have LOADS of hair - ungodly amounts," another added.
"Stop spreading misinformation!" someone else commented.
"Not only do I work in the pharmaceutical industry but I'm on Mounjaro.
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Everything you need to know about fat jabs
Weight loss jabs are all the rage as studies and patient stories reveal they help people shed flab at almost unbelievable rates, as well as appearing to reduce the risk of serious diseases.
Wegovy – a modified version of type 2 diabetes drug Ozempic – and Mounjaro are the leading weight loss injections used in the UK.
Wegovy, real name semaglutide, has been used on the NHS for years while Mounjaro (tirzepatide) is a newer and more powerful addition to the market.
Mounjaro accounts for most private prescriptions for weight loss and is set to join Wegovy as an NHS staple this year.
How do they work?
The jabs work by suppressing your appetite, making you eat less so your body burns fat for energy instead and you lose weight.
They do this my mimicking a hormone called GLP-1, which signals to the brain when the stomach is full, so the drugs are officially called GLP-1 receptor agonists.
They slow down digestion and increase insulin production, lowering blood sugar, which is why they were first developed to treat type 2 diabetes in which patients' sugar levels are too high.
Can I get them?
NHS prescriptions of weight loss drugs, mainly Wegovy and an older version called Saxenda (chemical name liraglutide), are controlled through specialist weight loss clinics.
Typically a patient will have to have a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher, classifying them as medically obese, and also have a weight-related health condition such as high blood pressure.
GPs generally do not prescribe the drugs for weight loss.
Private prescribers offer the jabs, most commonly Mounjaro, to anyone who is obese (BMI of 30+) or overweight (BMI 25-30) with a weight-related health risk.
Private pharmacies have been rapped for handing them out too easily and video calls or face-to-face appointments are now mandatory to check a patient is being truthful about their size and health.
Are there any risks?
Yes – side effects are common but most are relatively mild.
Around half of people taking the drug experience gut issues, including sickness, bloating, acid reflux, constipation and diarrhoea.
Dr Sarah Jarvis, GP and clinical consultant at patient.info, said: 'One of the more uncommon side effects is severe acute pancreatitis, which is extremely painful and happens to one in 500 people.'
Other uncommon side effects include altered taste, kidney problems, allergic reactions, gallbladder problems and hypoglycemia.
Evidence has so far been inconclusive about whether the injections are damaging to patients' mental health.
Figures obtained by The Sun show that, up to January 2025, 85 patient deaths in the UK were suspected to be linked to the medicines.
"Any kind of weight loss can make your hair go into Telogen phase (the resting and shedding stage of the hair growth cycle).
"It's only temporary not permanent and taking vitamins will help!"
Carrie further opened up about her hair loss to Fabulous Online, as she said it began in her second month of being on Mounjaro, when she was on a dose strength of 5mg.
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And when she moved up to 7.5mg in her fourth month, she saw the most hair loss.
"I have come off it and hoping my hair grows back but I would never take it again," she sighed.
"I've always had good hair, nails and gums.
"It affected all three of those near enough instantaneously."
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Not only that but Carrie "only fluctuated by a few pounds the whole time" she was on it.
"I'm not the only one by far that this has happened to, thousands of women agree with me," she said, adding: "But I understand the treatment works for some."
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She's now unable to wear her hair up
Credit: tiktok@outdoordisputes/
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As she's so self-conscious about the bald patches in her hair
Credit: tiktok@outdoordisputes/
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Carrie even said she didn't lose much weight on the Mounjaro jabs anyway
Credit: Alamy
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This is when blood cells stick together to form clumps, which can lead to blood clots - exactly what the drug aims to prevent. Key facts about ticagrelor Ticagrelor is an antiplatelet medicine that prevents platelets - a type of blood cell - from sticking together and forming a dangerous blood clot. Taking ticagrelor can help prevent blood clots if you have an increased risk of having them because you: Have had a heart attack Have unstable angina Have had a stroke or a transient ischaemic stroke (TIA, or mini-stroke) Ticagrelor is only available on prescription. You'll usually take ticagrelor twice a day and it's often prescribed together with low-dose aspirin at the start of treatment. The main side effects of ticagrelor are getting out of breath and bleeding more easily than normal. You may have nosebleeds, heavier periods, bleeding gums and bruising. According to medicines watchdog the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), patients are advised to take the drug twice a day at 90mg for around a year after a heart attack. A lower dose of 60mg, may then be prescribed by doctors for up to a further three years. It may also be taken by those who have suffered a minor stroke or a transient ischaemic attack at 90mg alongside aspirin. Sources: NHS, NICE This is "an improbable effect for an anti-platelet drug" and "suggests an incorrect laboratory reading", the BMJ said. Assessing the readings from platelet machines used at the two trial sites, led by cardiologist Dr Paul Gurbel, investigators also found more than 60 of the 282 readings were not included in datasets submitted to the FDA. "The platelet activity levels not entered were significantly higher than those used in the Circulation papers and FDA datasets," they claimed. 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"If doctors had known what happened in these trials, they would never have started using ticagrelor." But a spokesperson for the Sinai Center for Thrombosis Research and Drug Development, which Dr Gurbel leads, told Sun Health has also contacted Circulation for comment. The journal did not respond to the BMJ . How to reduce your risk of heart attacks and stroke You can reduce your risk of heart attack and stroke with many of the same methods. Heart attacks and strokes, although affecting different organs of the body, are both what we call cardiovascular events. Both arise from similar underlying conditions, such as atherosclerosis —a buildup of fatty deposits in the arteries. According to the American Heart Association, the risk factors for heart attacks and strokes are largely the same: high blood pressure, high cholesterol, smoking, obesity, physical inactivity and diabetes. Therefore, addressing these risk factors can simultaneously reduce the risk of both conditions. Here are ways you can prevent the two: Healthy diet More fruit and veg: The DASH, which emphasises fruit, vegetables, whole grains and lean proteins, has been shown to reduce blood pressure and improve heart health. Less fats: Too much saturated and trans fats can raise cholesterol levels and increase the risk of atherosclerosis. Go for healthier fats like those found in olive oil, nuts, and avocados. Limit salt: High salt intake is linked to high blood pressure, a major risk factor for both heart attack and stroke. The NHS recommends no more than 6g of salt per day for adults. Fibre: Foods high in soluble fibre, such as oats and beans, can help lower cholesterol levels. Exercise Walking, running, cycling, swimming - whatever you like, do it! Aerobic exercise can strengthen the heart and improve circulation. The NHS advises at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity activity each week. Strength training exercises can help control weight, improve cholesterol levels, and reduce blood pressure. It is recommended twice a week by the NHS. Manage blood pressure Healthy diet and exercise can help keep your blood pressure in check. But it is worth monitoring it yourself after the age of 40, at least, when the NHS invites adults for a check-up every five years. High blood pressure often has no symptoms but significantly increases the risk of heart attack and stroke. Quit smoking One of the best ways to quit smoking is to use resources provided by NHS Smokefree. Support groups, medications, and other tools to help quit smoking such as vapes could be what you need to kick the habit for good - and it's free. Limit booze Excessive alcohol consumption can increase blood pressure and contribute to weight gain, which can snowball and become a heart health risk. The NHS recommends not regularly drinking more than 14 units of alcohol per week.
