Does Taking Mounjaro Cause Headache?

Mounjaro (tirzepatide) is an injectable medication used to treat Type 2 diabetes. For some people with Type 2 diabetes, taking Mounjaro can lower hemoglobin A1C, the long-term measure of blood sugar control. 

While Mounjaro can be an excellent tool to help manage blood sugar levels, taking Mounjaro does carry a risk of side effects. The most common side effects of Mounjaro are nausea, diarrhea, decreased appetite, and vomiting.

Some people taking Mounjaro also experience headaches. But are headaches a side effect of Mounjaro use? Let’s review the evidence behind Mounjaro and headaches. 

How does Mounjaro work?

To understand possible side effects of a medication, it’s helpful to know how it works. Mounjaro is similar to other injectable medications for diabetes, such as Ozempic. But it works a little bit differently. 

Mounjaro is the first medication approved in a new class of drugs called dual glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists (called a dual GIP receptor / GLP-1 receptor agonists for short). 

This means that Mounjaro acts like both of the natural GLP-1 and GIP hormones in your body. GLP-1 and GIP are gut hormones that help balance blood sugar levels and manage appetite. 

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Mounjaro works by:

• Increasing insulin production

• Making the body more sensitive to insulin

• Causing you to feel less hungry 

• Helping you feel full faster 

Can Mounjaro cause headaches?

There’s no evidence that Mounjaro directly causes headaches.

But some common side effects of Mounjaro can lead to headaches. And Mounjaro is a relatively new medication. This means researchers are still learning about its long-term effects. 

Let’s go through how you might develop a headache while taking Mounjaro. 

Low blood sugar

Mounjaro lowers blood sugar levels. Severely low blood sugar levels aren’t common on Mounjaro. But it can happen if you’re also taking other medications that lower your blood sugar, such as insulin or sulfonylureas. 

If your blood sugar drops too low (this is called hypoglycemia), you can start to feel sick. Symptoms of hypoglycemia include feeling:

• Warm

• Dizzy

• Weak

• Hungry 

Some people also develop a headache if they become hypoglycemic. 

Dehydration

Mounjaro decreases your appetite and makes you feel full longer. This causes you to eat and drink less. Plus, Mounjaro slows down how fast food empties out of your stomach. This can lead to nausea and vomiting. 

As a result of these side effects, people taking Mounjaro can become dehydrated. And with dehydration, there’s the risk of getting a headache. Dehydration headaches have been described as feeling like someone is squeezing the top of your head. Dehydration can also trigger other types of headaches like migraines or tension headaches.

Drinking alcohol while taking Mounjaro

There’s no direct interaction between Mounjaro and alcohol. But drinking alcohol can worsen the side effect of Mounjaro. That’s why it’s best to avoid combining Mounjaro and alcohol if you can. 

Alcohol and Mounjaro together can increase the risk of becoming dehydrated or hypoglycemic — both of which can cause a headache. 

Here are two ways this happens: 

1. Alcohol makes you pee more. And it also directly irritates your stomach lining. This can cause nausea and vomiting. So, drinking alcohol while taking Mounjaro may make you dehydrated and trigger a headache.

2. Alcohol can also lower your blood sugar. This means there is a risk of hypoglycemia if you’re drinking alcohol while taking Mounjaro. Symptoms of hypoglycemia may include dizziness, sweating, and headache.

How can you treat Mounjaro headaches?

Some of the common side effects of Mounjaro can lead to headaches. But a few simple measures can help prevent and relieve a Mounjaro headache.

Water 

Drinking enough fluids is important to avoid dehydration and dehydration-related headaches. You can help yourself drink more water by carrying a refillable water bottle with you. 

Some people find it helpful to set reminders on their phone to encourage them to drink throughout the day.

Medication for nausea 

Up to 20% of people taking Mounjaro experience nausea as a side effect. 

Eating smaller meals and using over-the-counter (OTC) medications can help. But be sure to talk to your healthcare professional if you experience nausea while taking Mounjaro. And seek out emergency care if you also have abdominal pain. This can be a sign of a more serious side effect, like gallbladder problems. 

Monitor your blood sugar 

When you start Mounjaro, your healthcare professional may advise you to monitor your blood sugar more often. This is especially true if you’re taking other medications that can lower your blood sugar. 

Recognizing low blood sugar and treating it quickly with a fast-acting sugar source is important. Untreated hypoglycemia can be life-threatening. 

Let your healthcare professional know if your blood sugar levels are dropping too low. Your other medications may need to be adjusted to avoid hypoglycemia.

OTC pain medications 

Acetaminophen and ibuprofen are common OTC medications for headache relief. But talk with your healthcare professional before taking ibuprofen if you have chronic kidney disease or problems with gastric ulcers. 

Why trust our experts?

Written by:

Tracy Norfleet, MD, FACP

Dr. Tracy Norfleet is a board-certified Internal Medicine physician, health expert, and physician leader with over 20 years of experience practicing adult medicine. Dual-certified by the American Board of Obesity Medicine and the American Board of Lifestyle Medicine, Dr. Tracy possesses a wealth of knowledge and expertise in both traditional medical practices and innovative lifestyle interventions for chronic disease management and reversal.

Edited by:

Patricia Pinto-Garcia, MD, MPH

Patricia Pinto-Garcia, MD, MPH, is a medical editor at GoodRx. She is a licensed, board-certified pediatrician with more than a decade of experience in academic medicine.

Reviewed by:

Christine Giordano, MD

Christine Giordano, MD, is board-certified in general internal medicine. She received her medical degree from Rutgers New Jersey Medical School and completed residency at Thomas Jefferson University.

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