Mounjaro - Tirzepatide

Mounjaro (tirzepatide) Mounjaro (tirzepatide) commonly causes gastrointestinal side effects like nausea, diarrhea, constipation, and vomiting. Serious but rarer risks include pancreatitis, gallbladder issues, kidney problems, and potential weight regain if the medication is stopped.

Common Side Effects (Very Common/Common)

Gastrointestinal Issues: Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, indigestion, stomach pain, burping, gas, and bloating.
Reduced Appetite: A common and expected effect of the medication.
Fatigue: Tiredness is frequently reported.
Headache and Dizziness: Reported by some users.
Injection Site Reactions: Redness, itching, or swelling where the injection is given. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

Negative Impacts & Serious Risks

Gallbladder Problems: Including gallstones, which can cause sudden, severe stomach pain.
Pancreatitis: Inflammation of the pancreas, characterized by severe abdominal pain.
Kidney Problems: Potential kidney failure or acute injury due to dehydration from diarrhea or vomiting.
Severe Allergic Reactions: Anaphylaxis or angioedema.
Weight Regain: Studies show that about 82% of users regain at least a quarter of lost weight within a year of stopping Mounjaro, as reported in BHF.
Hair Loss: Sometimes associated with fast, significant weight

Acute Pancreatitis Caused by Tirzepatide

Serious side effects of the drug include hypoglycemia, acute pancreatitis, cholelithiasis, and cholecystitis, with less serious side effects such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, and dyspepsia.

Gastrointestinal (GI) side effects are the number one reported reason for non-compliance. Some research shows that nausea and vomiting can be prevented with vitamin B12 and corrin ring-containing compounds [6]. Interestingly, a systematic review and meta-analysis on the adverse effects of Mounjaro showed that the incidence of acute pancreatitis, cholelithiasis, and cholecystitis was similar regardless of drug dosage. In contrast, the more common side effects of nausea and vomiting were dose-dependent [7]. There are so few cases reported in the literature of pancreatitis caused by tirzepatide, which may decrease clinician awareness about this side effect and skew research that relies on available research for analysis. Pancreatitis, for example, as a side effect of the drug was deemed potentially safe by a meta-analysis and systematic review on the tirzepatide's side effect profile, although the pharmaceutical companies document it as a known side effect [8]. If clinicians do not ask if the patient is taking a GLP-1 agonist they may never report this etiology of pancreatitis.

More than 235,000 Americans are admitted to hospitals with a diagnosis of acute pancreatitis yearly.

Conclusions

Acute pancreatitis and adverse effects of switching GLP-1 agonists are not well documented and it is important to raise awareness of these potential complications. This gap in literature and lack of awareness highlights a crucial area of opportunity for discussions and shared decision-making regarding the management for these medications. Furthermore, encouraging discussions among healthcare providers and patients is essential to ensure the timely identification of adverse events to promote a proactive and informed approach to GLP-1 agonists. As the prevalence of T2DM and obesity continues to rise globally, ongoing research into the long-term safety profile of these medications, including the risks of pancreatitis, is vital. Only through continued investigation can we ensure that patients receive the safest, most effective treatments while minimizing the risk of severe adverse events.

Acute Pancreatitis Caused by Tirzepatide

Acute Pancreatitis Caused by Tirzepatide Nur Mando , Erica Thomson , Matthew Fowler , Lillian Short , Nora Gillen 1. Internal Medicine, Ascension Sacred Heart,

University of Florida College of Medicine, Pensacola, USA 2. General Surgery, Florida State University College of Medicine, Pensacola, USA