Struggling with nausea after your Mounjaro dose? You’re not alone

If you're finding yourself reaching for a bucket or looking for the nearest flat surface in minutes, hours, or days after you administer an injection, it's more common than you think.

In fact, an estimated 1 in 5 people experience nausea as one of the side effects of Mounjaro as their body adjusts to the medication, casting a shadow on their weight loss journey [2].

But why is this one of the side effects of Mounjaro? And how long can you expect it to last?

Here, we’ll take a look at why this weight loss treatment can make you nauseous, what you can do to manage it, and when it’s time to talk to your doctor about it.

Why does Mounjaro cause nausea?

Nausea is not just one of the most common side effects of Mounjaro; it’s one of the most common side effects of medication generally. There are several reasons for this, ranging from psychological to physiological, and when it comes to Mounjaro, you are essentially looking at a combination of both.

Mounjaro is a weight loss medication designed to act on the part of your brain that processes hunger and fullness signals with the purpose of giving you a decreased appetite. Targeting the brain expressly to influence the digestive system can, unfortunately, sometimes result in a feeling of nausea.

Additionally, Mounjaro injections are also designed to slow down digestion, keeping your gut fuller for longer [1]. Slowed digestion can cause some irritation to your stomach lining and the rest of your gastrointestinal system, which can also give you that queasy feeling that has you looking for a bucket.

While not an ideal way to feel when losing weight, these psychological and physiological reactions are a part of how Mounjaro works as a medication. On the plus side, though, as your body adjusts, your Mounjaro side effects and symptoms should decrease.

Is nausea a sign that Mounjaro is working?

It can be!

Your body having a physical reaction to the injections, particularly one that involves your digestive system, can sometimes be an indication that your body is responding and starting to adjust to the course of weight loss treatment.

That said, extreme nausea, abdominal pain, vomiting or diarrhoea that lasts for more than two days is not, and can quickly become a medical emergency. Speaking to your doctor straight away is always recommended if your Mounjaro side effects are severe.

How long does Mounjaro nausea and vomiting last?

Mounjaro nausea shouldn't last more than a few weeks, and vomiting no more than 24 hours. If it does, it can be an indication that your body isn't adjusting to the medication, or even that you're having an allergic reaction to it.

Talking to your doctor or healthcare professional about the side effects you're experiencing is really important, as they may change your course of treatment, reduce your dose, or suggest other medications or diet and lifestyle changes that can help ease your symptoms [2].

Does Mounjaro nausea get worse with higher doses?

Unfortunately, it can, which is why it's important to seek medical advice if you're experiencing consistent or severe nausea on Mounjaro.

Where to inject Mounjaro to help reduce nausea

There are three recommended sites on the body for Mounjaro weight loss injections:

• A spot on the stomach below your waistline and at least 5cm away from the belly button
• The front of the thigh, halfway between the hip and the knee; or
• The back or outer part of your upper arm [2].

While there has been a small study that suggests injecting into the thigh might help to reduce nausea and other side effects, this study has been inconclusive, and given where you inject Mounjaro needs to be rotated weekly to reduce the risk of injection site reactions such as irritation, swelling and painful lumps, limiting taking Mounjaro to the one-spot can cause other side effects beyond nausea [3].

Tips for managing nausea on Mounjaro

No one wants to experience nausea when on Mounjaro, but there are at the very least some good habits, tricks and behaviours that you can do to manage your symptoms and reduce the feeling of nausea.

In particular, one of the best things you can do if you’re feeling nauseous is get some fresh air and ensure you stay hydrated. Water is always a winner, but herbal teas such as ginger or peppermint tea, lemonade, juice or ginger ale can help to settle the stomach. If the feeling of the liquid hitting your belly is too much, though, sucking on ice cubes can also help.

Avoiding high-fat foods as well as spicy, very sweet or greasy foods is also a must, as these can worsen nausea, but at the same time, skipping meals can too. Instead, try to eat small portions more often, particularly high-fibre foods like fruit, vegetables and nuts and seeds, or plain foods less likely to cause belly pain or leave you feeling sick, like dry crackers, clear soup, or noodles [4].

Recording these frequent meals in a food diary can also help you identify potential trigger foods or foods that help reduce your symptoms.

Your doctor may also suggest other over-the-counter medicines such as anti-sickness tablets or other digestive system aids.

If you're looking for more advice on managing Mounjaro side effects, Juniper can help.

A holistic approach to weight loss

The Juniper Programme combines weight loss medication with dietitian-led health coaching and tracking, so you can lose weight and reach your goals for good.

Kickstart your weight loss journey with Wegovy or Mounjaro, two groundbreaking weight loss medications that mimic the GLP-1 and GIP hormones, respectively, to help control cravings, delay stomach emptying, and keep you feeling fuller for longer. These clinically backed treatments help members experience up to 20% body weight loss.

Plus, we have a team of expert dietitians and health coaches you can consult with to help you work through any challenges you're experiencing during your weight management journey. This approach sets you up for sustained weight loss, rather than a quick-fix solution.

This means you can continue to enjoy the things you love in moderation without ever feeling deprived.

Ready to see if Juniper is right for you? You can check your eligibility here.

Preventing Mounjaro-related nausea

Mounjaro itself can be a trigger for nausea generally, but it can be further aggravated by other factors, such as injecting on an empty stomach or when you are dehydrated. As a result, you might be able to prevent nausea while using this weight loss treatment by:

• Eating a small meal half an hour to an hour before you administer your Mounjaro injection.
• Ensuring you drink plenty of water when you inject Mounjaro, and that you keep your liquids reasonably up afterwards.
• Resting as much as you can, and avoiding any sudden movement in the immediate aftermath of taking Mounjaro [4].

When to contact your healthcare provider

If your nausea doesn't go away after two weeks, or if you experience severe nausea, vomiting or diarrhoea that doesn't stop after two days, it's best to speak to your doctor and seek medical attention.

Sometimes, nausea can also be a symptom of something more serious, and can rapidly escalate into a severe allergic reaction or worse. If you experience nausea with any of the following symptoms, you should seek medical advice immediately:

• Chest pain
• Confusion
• A high fever
• High blood pressure
• A stiff neck
• Blurred vision
• Severe stomach pain
• Headaches or migraine; or
• Low blood sugar.

Mounjaro weight loss injections have been found to carry an increased risk of thyroid cancer and medullary thyroid cancer. If you have had this type of cancer before or have a family history of it, you should speak to your doctor about whether Mounjaro is right for you.

Deciding to switch medications

If you're thinking about switching from Mounjaro to Wegovy, the good news is that it's both safe and straightforward.

When making the switch, Juniper patients don’t need to restart at the lowest dose. If clinically appropriate, you can continue at a higher dose aligned with recent treatment history. Plus, our switching protocol has only a 7-day gap between medications, compared to 28 days with most other providers.

Juniper’s clinical switching protocol is designed to make the change simple and safe:

• Review — Your clinician assesses your treatment history and dose tolerance.
• Match — If eligible, you start on an equivalent high dose to avoid losing progress.
• Transition — Only a 7-day window is required between your last Mounjaro dose and your first Wegovy dose (most providers require 28 days).
• Support — Pharmacist check-ins, dose adjustments, and lifestyle guidance keep you on track.

Start your Wegovy switch today →

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