Tirzepatide and Fatigue: What Users Say

• Pam...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 11, 2023

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "This medication was a life changer for me. I’m a 49-year-old female. I never had a problem with my weight until after the age of 45. Then during Covid, I gained 30 pounds and got up to 189. I was exercising regularly and trying to eat healthy, but could not lose any weight. I started Mounjaro and lost 12 pounds the first month. I had very little side effects. The only thing I experienced was fatigue, a slight headache, and I felt very cold. Once I became used to the medication, after a couple of months, those side effects diminished. I’ve been on the medication for 6 months and have lost a total of 56 pounds. I’m now at 133 pounds. My goal weight is 130. I feel better than I did when I was in my 20s and 30s. This medication was life-changing for me. It not only helped me to lose weight, but it also lowered my A1C, lowered my triglycerides, and blood pressure."

• DRo...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 8, 2025

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I started on Zepbound 2.5 back in Dec 2024. No major issues in the beginning. It definitely helps control your appetite, and you feel sick if you eat too much. After going to 5.0, I got a little more nauseated and started noticing more dizziness, lightheadedness, and fatigue. But I was losing the weight, so I just kept going. After going to 7.5, that's when my horror stories started. I have taken only two doses but am stopping this stuff altogether. It has truly caused me extreme dizziness, shortness of breath, fatigue, terrible stomach pains, and diarrhea that won't stop. I have lost 37 pounds... great... but the suffering and pain that comes with this medicine... no thanks. I'd rather be a little overweight and be happy than the constant nausea, stomach pain, and diarrhea. Best of luck to you all, but I'm going to accept me for me."

• 60y...
• March 22, 2023

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I have been on Mounjaro since Jan. 2023. I have lost 20 pounds. I need to lose 20 more. Side effects: burping, stomach upset, constipation, flu-like body aches, mildly depressed feeling, and fatigue. Not every day, not every symptom every day, and not all day. It comes and goes. I will continue but do wonder how it’s gonna go long term. I’m just sick of being fat."

• Hop...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 29, 2022

For Type 2 Diabetes "Started on 2.5 mg 3 weeks ago. I’m 5’2” and starting weight was 175.4, my highest was 180. I decided to try medication after my waist was 39 inches. After my 3rd injection, I am now 165 and lost 3 inches off my waist. This is with minimal exercise and mostly appetite suppression. Bacon and eggs that I have eaten faithfully as part of an attempt at the keto diet, I just can’t eat. Food is unappealing. I’ve struggled 2x this week to reach 1200 calories. That has never happened to me before. Side effects: indigestion, fatigue. Hoping this continues to work with minimal adverse events. I’ve been gaining/losing the same 3-5 pounds since my daughter’s birth 5 years ago. This makes sticking to a meal plan so much easier. My binge eating during “shark week” had gotten out of control. I’d like to add my kettlebell training back, hoping I get some energy back."

• Krg...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 4, 2025

"Follow Up: I am currently on day 11 of Zepbound 2.5 mg. As of this morning, I have lost 11.73 lbs. Daily, I documented how I felt and symptoms. The first 24 hours of injection #1, I had extreme fatigue, normal appetite, and a whole lot of belching. Day 2, belching, less hungry, no other symptoms. Day 3, I had no appetite, no other symptoms. Day 4, less than normal appetite, no other symptoms . Days 3 and 4 have just been repetitive. I have had no negative side effects, BUT I also have made sure to eat high-protein foods for every meal, even on the days I had no appetite, nothing greasy (thinking about it turns my stomach), no high-sugar foods. As of today, I’d say; if you work with the medication, the medication will work with you. Update you in a couple of weeks."

• Nop...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 15, 2022

For Type 2 Diabetes "Holy side effects. First, if you eat when you take it, it just sits in your stomach and you’ll be burping it for 12 hours. The headache is insane. Starts immediately. Then you are hit with 3 days of nausea, fatigue, and just overall fatigue. Just when you start to feel better, cue the insane heartburn! It took me 5 days to feel normal again. I’ll pass on this even though I lost 5 pounds the first week."

• Mil...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• December 1, 2024

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I started Zepbound in April 2024 at 193 lbs. It’s December 2024, I’m now 140 lbs. I have stayed at the 10 mg dose for almost 3 months now, as I am trying to tone my body since I lost 50 lbs fast. The side effects suck when I go up a dose, but my body adjusts after 4 weeks, so it’s been great. I have noticed that I wake up with hunger pains now, but my plan is to get used to them again before I start weaning off the drug. Side effects for me include headaches and fatigue. It’s not that bad after a while, the main thing is being strategic and proactive about getting your fiber, protein, and water in. I haven’t been to the gym since I started the 10 mg, and I’ve slowed down on the weight loss (which I’m okay with). I like 140, I’m just trying to tone now, so when I wean off, it won’t all come back. I’ll update you guys in a couple of months."

• Dee...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 6, 2025

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I started in January and have moved doses up monthly. This morning I took my 4th 7.5 mg dose. I did have a 2.5 mg pen malfunction and moved up to 5 a week early. I've been losing 1-3 pounds a week, for a total today of 28 lb loss. My goal is to lose 50. As far as side effects, they really aren't too bad for me. Daily Colace helps any constipation, which has not been much of an issue anyway. Occasional nausea is fleeting and is helped with Coke One. I know some are against drinking soda, but Coke One does not have sugar and has been my nausea cure for as long as it's been on the market. My appetite is diminished, but not gone. I've changed my eating pattern to several small, healthy mini-meals during the day instead of 3 'regular' meals. Zero cravings for junk food or much snacking at all. Part, I'm sure, is that I'm keeping those mini meals full of protein and vegetables. The only real issue that I've had is fatigue. It hits about an hour after the shot and lasts about 36 h."

• On...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 18, 2025

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "With the initial injection of 2.5 taken before bed. I woke up with painful, swollen neck lymph nodes and extreme fatigue. The next day, the swollen lymph nodes seemed to have moved down, now in the chest/armpit area. On the 3rd day, one of my knees is swollen and horribly painful. I have absolutely never had any knee issues prior to the injection. If I get nauseous, drinking more water helps. At this start of the med, continuing is definitely not worth it."

• SDG...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 21, 2022

For Type 2 Diabetes "I was prescribed the 2.5 dosage as a trial by my endocrinologist for pre-diabetic and weight loss on 9/15/22. I felt fine the first day, shot was given in the morning, but the next day I actually forgot to eat lunch. That is not normal for me. I wasn’t hungry. The third and fourth day I had horrible sulfur burps, nausea, fatigue. On the fourth day, I took two naps, which is not normal for me. I thought my symptoms were getting worse, but then the fifth and sixth day I felt great. I am fearful to take the next injection this week as I don’t want a repeat of the less than desirable side effects. It really wrecked my weekend. On the upside, I lost a couple of pounds the first week. That’s exciting, but at what cost?"

• Kat...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• July 11, 2024

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "Zepbound (tirzepatide) is amazing - if you are not losing much on semaglutide, see if your doctor will let you try tirzepatide. I’ve been on Zepbound seven months and I’m down 55 pounds. Took 2.5mg the first month and then spent 5 months on 5mg. Just moved up to 7.5mg this month and it has totally killed my appetite. Main side effect for me is fatigue, especially the day of the shot and the next couple of days. I plan to stay on 7.5 until I reach my goal weight and then go on maintenance. I will have to keep taking it - otherwise it is likely I will gain all the weight back. Yes, it is expensive but worth it."

• She...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 11, 2025

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I started out one month ago on the lowest dose of 2.5. I could tell after a few weeks that my hunger had diminished a bit, and I felt a lot less bloated. By the 4th week, I was feeling extremely cold and fatigued and had lost 5 lbs. I just started this week on the next dosage of 5.0 and am hoping for more weight loss. I barely have an appetite, and nothing really sounds good to me other than apples. Thankfully, my glucose readings have come down, and I'm not needing as much insulin. I’m very hopeful that my A1C will be much better on my next labs."

• lif...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• May 23, 2024

For Type 2 Diabetes "It’s been 2 years. Yes, there were challenges. Some nausea. Lot’s of constipation. Some fatigue. And mostly good aversion. I understand fully the phrase eat to live. This medication was/is a game changer for long-time diabetes sufferers. I lost 50 pounds. Got off of insulin shots. Cholesterol meds. BP meds. I am over 60 years old and feel better than I did at 40. I would rate my experience on Mounjaro on a scale from 1-10, a solid 10. Everyone’s journey is unique, based on many different factors. I would rate my journey as successful."

• Wan...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 12, 2023

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I’m a 58-year-old woman. When I started Mounjaro, I was at 172 lbs. I am taking 5 mg. On the first injection of 5 mg, I had hives, but the next day, with allergy medication, it went away. I had a little bit of nausea off and on every time I took an injection. The worst part about this medicine is I feel cold all the time and fatigued. The fatigue goes away after a couple of days. I just took my 4th injection of 5 mg and will move up to 7.5 mg next week. So far, all good. I did notice I got pretty hungry 2 days before it was time to take my 4th 5 mg injection, which to me said it lost its effectiveness. I did struggle with those 2 days trying not to go back to old habits. I have lost 20 lbs since starting Mounjaro, and all of my blood work is much, much better. My A1C is down 2 points!"

• Lyn...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 15, 2022

For Type 2 Diabetes "Been on Mounjaro for 5 weeks for weight loss. Started with 2.5 the first month, now on 5 mg. Lost 20 lbs so far. Been on 5 mg for 5 days now and extremely fatigued and weak, however, I’m not going to complain because I’m not hungry at all. Have no desire for food since being on 5 mg. You have to make yourself eat and drink because you feel full constantly. Mouth is very dry, so drinking water regularly is a must. Highly recommend for weight loss. Hopefully, the fatigue will go away once I’m into the second week of the 5 mg and my body adjusts."

• PP6...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 22, 2022

For Type 2 Diabetes "Horrible experience taking this drug. I do not recommend taking this medication unless you want to die. I started taking 2.5 mg 6 days ago. Day 2 and 3 had no appetite and ate very little because the thought of food made me sick. Day 4 and 5 developed nausea, severe abdominal pain, and indigestion unrelieved by antacids. I also have lost five lbs because I am unable to eat or drink anything. I do not have any energy or feel like doing anything. Day 6 and I still feel sick. My fasting blood sugar this morning was 224 even though I am not eating or drinking hardly anything at all. It is noon, and I haven’t eaten anything because I’m afraid I will throw up. My heart rate is 120 and normally runs in the eighties. My doctor is out of the office this week for holidays. Just hoping and praying I don’t wind up in the emergency room. I will never inject this toxic stuff into my body again. I also read that it can cause thyroid cancer."

• Lis...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• March 29, 2025

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "Best method for weight loss and keeping the weight off. I've lost over 100 lbs and am finally comfortable in my skin again. When you change mg dosage, fatigue could be concerning, and it does happen. Working out helps, making sure you stay hydrated, and working out was the biggest help for me. I did have constipation, and it was managed. I did have hair thinning and started taking Nutrafol. I've struggled with my weight my entire life. Not anymore. I wish we could add photos, but we can't. Portion food sizes of what you can eat are minimized. The sugar cravings were gone. Not only did those cravings disappear, but so did the cravings for food that your body turns to sugar. For example, I haven't eaten a potato chip in over 7 months. No desire for breads, mayo, Miracle Whip, and numerous other things. I FEEL so much better. It is costly, but so is poor health and obesity. I wish big pharma would realize how many Americans struggle with obesity and cover this through insurance."

• Day...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 2, 2025

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "Flu-like symptoms, nausea, discomfort after eating anything. Broth has been my go-to. Very fatigued. Hoping week 2 will be better. Today is day 7. No appetite, no energy. There's not an option for maybe. One week isn’t enough time to give recommendations."

• Son...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 19, 2025

For Type 2 Diabetes "Started on 2.5 mg in December and have titrated up every 4 weeks to 12.5 mg currently. So far I have been losing 2-3 lbs a week and have lost 34 lb, and up until now I haven't really noted any serious side effects other than occasional constipation and slight nausea if I don't eat something small every few hours, or if I eat something really fatty. The last two titrations I have noticed some extreme fatigue and being cold on the first day after my shot, but then it usually starts to go away on the 2nd day and I feel better. I have also noticed that if I try to push through the tiredness and try exercising, I usually feel better. I have tried to stick to a 1200-1500 calorie diet and do eat a lot more fruits and veggies, and I feel better than I have in a long time. Overall, it’s been a good experience and I’m super excited to see how much more weight I can lose."

• mou...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 1, 2023

For Type 2 Diabetes "My husband suffered from severe nausea, mostly at night, but also from loss of appetite, constipation, and increased fatigue. He could not even get out of bed after one injection. He will not take a second dose."

• WVN...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 27, 2022

For Type 2 Diabetes "I started on the 2.5 dose in October, my doctor felt that the weight loss would help with my joint pain and lower my A1C. From day 1, I was extremely nauseous, had no desire to eat, had sulfur burps, and had constipation. I spoke with my doctor, who encouraged me to ride it out. On week four, I was stepped up to the 5 mg dosage. The doctor called in Zofran for stomach issues. On week six, I called her and said I could no longer function. During this time, I was so fatigued and was having heart palpitations and was barely able to walk 20 feet without being totally exhausted. I chalked it up to being so nauseous and not eating. Then my legs started to burn like I had walked up a steep hill and felt so sore and bruised I could barely sit. That week, I had my follow-up appointment with my doctor. I told her about my symptoms, and she said that rhabdomyolysis is not a side effect of Mounjaro. I was never dehydrated, but my CK levels were still 440 two weeks off the medication! Eight weeks later, and no improvement!"

• Isa...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 7, 2023

For Type 2 Diabetes "Tracked daily side effects weekly for several weeks. Had the injection on Sunday. The cycle was repeated each week. If taken in the morning, I was unable to sleep that night. Changed to 2 hours before bed and slept, but woke up feeling exhausted. Developed headache/migraine and mind fog by mid-morning, with neck pain and stiffness. Fatigue, neck pain, mind fog, and migraine came in waves and lasted until late Wednesday. I began to feel better by Thursday and back to 'normal' by Friday. Only small impact on blood sugar numbers. Frequently hungry and craved carbs. No weight loss."

• Not...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 23, 2022

For Type 2 Diabetes "I’m struggling to get below 154 lbs, and being 5’, that’s a lot of weight to carry, which induces back pain. Lost 20 lbs on Ozempic from the beginning of the year till June, have managed to gain back 5 lbs, which isn’t awful but still not at my goal weight. I just left the ER from getting a bolus of saline due to dehydration. I’m battling hypoglycemia. I took my first shot on Tuesday. Wednesday felt decent, but malaise was setting in. Thursday, I didn’t even realize I had not eaten all day and all night at work. Friday night, I tried to eat half of a sandwich and was completely nauseous. Tonight at work, after eating half a sandwich and a few green beans, I had terrible diarrhea and became so dizzy and nauseated I was forced to leave work, having someone else take over my patients. Just a word of advice: if you’re a busy person, this med may not be for you. I had side effects of fever, chills, nausea, diarrhea, fatigue, and muscle pain, and I was negative for flu, COVID, and strep. The doctor said to go back to Ozempic :( but I’ve lost 6 lbs already!"

• Kir...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 25, 2024

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "Benefits: Completely stopped the food noise and cravings for fatty and sweet foods, decreased appetite within the first 2 days of injection. Injection not painful at all, tiny needle. Side effects: feelings of fatigue for 2 or 3 days after injection, can feel very bloated due to constipation. Feelings of a lump in the throat due to some acid reflux. Sometimes feel more emotional than normal. Increased periods, 2 periods within 1 month, very heavy and prolonged, appetite increased slightly on last 2 days before next injection due. Can feel shaky/weak if not eating enough calories due to decreased appetite. 1st month of use experience on 2.5 mg."

• Lad...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 14, 2023

For Type 2 Diabetes "Rx for weight loss, extreme fatigue for the first 3 days after injection (I stayed in bed). I thought it was good for controlling binge eating. However, I eventually started to get so dizzy after standing up that I had to hold the counters and walls to get around for the first few minutes after standing. I also started to notice a thickness or knot in my throat after the first 2 months. I had to stop taking it because no amount of weight loss is worse than being a cancer patient or bedbound. The weight loss was extremely slow for me too. I went from being on no meds to relying daily on heartburn medicine, Miralax, Tylenol, and ginger chews for nausea. And the price was ridiculous. I would have rather bought some cosmetic surgery. I was on it 5 months: 2.5, then 0.5, finally 7.5 mg."