Mounjaro and mental health

[MrBirling]

I've been using mounjaro for around three months. I think it's had a real impact on my mental health. I'm no where near as motivated to do anything. Quite happy sitting on the sofa rather than doing all the things I should be doing and normally do.

I don't know if I can blame mounjaro but I find myself not caring about stuff I did use to care about. I can be very self conscious generally and usually blush very easily. Not recently and I don't know if it's just getting older or if it's the mounjaro.

I'm not sure if I like it. I'm doing well in terms of weight loss 35 pounds so far.

Does anyone else think it has impacted their mental health?

I do know what you mean, however, for me I wouldn't say it's mental health. I definitely have the lack of motivation and not doing the things I used to enjoy, and whilst I feel a bit bored and lazy at times (albeit I'm still going to the gym, going for walks etc) for me it does feel like a welcome break from my mood swings and emotional ADHD rollercoaster I used to be on. I've previously been saying that I would stay on this medication long term, but I am thinking that maybe I'll do another 6 months in maintenance before titrating off completely. It would be good to have some emotions again and not be completely dead inside 🙈

Also to add, I don't know if it's the dark evenings making it worse too. So would be interested to see if things shift in the spring. But that's a while away yet!

Oh no! I'm thinking about starting mounjaro in January and ATM all I do is sit about, I was just thinking I hardly ever go outside anymore - I work from home. I'm not sure if I could get any worse 😞. But I desperately need to lose weight and was looking forward to starting this.

I would still reccomend it. I've lost nearly 4 stone and am at maintenance. I've been very motivated from a fitness perspective but it seems everything else I'm lacking motivation for. If I'm not working out then I'm not doing much else. I do have feeling of boredom and a bit meh about stuff. But overall it has been worth it. I started in August and it's only really hitting me like this the past month or so so indo think maybe the short dark days aren't helping.

Edited to add - I also work from home.

It has affected my mental health but in the opposite way. I am much more active and do so much more around the house of an evening. I have much more energy and motivation to get things done. I also feel so much more positive about everything and am enjoying not having to stress and obsess about food and eating. I feel calm and focussed.

So @TartanMammy it's not a given that you will experience the effect that the OP has described, it's one of a range of possible reactions including no change at all.

It's really helped me and I get anxious about it being taken away, e.g. not affording it or the doctor saying I can't have it or something. But that is all

I would say I'm calmer because nothing bothers me! As I say, for me it has been a welcome break, some breathing space if you like, from my mind.... It's switched off food noise as well as all noise really. Exercise has definitely helped and I've not lost motivation for that.

I feel a hundred times happier and far calmer on it. Energy levels about the same, maybe a little up. Guess it varies from person to person?

You are not alone. If you search through old posts on this board and on reddit you will find that others are also experiencing low mood on MJ. Myself included. It is a known side effect. I have a lot of weight to lose so am persevering. I have hope that it will lift as I lose the weight.

Has anyone had any other side effects in terms of motivation being affected?

I used to really struggle with overspending/impulse online purchases that I later regretted. It has been a real problem for me for quite a long time.

But now it’s just… stopped. I haven’t bought anything I didn’t need, for weeks now. I was even much more restrained than I usually am when I bought Christmas presents.

I’ve still looked at Christmas sales online but been able to enjoy looking without that sudden “buy it now!!” feeling. I also saw some cheap flights for a destination I’d like to go to in summer- so cheap that they seemed like an absolute bargain. But I still didn’t buy them!

It feels similar to my thoughts about food - they still enter my mind, like an old habit, but they just come and then go, there isn’t a feeling of “need” or “do it now!!!”.

I agree with losing general motivation but I’m not sure if that is actually what feeling relaxed is meant to feel like for me?! (I have ADHD and rarely feel relaxed, even with meds!) I either feel content or a bit low and lazy, but still haven’t decided which it is.

I'm generally much lazier now, tired and frequently nap in The afternoons

I’m a bit disappointed it hasn’t magically given me motivation to exercise 😆
I did seem to have more motivation before.

Also I would normally feel so elated about losing weight consistently like this (albeit slowly) but somehow feel a bit flat about it.

on the other hand impulse spending is down.
And might be coincidence but I was so organised and prepared and in control for Christmas. Presents wrapped in advance, house tidied.

I'm the complete opposite my brain feels more organised and I'm doing jobs I've put off for ages.

Yes me too. I feel like I am masking and going through the motions.

Mental health is up and down as it was before. Maybe slightly better as I’m not self conscious about being fat now. I do worry a lot about getting fat again though

It has been an interesting realisation that I can have days of feeling really fat and bloated even when I’m still losing weight and in control.
previously I would have believed those feelings and had a “f*ck it, I’ve overeaten already and messed it all up, might as well carry on” kind of moment

You're 'quite happy sitting on the sofa' and 'not caring about stuff I did use to care about' AND not blushing. I'd call that a result. Well done!!