Mounjaro and low mood

[Hollebob]

Hello!
Anyone else suffering severe low mood since starting Mounjaro?
Im on wk 4 of 2.5mg, about to go to 5mg as very little suppression last week and this week.
Ive had low mood before but itd has totally gone (thanks sertraline and CBD gummies-life changing!) since taking Mounjaro tho I can barely crack a smile. I’m ratty with my kids and have lost focus a bit. Normal life has its ups and downs though so maybe it’s that but this is pretty extreme for me!
don’t get me wrong I wanna be thin so bad I’ll put up with it (!) but just haven’t seen many others saying they’ve had this as a side effect so am curious

It is a reported side effect, unfortunately. Do you think it's definitely from the drug itself? Or do you think it could be that it's decreasing your desire for things you typically enjoy? I know for me if I lost all desire to eat, socialise through food, enjoy dessert, etc. that I'd feel pretty low too. And for some people it also decreases the desire to shop, drink alcohol, gamble and a bunch of other things. Those are also all social activities that can bring joy (in moderation of course). I hope it levels out for you once you reach your maintenance dose! But if it doesn't you really have to evaluate - is being thin worth that? Would your family and friends rather a happy and fun and maybe slightly larger you? Or a thinner and miserable you? x

If you habitually cover up/supress/stuff down negative feelings by overeating, you may find those feelings rising back up to the surface when you're not overeating anymore. You need to use another coping mechanism for this, eg exercise, mindfulness, counselling etc etc

You don’t lose all desire to eat, socialise through food, enjoy dessert or whatever, though. You just eat less or eat different things.

It disrupts the dopamine or pleasure pathway so you don't feel pleasure anymore which is great for easily stopping addictions but not so great for everyday life. It gets worse higher up dose you go, I'm on 10mg and barely have any excitement for anything at all. A few have asked if I'm unhappy at work but they don't know its the jab. I don't want to go out or do anything either. I'm not going to go up higher unless it wears off, it gives me full suppression all week and I'm not far from my target weight so carrying on for now. Been on it 6 months

I started on it sept and had similar around Nov was with friends and felt like couldn’t be bothered talking/socialising. Although wasn’t drinking much as didn’t want those extra calories. It seemed to subside eventually especially once I started to see weight loss results. And know couldn’t be happier esp once able to fit back into smaller size clothes.
although I am fortunate to have never suffered from any depression type issues. Maybe you should discuss either GP and definitely seem medical advice if it gets worse. I find exercise really helped me with the mood stuff and still does I know if I haven’t exercised in a few weeks mood definitely not as upbeat.

I had this but kept going and it lifted. I felt really flat. I’m in great form now and as app says having lost weight makes me happy!

Yep I had it especially first few weeks but knew it was a side effect as was at its worst Monday-Wednesday (take jab Sunday) and would wear off. Knowing that was the cause gave me great relief but made focus for work harder on those days as I just couldn’t be bothered.
I think this was also made worse by fatigue those days.

however, my dad died and I was really torn about if I should continue. Ofcourse I have been devastated and grieving but it feels different to MJ effect.
During the initial impact of my dad’s death, I became very ‘mini goal’ orientated. I wanted to keep busy and achieve small daily tasks. I think that has a dopamine pathways too. Big tasks seem too much but daily wins (like 10000 steps, gym visit or tidy a room) really helped.

Good luck. 🍀
I reminded myself that even though not my normal happy self, I know I want happy inside and confidence really affected by weight and so the trade off was ok.

@SnappySunflower , agree with all of this. I'm on ozempic. Literally sucks the life out of me and no desire to do anything.

Yes I had this too. Not getting my dopamine hit from food anymore. Exercise helps though!

@Mysticmaidenyou and me sound absolutely similar that’s how I feel on 10mg currently

Do you have long to go to your target? I'm on my 2nd pen of 10mg 2nd dose, then will move up to 12.5mg after that

Searched for something on this topic and found your thread @Hollebob . How are you doing now?

My mood has plummeted over the past couple of weeks. I have ADHD so dopamine-seeking behaviour is a huge part of me. I realise now I was using food for dopamine but now that's gone I wonder if it's all catching up with me.

At first I felt wonderful - calm, focused, no food noise. But 6 weeks in I feel so low I don't know what to do with myself.

Obviously I want to continue MJ for the weight loss, I'm down a stone already, but I'm not sure how long I can continue like this.

GPs are useless - they prescribe SSRIs which don't work for my ADHD brain as it's the dopamine deficiency that needs correcting. I'm on a Right to Choose waiting list for ADHD meds but it's already been 6 months so who knows how much longer I'll l be waiting 😢

Really not sure what to do if this mood doesn't lift...

Mounjaro does disrupt the dopamine pathway and gets worse as the doses go up. I don't want to do much, just no interest in anything. So makes sense for you to be affected by it.

This is really interesting. I don’t think I have ADHD but I am much calmer on MJ. But yep, less bothered to do anything, especially studying. Getting started on things is hard and focus just not the same. Is this just MJ or could there be something underlying this?

@SmallSoupcon you seem to know lots about this, sorry you not found medical professional that knows as much as you to help you.
@Mysticmaiden what dose have you gone too?

I'm upto 10mg and I've been on it over 6 months. I'm close to goal now so just carrying on but all I want to do is curl up on my sofa and nothing else. I do things because I have to and eat for fuel not because I have any enjoyment. I don't think I've felt joy in I've 6 months, I'm constantly in a neutral mood and feel placid and apathetic. Starting off I felt low and had anxiety for months then that eased and its just lethargy and apathy.

It's a shame that something that has so much potential comes with such a (literal) downside. I guess we need to find some other sources of dopamine...

I mean its great for those with additions as they can get over them easily. But for us non addicts, it's tough! My manager thought I wasn't happy in my job as I rarely smile or laugh. Have been here only 1.5 years, didn't really respond other than "I am happy" ...but I know I'm not but it's not the job.

Thanks {mention:Reginaphalangeeeee}@Reginaphalangeeeee. I've done a lot of learning around dopamine to understand myself better since my diagnosis. And tbh I added the stuff about SSRIs because when you have low mood the first thing people tend to advise is go to your GP - who then prescribe meds and talking therapy. But if you have a dopamine deficiency neither of those with fix it.

I guess it's no surprise I'm being affected in this way if you guys are feeling it too. I'm disappointed, as you're on a much higher dose than me and I was hoping this was temporary.

That sounds awful, I'm so sorry. How have you managed to keep going with the Mounjaro when you feel like that?

I'm suffering this SE too, I'm glad I've found this thread. I have just completed week 4. First 3 weeks, I felt normal, but week 4 has been awful. I feel completely void of all emotion. Just nothingness. I keep crying because I can't find any joy in anything. Dh is worried and I know the dc have noticed. It hit me like a wall quite suddenly and I can't snap out of it. I'm usually really cheerful, chatty and positive. I have had to take time off work. Excercise isn't helping.
I have good mental health and a happy home life. I have never been an emotional eater so I can't blame that. I hope this is short lived. Hugs to you all if you feel the same as me.

For months I thought it was related to work stress so I just kept going thinking its temporary until the work stress eased and I still felt a lack of happiness/joy/interest and realised its mounjaro. It does get worse the higher up dose you go unfortunately. Now I'm just thinking nearly there..carry on. Worse thing is 8 weeks on 10mg with full 24/7 suppression and it wore off this week so I need to move up in 2 weeks. As it's wearing off, I'm starting to feel better mentally but a lot hungrier!

@Mysticmaiden I'm sorry you've had such a tough time. You're more resilient than I am. If this continues for me, this will be my last pen.

Has anyone noticed a link between mood and jab site? The only thing I did differently is inject in a different area (left side tummy). Other jabs have been on right side of tummy or right thigh. I'm probably clutching at straws, but thought I'd ask. I did my fifth jab today and made sure to do it on the right side of my body just incase.

Thank you for your kind words ❤️ I just lay on the sofa and detach myself from everyone else to get by, when im not working of course. My own space and peace is really important to get me through this. Its not all bad, I'm close to normal bmi currently 27.3 and it helps immensely with my untreated unstable blood pressure symptoms of dizziness, shaking hands and mood swings of decades, so I do want to stay on it for that. I have diabetes in my immediate family and my sister was diagnosed with prediabetes just before I started mounjaro, so it was a big shock which pushed me to focus on my health and lose weight. I've always jabbed in my tummy for 6 months apart from once in my thigh but I had little suppression that week so went back to my tummy. I rotate around my tummy every week.

Sorry you are feeling low too. It was worst when I first started & then improved. My dad died 2 months ago & I have been off work since. Now when I look back I do t know what is MJ effects, what is grief and what is genuine depression.

Gosh that's quite a combination of things you have to deal with. I'm so sorry for your loss. I feel bad for moaning about my lot when I hear what others are coping with. I'm glad you've seen a little improvement as time has gone on, I hope you continue to see improvements. I'm giving it a month and then will decide whether I can continue. You are one brave lady x