Mounjaro and low mood - possible trigger warning, suicidal thoughts

[MJLowmood]

Name changed for this post

I am now on 15mg of Mounjaro having worked my way up over the last year or so. Have lost a significant amount of weight and looking at working my way down back to maintenance dose over the coming months.

Since being on the higher doses (10 and above) it feels like I have had a general and overall sense of being in a low mood, possibly depressed state, with some feelings of with some low level thoughts of suicide and what might be considered dark thoughts of my own, and other family members prematurely dying, and/or becoming seriously ill. The suicidal thoughts will absolutely not be acted on!

I have been fortunate to have never suffered with depression or anything related in my life before and have got to middle age, relatively contented with life so this has all come as a bit of shock to say the least and I am trying to make sense of whether it is Mounjaro related or a symptom of something else that needs to be investigated?

On trying to find side effects etc online there are no apparent confirmed links to this type of side effect from Mounjaro, although no one rules it out completely either.

I am male, and I know that men my age group (mid 40s) can be a particular risk of suicide - again, there is absolutely no risk of acting on it. I don't really want to go for counselling, or seek help from my GP at this stage, although I am not ruling it out in future, especially if it is likely linked to Mounjaro.

All I am really asking is, is this something that anyone else has found on Mounjaro, or any other WLI medications?

Honestly, this is not a cry for help, and I am happy to know where to go and seek help if I decide I need it, have a good supportive family and am not at risk of anything untoward. It's just thrown me a little that these have come seemingly from nowhere and with no apparent reason, apart from possibly the Mounjaro.

@Spicybroc Thanks for the reply. The thought had crossed my mind. I was hoping to get to my target weight before tapering down, but I may just bring it forwards. I am just more wondering if this type of side effect had been noticed by anyone else?

I was switched from semaglutide to tirzepatide (ie Mounjaro) and over a few weeks went into a very low mood, much as you describe, with little reason I could see. Eventually, I made the link and discussed with my prescribing clinician who took it very seriously and switched me back.

Unfortunately a year later a series of sad losses have triggered a moderately low mood (but not as bad). It's horrible not feeling like my usual fairly optimistic self

I strongly suggest you take this side effect seriously. As I understand it, medically, you could be switched to semaglutide (Wegovy) almost immediately for your next dose without a long period of titrating down and up.

Best of luck.

Yes, I found myself with low mood and anxiety when on 7.5 and 10mg. It's calmed down now though. But definitely felt it!

@ModeratelyDepressedSelf Thank you for your reply. I am sorry to hear about your situation and the ongoing issues. I hope they resolve for you.

I have a month of my 15mg left and I think I will either stop, or start to titrate down. I did not want to mention it yet, in case they stopped me completely so it's good to know there is an alternative. I am hoping that by going back down, it will resolve it. If not, I can then consider alternative help.

Yes, I'm thinking about death a lot. I spoke to my GP about it and he wasn't concerned. I also have no emotion currently, nothing makes me happy or sad. It's just flat. He said not to be concerned about that either.

@No3392 Thanks for your reply. Sorry to hear that, but glad it has sorted itself. It's given me some hope that its the MJ and nothing more.

You absolutely must go to speak with your GP and get some help here, regardless of whether it’s the MJ or not (although if it is you would need to consider stopping) - you say your suicidal thoughts will absolutely not be acted on, but that’s how you feel now, if you don’t get on top of this it will escalate and make you feel worse, potentially wanting to act upon those thoughts

Thanks @Doggymummar I think that is a much better description for me. Feeling flat with not much emotion. Things I used to get joy from are not the same at the moment.

Thanks @blunderdul At the moment I am genuinely not concerned, but do have the support of family if I need it. I am going to titrate down and see if that helps. If not, then I will definitely seek help.

The problem with not being concerned is that by the time it becomes a concern you may not recognise it or be able to ask for the help. You need to nip it in the bud asap, not just wait it out

@blunderdul True. It will take me a couple of weeks to get into my Dr at the least and it is not something yet I would consider an emergency, so will discuss with DW after work tonight and get a GP appt booked in, to cover all bases. Thank you

I have felt very flat since I started taking MJ (but no suicidal thoughts). I think that one of the ways it works it through reducing the pleasure you get from eating which reduces food noise but the side effect for me is that it has reduced the pleasure I get from everything. I am also very cold most of the time which makes me feel miserable.
I know it is the MJ that is causing it and my BMI was over 45 when I started so I decided that I can cope with low mood/feeling flat for the health benefits of losing weight. I am just not sure what I will do when I get to goal as I don't want to feel like this forever but I am worried about stopping MJ and regaining all the weight. I still have a long way to go until I have to worry about that though.

Thanks @GrandChampionBestinDungeonPrincessDonut Yes I read that about the pleasure from eating being reduced, and it makes so much sense. I also really feel the cold as well, although I generally hate the heat, so being cold doesn't make me feel bad as such, its feeling uncomfortable as I am unable to warm up.

Mounjaro interrupts the dopamine pathway leading to low moods and no enthusiasm.
I found L tyrosine approx a month ago after 9 months on mounjaro, best supplement as I'm a completely different person now, more energy and doing jobs instead of procrastinating and no enthusiasm. It converts to dopamine and I'd recommend it.

Thank you @Histoscientist I will take a look.