Anxiety since starting weight loss medication

Elliebearblues · 2025-10-08T18:29:49+00:00

Hi all, I just wanted to reach out to see if anyone else feels like me. Since starting weight loss medication I’ve been feeling on edge and anxious and sometimes feels like my heart is beating fast, sometimes it is and sometimes it’s just me feeling it. These symtoms started 2 weeks after starting weight loss jabs . I’ve never been a anxious person and this is such a weird and horrible feeling. i did go to the GP about the fast heart and they said it’s not likely to be heart related and didn’t know what was causing me to feel like this. i was hoping I’m not alone and it’s not just me x

MagnoliaTreePetals · 08/10/2025 20:41

Hi @Elliebearblues , Sorry to hear about the palpitations and anxiety.

My first question is, could this be the perimenopause. I got anxiety for the first time ever at the start of the perimenopause. My (Male )GP said it had nothing to do with hormones, so I just kept going until I read an article that explained all the ways a change in hormones could affect us. I then saw a different (female) GP who started me on HRT. within 2 weeks anxiety and racing heart faded away.

Secondly, yes, it is not uncommon for people to get a bit of a racing heart and feel a bit anxious while on MJ. If so, can you put up with it? If it is affecting you to the point you are unhappy, could you go down a dose, or pause for a while?

In either case, you are not alone, and it is not just you!

TheDenimPoet · 08/10/2025 20:49

I've been recently thinking about taking Mounjaro and when researching the side effects I've found that anxiety is one - and as an anxiety sufferer anyway, I wouldn't want to risk making it worse. So I think it's a "normal" side effect.

Sometimes side effects will calm down when you're used to the medication. It's all about weighing up the pros and cons of being on it, or not feeling anxious anymore. I've been there with other meds. There's not always a perfect answer.

Anxiety is horrible though. You have my sympathy for that!

crumbssonmyface · 08/10/2025 21:44

Hey increased anxiety is a known side effect on mounjaro. Lots of posts about it on Mumsnet, Reddit and Facebook sadly

Hfiajfbdoflv · 08/10/2025 22:11

I had this effect. I can say that after a while it stopped, but I definitely noticed it in the early months. Like with all side effects, it gets easier.

Original poster

Elliebearblues · 08/10/2025 23:21

@MagnoliaTreePetals to be honest I’ve no idea I’m 44 and have the mirena coil so I don’t have periods, I do get brain fog, tiredness but I’m a busy mother with 4 out of 5 children living at home. The anxiety feeling started about 2 weeks ago during my 2nd week on weight loss meds. I’m so new to weight loss meds and only on 2,5 Mounjaro so can’t go down a dose, I can still function but sometimes the anxiety feeling hits for no reason I’ll be chilling in the evening watching tv and all of a sudden I get that on edge feeling, so hard to describe.

@TheDenimPoet i really hope the anxiety feelings go away I think it’s because it’s so new and I’ve never felt like this before it’s really odd and not very nice, I hope the longer my body gets used to the weight loss medication it’ll fade away just like other side effects do.

@crumbssonmyface thanks I’m not the only one then hopefully it’ll go away when my body is used to the medication

@Hfiajfbdoflv thanks that’s good to hear that your anxiety went after a while so there is hope.

thank you all so much for replying xx

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StrongLikeMamma · 09/10/2025 08:16

I have this with hrt - it’s horrible.
Trying to decide whether to take WLIs - this puts me off!

AramintaWildbloode · 09/10/2025 08:18

Well I am diagnosed with generalised anxiety disorder and I feel mounjaro has helped.

MagnoliaTreePetals · 09/10/2025 08:27

My DD has Anxiety issues @StrongLikeMamma , helped by a lovely CBT therapist.
She started MJ over 2 months ago and has not had any issues with anxiety levels increasing. If anything, she says her anxiety is diminished as she is losing weight, feeling better with herself and not living on sugar, which gave her peaks and crashes.
She is also prone to bouts of nausea and was concerned about starting WLI's and feeling sick all the time, but the MJ has not caused any nausea for her either.
Everyone is different, but I certainly would not let it put me off starting MJ. One can always give it a go, but stop if it doesn't suit.

StrongLikeMamma · 09/10/2025 09:29

Thanks @MagnoliaTreePetalsthat is reassuring 👍

MJnotMJ · 09/10/2025 09:39

TheDenimPoet · 08/10/2025 20:49

I've been recently thinking about taking Mounjaro and when researching the side effects I've found that anxiety is one - and as an anxiety sufferer anyway, I wouldn't want to risk making it worse. So I think it's a "normal" side effect.

Sometimes side effects will calm down when you're used to the medication. It's all about weighing up the pros and cons of being on it, or not feeling anxious anymore. I've been there with other meds. There's not always a perfect answer.

Anxiety is horrible though. You have my sympathy for that!

It actually reduced mine, a lot. I feel really clear minded and quite calm and relaxed now, compared to pre mounjaro days. It’s been a surprise but a greatly appreciated side effect, I have to say.

OP my general side effects stopped after around 6 weeks (for reference I never went above 5mg though, still happily on 5). So if it is the injections it may settle down shortly.

Original poster

Elliebearblues · 09/10/2025 10:37

StrongLikeMamma · 09/10/2025 08:16

I have this with hrt - it’s horrible.
Trying to decide whether to take WLIs - this puts me off!

I think it was the overthinking is this normal that was making it worse if you know what I mean and it was happening when I was sitting down quietly watching tv or on my iPad , I’ve been fine so far today but even just thinking about it and typing I feel it creeping on if you know what I mean x

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Original poster

Elliebearblues · 09/10/2025 10:38

MagnoliaTreePetals · 09/10/2025 08:27

My DD has Anxiety issues @StrongLikeMamma , helped by a lovely CBT therapist.
She started MJ over 2 months ago and has not had any issues with anxiety levels increasing. If anything, she says her anxiety is diminished as she is losing weight, feeling better with herself and not living on sugar, which gave her peaks and crashes.
She is also prone to bouts of nausea and was concerned about starting WLI's and feeling sick all the time, but the MJ has not caused any nausea for her either.
Everyone is different, but I certainly would not let it put me off starting MJ. One can always give it a go, but stop if it doesn't suit.

That’s so good to hear, I think when I think about the anxiety I makes me feel anxious if you know what I mean, it’s so reassuring to hear different stories of some who had it and it eased as they kept on MJ. There’s hope yet xx

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Original poster

Elliebearblues · 09/10/2025 10:39

AramintaWildbloode · 09/10/2025 08:18

Well I am diagnosed with generalised anxiety disorder and I feel mounjaro has helped.

That’s good to hear x

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teees · 09/10/2025 11:17

A lot of people report increased anxiety but there are as many people who have had it make a positive impact on their existing anxiety. I used to suffer really badly and MJ has removed the physical symptoms 90% of the time compared to before. The mental aspect, I am still anxious, but I don’t mind as long as I don’t ‘feel’ it

Original poster

Elliebearblues · 09/10/2025 11:37

teees · 09/10/2025 11:17

A lot of people report increased anxiety but there are as many people who have had it make a positive impact on their existing anxiety. I used to suffer really badly and MJ has removed the physical symptoms 90% of the time compared to before. The mental aspect, I am still anxious, but I don’t mind as long as I don’t ‘feel’ it

I’ve never been an anxious person but it’s kinda creeped on in the last 2 weeks. I feel like my heart is beating hard when to be honest it’s not really it’ll maybe go up to 85ish and then I overthink and worry .. it’s like a fear of I don’t know what. I’m so glad MJ has helped you. Maybe it’s because the medication is so new to my body hopefully it’ll subside when my body is used to it xx

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crumbssonmyface · 09/10/2025 20:14

teees · 09/10/2025 11:17

A lot of people report increased anxiety but there are as many people who have had it make a positive impact on their existing anxiety. I used to suffer really badly and MJ has removed the physical symptoms 90% of the time compared to before. The mental aspect, I am still anxious, but I don’t mind as long as I don’t ‘feel’ it

It’s so strange how medicine can affect us all so differently. Weirdly I had the exact opposite to you, the physical anxiety was high, but mentally I was like “I don’t get it, I’m not anxious” but the physical symptoms were then causing an anxious spiral ffs 😂😂
glad to hear it helped with your anxiety though, always a nice side effect when it’s a positive!

Oodledoodle1 · 12/10/2025 20:31

I’ve been scrolling mumsnet to find a post like this! I’ve been on MJ for 11 weeks and the last 4 weeks I have had really bad anxiety, heart racing, worry, feeling down etc. it’s been awful, I have never had anything like this before so it’s been really unsettling for me. I have only ever been on 2.5mg, I usually jab on a Saturday but I have decided to stop now as this feeling just isn’t worth it for me. I have lost 2 stone and have another 1.5 to lose! I’m really sorry you are feeling like this, it does seem to be a common side effect for a lot of people. I do have a friend who really suffers with Anxiety and she has said being on MJ has helped her. I guess we are all different. I hope yours settles soon. I am feeling better all ready and can almost feel the anxiety slowly leaving my body!

Original poster

Elliebearblues · 12/10/2025 22:45

Oodledoodle1 · 12/10/2025 20:31

I’ve been scrolling mumsnet to find a post like this! I’ve been on MJ for 11 weeks and the last 4 weeks I have had really bad anxiety, heart racing, worry, feeling down etc. it’s been awful, I have never had anything like this before so it’s been really unsettling for me. I have only ever been on 2.5mg, I usually jab on a Saturday but I have decided to stop now as this feeling just isn’t worth it for me. I have lost 2 stone and have another 1.5 to lose! I’m really sorry you are feeling like this, it does seem to be a common side effect for a lot of people. I do have a friend who really suffers with Anxiety and she has said being on MJ has helped her. I guess we are all different. I hope yours settles soon. I am feeling better all ready and can almost feel the anxiety slowly leaving my body!

I think I was more worried as I have never heard of anxiety from weight loss meds before… since chatting on here and realising it is actually a side effect I’ve been more calm and not felt that anxiety feeling in 2 days. I’m so glad you’re feeling better now it’s leaving your body and you need to do what’s best for you in the end. Good luck with the rest of your weight loss journey and thanks for taking the time to comment on this post

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