Advice needed - exhaustion on MJ

Toolea · 2026-02-27T13:36:05+00:00

I’ve been on MJ for nearly 2 months now and have lost 17 lbs which is great. I’ve stayed on 2.5mg but in the last few weeks I’ve been taking it every 5 days (counting clicks with a 5mg pen) because I feel that 5mg will be too much for me. I have at least another stone to lose to get in the healthy bmi range. I need to lose weight as I’m (just) post menopausal and have had breast cancer in the past so it’s very important that I stay within a healthy weight range. Also the MJ seems to be controlling my ulcerative colitis really well. BUT I am exhausted. Just tried to do a really tiny bit of clearing in the garden and I got dizzy and breathless. Climbing 2 flights of stairs makes my chest hurt in a way it never has done and I’m just feeling massively out of condition because I’m too exhausted to exercise. I’m dealing with huge amounts of stress in my life at the moment with lingering grief over parental bereavement and my adult daughter being unwell. Also I had terrible insomnia which I’m trying to get help for but it’s hard with everything else that’s going on. Get about 4 hours sleep a night. Losing weight is a positive thing right now with everything else that’s going on but I’m concerned about how exhausted I am. Normally, in the past, I would be at the gym at least 3 times a week - but even walking there would exhaust me at the moment. I’m wondering if I should pause the injections for a couple of months to see if I improve but I really really don’t want to stop losing weight or indeed put it back on. Psychologically as much as anything else. Plus I have 2 unused 5mg pens in the fridge. Has anyone else had issues with exhaustion and dizziness or maybe a slightly sore chest/lungs on exertion? I’m just feeling very unsure of what to do. Thank you ❤️

Icanthinkformyselfthanks · 27/02/2026 13:58

I think if you’re getting breathless when you exercise in a fairly moderate fashion you should mention this to your GP.
In the beginning of my Mounjaro journey I had a few side effects and being very tired was one of them but after a time my body obviously got used to the medication and all the very mild side effects went away.

ShrankLastWinter · 27/02/2026 14:04

I also think that level of tiredness needs investigation.

Are you eating well? Is iron ok? Blood pressure ok? Could you have a virus? It’s very possible this is something simple like that, but I’d get it checked out.

Some weariness on MJ is common, but that sounds too much.

RoundandSad · 27/02/2026 14:28

I came off it after three months because exhaustion was just one symptom - it's been awful for me

I didn't have breathlessness or dizziness, though

I think you need to see a doctor. Breathlessness climbing the stairs should be investigated urgentLy

MrsMiagi · 27/02/2026 17:42

Please see a gp. This may not be caused by MJ. I dont want to alarm you but please get it checked out

rainydaysaway · 27/02/2026 17:43

You should see you GP. It could be caused by low iron or b12 if you’re eating less (I get both) but it could be more serious so please see the doctor.

Hotmess101 · 27/02/2026 17:47

I had this plus really sore skin, dodgy tum, headaches ☹️ had to give up after two months once the sore skin started becoming unbearable. Now been off it for two weeks and all symptoms are gone and I’m enjoying being active again. I only had 1.5 stone to lose and lost half a stone in six weeks, I’m just going to try to build on that and maintain/lose slowly if possible. Perimenopause says otherwise but I live in hope 😂

TheEgg2 · 27/02/2026 17:50

Hi, agree with comments on here. I’m 56 and on HRT snd other meds that render me shattered with MJ on top. Sounds like you’ve been really sensible staying on a low dose so why not talk to GP or whoever you go to for weight loss advice about taking the 2.5 mg every 7 days, not sure why you’re taking it every five? I’ve had the breathlessness and dizziness when exercising and have had to restrict my swimming to days 4 and 6 after my jab as it’s when I’m more likely to cope with it and not feel like I might pass out. Sorry you’re having such a tough time emotionally especially after breast cancer, try and not push yourself too hard.

RoundandSad · 27/02/2026 18:13

I thought I was being misguided carrying on taking it and when I felt awful

But really, anybody who's having all these symptoms please think about it

@TheEgg2 having to cut back on your swimming because of breathlessness and feeling faint sounds terrible!

putthehamsterbackinitscage · 27/02/2026 20:36

This doesn’t sound like just fatigue from Mounjaro…. It needs investigating by your gp.

My experience of fatigue was needing a nap- usually an hour on days 2/3 in the afternoon but no breathlessness, dizziness etc…

You need to discuss your symptoms, Calorie intake and activity levels and get some advice from a medical professional rather than from us on here.

LovesLabradors · 27/02/2026 21:37

I had both dizziness (also when gardening!) & fatigue (sometimes quite severe, no energy to do anything) at the beginning. Certainly no energy for any actual exercise.
But I tried to eat a high protein diet, took creatine and just rode it out.
I've been on it for 10 months now and these side effects don't affect me anymore - I can exercise now, which is great.
I don't ever remember breathlessness or chest tightness, so might be worth seeing your GP about that. If you're v stressed, it could just be that. Good luck - MJ really has changed my life.

Original poster

Toolea · 27/02/2026 22:13

Many thanks to you all for your concern and your advice. I am seeing my GP on the 10th. In the meantime, I’m going to drop back down to 2.5mg every 7 days and see if that helps. I suspect I am also not quite getting enough calories plus the anxiety I’m dealing with right now is intense.

OP posts:

Anon1231990 · 01/03/2026 22:20

Always sensible to be checked by GP, just wanted to add that I suffered terribly with exhaustion, dizziness, chest pain, breathlessness to the point I thought something was very seriously wrong with me, it took me 25 minutes to walk a 5 minute route and i was in actual pain, I even had to sit down in the shower.

Took a little time for me to see the patern, but after attending a series of events over a few weeks I seemed to be fine for a few days after, and the 5 minute journey was 5 minutes again. I was puzzled, and then realised I had consumed more calories on those days!

All the symptoms were due to not consuming enough calories for me, and I genuinely believed that I was just going to keel over.

Whilst waiting for the doctors appointment I would try upping calories and see if it makes any difference 🙌

Hope you feel better soon.

Original poster

Toolea · 02/03/2026 04:42

Anon1231990 · 01/03/2026 22:20

Always sensible to be checked by GP, just wanted to add that I suffered terribly with exhaustion, dizziness, chest pain, breathlessness to the point I thought something was very seriously wrong with me, it took me 25 minutes to walk a 5 minute route and i was in actual pain, I even had to sit down in the shower.

Took a little time for me to see the patern, but after attending a series of events over a few weeks I seemed to be fine for a few days after, and the 5 minute journey was 5 minutes again. I was puzzled, and then realised I had consumed more calories on those days!

All the symptoms were due to not consuming enough calories for me, and I genuinely believed that I was just going to keel over.

Whilst waiting for the doctors appointment I would try upping calories and see if it makes any difference 🙌

Hope you feel better soon.

Thank you, that’s really helpful to hear ❤️ That seems most likely and what I’ve started doing as of Saturday. Feels weird to be trying to eat more calories rather than fewer!

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ReasonablyInefficient · 02/03/2026 08:36

I’m 58, on HRT, and have been on mounjaro for 4.5 months now, never over 5 mg and losing about 1-1.5 lbs a week. Have lost 24 lbs and will be at goal weight at 10 st (I’m 5 ft 6, size 12-14). I was exhausted and had heart palpitations when I did anything. My blood pressure went from healthy normal to being regularly very low first thing in the morning. I did a private broad spectrum blood test in the end (thought it would be quicker and more efficient than wasting the time of my NHS GP, and might show something that I could perhaps correct myself). It came back that I was deficient in folate, low in active B12, both of which which can contribute to the above symptoms. My iron was fine. These two tests are general for tiredness so your GP may be able to help with them. My diet was most likely deficient before mounjaro (wine most nights, picking at food instead of a good meal) and since mounjaro, I have found it difficult to put together a full healthy meal that I can eat all of - I have found the suppression high. I’m now on 3.75 mg max which I find is best for me giving a 1 lb per week loss and I have just started supplementing with methyl folate and methyl b12 - drops in a glass of water. I also read that taking electrolytes each day may not be ideal for me and contributing to the heart palpitations, so I have reduced the electrolytes only to when I haven’t taken in enough fluids or a good diet the previous day - just 1-2 times a week as a precaution. I seem to have a bit more energy but that could be due to the better weather, more walks in the fresh air, and a bit of strength training - neither of which I was really up for before because of the tiredness. I’ll reduce my dose further soon and micro dose down over a few months to try and come off the mounjaro by late summer. I hope you get to the bottom of the tiredness - it really is quite debilitating when it hits. Take care.

Original poster

Toolea · 02/03/2026 12:21

ReasonablyInefficient · 02/03/2026 08:36

I’m 58, on HRT, and have been on mounjaro for 4.5 months now, never over 5 mg and losing about 1-1.5 lbs a week. Have lost 24 lbs and will be at goal weight at 10 st (I’m 5 ft 6, size 12-14). I was exhausted and had heart palpitations when I did anything. My blood pressure went from healthy normal to being regularly very low first thing in the morning. I did a private broad spectrum blood test in the end (thought it would be quicker and more efficient than wasting the time of my NHS GP, and might show something that I could perhaps correct myself). It came back that I was deficient in folate, low in active B12, both of which which can contribute to the above symptoms. My iron was fine. These two tests are general for tiredness so your GP may be able to help with them. My diet was most likely deficient before mounjaro (wine most nights, picking at food instead of a good meal) and since mounjaro, I have found it difficult to put together a full healthy meal that I can eat all of - I have found the suppression high. I’m now on 3.75 mg max which I find is best for me giving a 1 lb per week loss and I have just started supplementing with methyl folate and methyl b12 - drops in a glass of water. I also read that taking electrolytes each day may not be ideal for me and contributing to the heart palpitations, so I have reduced the electrolytes only to when I haven’t taken in enough fluids or a good diet the previous day - just 1-2 times a week as a precaution. I seem to have a bit more energy but that could be due to the better weather, more walks in the fresh air, and a bit of strength training - neither of which I was really up for before because of the tiredness. I’ll reduce my dose further soon and micro dose down over a few months to try and come off the mounjaro by late summer. I hope you get to the bottom of the tiredness - it really is quite debilitating when it hits. Take care.

Thanks so much for this helpful and thoughtful reply. Much appreciated. I’m going to look into some of the things you’ve said for sure. You sound like you’ve achieved a lot. Best of luck for the rest of your journey ❤️

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