Loss of appetite and nausea after starting Mounjaro, does it ease?

ByGiddyMoose · 2026-05-18T19:50:21+00:00

Hi everybody, my question is about appetite. I started Mounjaro last week, 2nd jab today. Not only did I lose mine immediately after the 1st jab, but the thought of eating and smell of food is making me feel sick to the point where I can barely manage anything. Does anyone have the same, and does it pass?

Thingcanonlygetbetter · 18/05/2026 20:51

It will pass, but you need to eat something. Make sure you drink loads of water and maybe put an electrolyte tablet in your water each day

whichwayisuptoday · 18/05/2026 20:53

Everyone is different. Noone will be able to say how someone will react or for how long symptoms might last

You could try reducing the dose if you have a Kwikpen. Some people count 30 clicks for a weekly 1.25 mg dose instead of the full 60 clicks on a 2.5 mg pen.

SheDoesntEvenGoHerex · 18/05/2026 20:53

You might be what I’ve seen people call a ‘super responder’ where you feel the effects straight away.

Even if you don’t feel like eating, try and eat little but often, as you need to keep your calories up, prioritise protein and fibre.

It will ease up, probably towards the end of the week, if you’ve done two weeks and felt the same, it might be worth doing 1.25mg which is 30 clicks ( half dose )

1989STAR · 18/05/2026 20:54

Hi :) 15 months in now and 7 stone 2 lbs down...the sickness will pass but you need to eat or it will just get worse as you have nothing in your stomach. I felt very unwell at forst and also when I went up to 5mg but I rarely get so unwell now that it stops my day. You might get a bad tummy so be ready for that!

rockstarshoes · 18/05/2026 20:55

I think sometimes the nausea can be because your stomach's empty!

i eat a banana or a cracker or something & it soon passes.

The loss of appetite is quite normal I think - mine does pass stronger after the jab & then wears off towards the end of the week!

Try & eat something especially protein, you don’t want to be eating nothing at all.

doingjustfinethanks · 18/05/2026 21:02

This happened to me when started on 2.5. Dropped to 1.25 and much better!

Sellingsunsetsandshit · 18/05/2026 22:22

I responded immediately like this and 18 months later I'm off it but the sight and smell of food still makes me gag a bit, I do get hungry but I can only stomach certain foods now, it's like I've developed arfid at 58, I do think that it's a highly unusual reaction, for most people it eases off as you continue,but I do think people who react like this don't need to up their doses much usually and it works really well at the lower end, I have mixed feelings about it,I'm glad I lost weight (a lot, very quickly and very easily)but it's rotten feeling nauseous around food,makes me seem neurotic, I can't stand the smell of fried food especially fish and chips,makes me physically retch.

Original poster

ByGiddyMoose · 19/05/2026 11:42

Thanks for all the tips and advice. I am trying to eat but I'm literally choking it down. I expected the loss of appetite but not the complete aversion to food! I'll give it a bit longer and hope things improve

OP posts:

Sellingsunsetsandshit · 19/05/2026 14:43

@ByGiddyMoose I can stomach the huel ,but only vanilla, they are good because they contain all you need,try it.

Original poster

ByGiddyMoose · 19/05/2026 14:52

Sellingsunsetsandshit · 18/05/2026 22:22

I responded immediately like this and 18 months later I'm off it but the sight and smell of food still makes me gag a bit, I do get hungry but I can only stomach certain foods now, it's like I've developed arfid at 58, I do think that it's a highly unusual reaction, for most people it eases off as you continue,but I do think people who react like this don't need to up their doses much usually and it works really well at the lower end, I have mixed feelings about it,I'm glad I lost weight (a lot, very quickly and very easily)but it's rotten feeling nauseous around food,makes me seem neurotic, I can't stand the smell of fried food especially fish and chips,makes me physically retch.

I could have written this myself, I think I'll persevere for a few more weeks and if it doesn't get any better I'll have to quit. I've tried huel, can just about get it down!

OP posts:

Sellingsunsetsandshit · 19/05/2026 15:07

@ByGiddyMoose , I feel for you, I did actually learn to tolerate it whilst I was on it, thinking well I'll come off and all will be good,but what actually happened was that the revulsion and nausea remained,but I do get hungry 😂.
So I'll get all excited for a meal then when I come to eat it if it's not one of my safe foods it makes me retch. I made steak and kidney pie yesterday because my husband loves it and I used to but honestly I couldn't even have it near me, before I would have eaten a big portion with chips,( I had a salad)😆, hopefully you'll settle and titrate down when you're ready and return to normal,it seems to have switched something permanently in my brain.

time4anothername · 19/05/2026 16:34

Not everyone is the same genetically. You should speak to your prescriber about the side effects and get advice.
e.g. If you have the GIPR genetic nausea risk this is linked with tirzepatide more than semaglutide
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cn5317dkqnxo
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-026-10330-z

Overtheatlantic · 19/05/2026 18:32

I’m 10 months in and sometimes I can only eat toast or a banana. It should get better. Best of luck!