I've lost 3.8 stone on Mounjaro but have had horrid side effects – hair loss & the ‘burning sensation' is just the start

The Sun

2 days ago

A YOUNG woman has revealed that thanks to Mounjaro, she was able to drop down from over 14 stone to just 10 stone in 28 weeks.
But despite shifting the weight, Chloe Mckernan, 32, who is currently on her 'glow up journey', has experienced a number of horrible side effects.
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Not only has the brunette been battling hair loss and a sore scalp, but she's also been experiencing a strange 'burning sensation' too.
Posting on social media, Chloe, who now has the 'confidence to wear shorts again', revealed that she has lost 3 stone 8 lbs after using Mounjaro, but experts and NHS medics warn about the dangers of taking such medications without a prescription.
The young woman confirmed that as a result of taking Mounjaro, which is regarded by some as the King Kong of weight loss jabs, she has been accused of 'cheating' her weight loss.
But she isn't bothered by what people say, as despite her side effects, she 'feels amazing'.
Sun GP Dr Zoe Williams claimed that Mounjaro, which could soon be rolled out on the NHS, can save the lives of people with 'life-threatening levels of obesity '.
But despite this, the NHS warned: 'Never take an anti-obesity medicine if it has not been prescribed to you.
"These types of medicines may not be safe for you and can cause serious side effects.'
In a recent clip shared online, Chloe revealed the side effects she has had from taking Mounjaro.
She explained: 'Sometimes I feel dizzy when I stand up…always when I've not drunk enough water.
'I can eat most foods but some foods I used to love I can't eat…'
Weight Loss Jabs - Pros vs Cons
Not only this, but she also added: 'My scalp has been really sore recently…I assume this is due to hair loss…
'When I take my dose, the smell of food sometimes makes me sick.'
And that's not all, as she also acknowledged: 'Sometimes my skin feels sore to touch…This is a common side effect for Mounjaro…it's almost like a burning sensation.'
But despite the side effects, Chloe is 'so happy' she started her Mounjaro journey.
She claimed that it hasn't all been negative, as she also now has 'increased energy', no longer battles 'food noise' and has been able to better 'understand portion control' since using the fat jabs.
Everything you need to know about fat jabs
Weight loss jabs are all the rage as studies and patient stories reveal they help people shed flab at almost unbelievable rates, as well as appearing to reduce the risk of serious diseases.
Wegovy – a modified version of type 2 diabetes drug Ozempic – and Mounjaro are the leading weight loss injections used in the UK.
Wegovy, real name semaglutide, has been used on the NHS for years while Mounjaro (tirzepatide) is a newer and more powerful addition to the market.
Mounjaro accounts for most private prescriptions for weight loss and is set to join Wegovy as an NHS staple this year.
How do they work?
The jabs work by suppressing your appetite, making you eat less so your body burns fat for energy instead and you lose weight.
They do this my mimicking a hormone called GLP-1, which signals to the brain when the stomach is full, so the drugs are officially called GLP-1 receptor agonists.
They slow down digestion and increase insulin production, lowering blood sugar, which is why they were first developed to treat type 2 diabetes in which patients' sugar levels are too high.
Can I get them?
NHS prescriptions of weight loss drugs, mainly Wegovy and an older version called Saxenda (chemical name liraglutide), are controlled through specialist weight loss clinics.
Typically a patient will have to have a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher, classifying them as medically obese, and also have a weight-related health condition such as high blood pressure.
GPs generally do not prescribe the drugs for weight loss.
Private prescribers offer the jabs, most commonly Mounjaro, to anyone who is obese (BMI of 30+) or overweight (BMI 25-30) with a weight-related health risk.
Private pharmacies have been rapped for handing them out too easily and video calls or face-to-face appointments are now mandatory to check a patient is being truthful about their size and health.
Are there any risks?
Yes – side effects are common but most are relatively mild.
Around half of people taking the drug experience gut issues, including sickness, bloating, acid reflux, constipation and diarrhoea.
Dr Sarah Jarvis, GP and clinical consultant at patient.info, said: 'One of the more uncommon side effects is severe acute pancreatitis, which is extremely painful and happens to one in 500 people.'
Other uncommon side effects include altered taste, kidney problems, allergic reactions, gallbladder problems and hypoglycemia.
Evidence has so far been inconclusive about whether the injections are damaging to patients' mental health.
Figures obtained by The Sun show that, up to January 2025, 85 patient deaths in the UK were suspected to be linked to the medicines.
Mounjaro users react
Chloe's TikTok clip, which was posted under the username @ chlo_mckernan, has clearly left many open-mouthed, as it has quickly racked up 500,500 views.
Not only this, but it's also amassed 8,846 likes, 341 comments and 624 saves.
Numerous other Mounjaro users eagerly flocked to the comments, keen to share the side effects they have experienced whilst using fat jabs.
One person said: 'I have sore skin!!!! And achy legs.'
Another added: 'The coldness, I am constantly freezing.'
A third commented: 'My period is the worst period I've ever had in my life.'
Someone else explained: 'The only side effects I've had is being cold a lot and really bad sulphur burps.'
Whilst another woman chimed in: 'I only started on Wednesday, I've been ill! Shivering, skin sore to touch, being physically sick, back stomach pains, lethargic, light headed….'
Fatal consequences
In addition to horrendous side effects, those debating whether to begin using Mounjaro should know that it can also have fatal consequences.
The injections are licensed for patients with type 2 diabetes and are administered every seven days.
They are also available to assist those who are clinically obese (with a Body Mass Index of 30 or over).
The drugs, which have been widely regarded as 'fat jabs', can be prescribed by a practitioner - such as a doctor, nurse or a pharmacist-independent prescriber.
But increasingly, we are seeing more and more people buying them through online pharmacies, without sufficient checks.
Not only this, but recently, figures from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency revealed that fat jabs had been linked to 82 deaths across the UK.