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Does Ozempic or Mounjaro cause hair loss?

GLP Guidebook teamUpdated 5 Oct 202616 sourcesWritten from published sources
The short answer

Sometimes. In US weight-loss trials, 3% on Wegovy (semaglutide) and 5% on Zepbound (tirzepatide) lost hair, vs 1% on dummy injections. India sells both trial doses, Wegovy 2.4 mg and Mounjaro (tirzepatide) 15 mg. US labels for Ozempic (semaglutide) and Mounjaro list hair loss only from post-approval reports. Most cases look like temporary shedding after fast weight loss.

Before you go further
  • GLP‑1 medicines are prescription-only in India, not sold over the counter.14
  • A government statement on 1 Apr 2026 said only endocrinologists, internal-medicine specialists and cardiologists can prescribe them.14 CDSCO expert-committee minutes attach a similar condition to some approvals (endocrinologist or internal-medicine specialist), but we found no rule covering every brand.15,16
  • The risks are in Guide 5: Side effects and risks.
  • Nothing here recommends a brand or promises any result.

How common is hair loss on these medicines?

In US weight-loss trials, 3 to 5 in 100 users lost hair, vs 1 in 100 on dummy injections.

The figures were 3.3% on Wegovy 2.4 mg and 5% on Zepbound 15 mg, vs 1% on placebo.1,2 Women reported it more often, 4% vs 0.9% of men on Wegovy and 7.1% vs 0.5% on Zepbound.1,2

Dose may matter. A 2026 review found semaglutide doses under 2 mg a week were rarely linked to hair loss.5 Ozempic in India comes in 0.25 to 1 mg.10 But the trial doses are sold here too. Wegovy launched in India in June 2025 in strengths up to 2.4 mg.11 Sun Pharma’s generic semaglutide for weight also reaches 2.4 mg.13 Mounjaro is sold here for weight and diabetes, in pens up to 15 mg.9,12

In the US, Ozempic and Mounjaro are diabetes brands. Their US labels list hair loss (alopecia) only from post-approval reports, which can’t always prove cause.3,4 Other side-effect rates are in Mounjaro side effects.

Why does losing weight make hair fall out?

Fast weight loss can push many hairs into their resting phase at once. They shed a few months later (telogen effluvium).

Losing 50 to 100 hairs a day is normal, says the American Academy of Dermatology.8 It lists losing 20 pounds (about 9 kg) or more as a trigger for heavier shedding. That shedding usually shows a few months later.8 On GLP‑1 medicines, the 2026 review says shedding may start about 2 to 3 months after beginning treatment.5

What do the large 2026 studies show?

Large 2026 studies link semaglutide and tirzepatide to more hair loss, mainly shedding and pattern thinning, but cannot prove the medicines caused it.

A 2026 review pooled 17 studies covering about 1.1 million patient exposures. It could combine 3 cohort studies for one figure. In those, users had 40% higher odds of hair loss that doesn't scar (odds ratio 1.40).6 Its summary gives no absolute rate; the label figures above are the absolute numbers. Patchy hair loss (alopecia areata) was not linked.6,7 A 2026 US records study found users who lost hair had a lower BMI at follow-up. Its authors say weight-loss stress may contribute.7

Does the hair grow back, and when should you get it checked?

It usually does, because shedding after weight loss tends to settle on its own.

A 2026 review found no strong evidence of lasting damage to hair roots (follicles). It says hair usually improves within 3 to 6 months once weight is stable.5 The dermatology academy says fullness tends to return within 6 to 9 months.8 The review says to see a skin specialist (dermatologist) in some cases. These include hair loss lasting beyond 6 to 9 months, a pattern of loss, or an itchy or inflamed scalp.5

To lower the risk, the review lists avoiding very fast weight loss. It also lists enough protein, iron, zinc and vitamins D, B12 and A.5 Protein on an Indian diet is covered in Guide 8: Life on a GLP‑1.

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RisksThe risks, in brief
  • Stomach effects are the most common. On Zepbound 15 mg, 28% felt sick (nausea) vs 8% on a dummy injection.2
  • Swollen pancreas (pancreatitis) and gallbladder problems are label warnings.1,2
  • Dehydration from vomiting or diarrhoea can harm the kidneys.1,2
  • Thyroid C-cell tumour warning. Ruled out by the US labels for anyone with a personal or family history of medullary thyroid cancer or MEN 2; tell your doctor if this applies.1,2
Full detail in Guide 5: Side effects and risks →
Get help now: call 112 for severe stomach pain, or pain that won't go away. It may spread to your back, with or without vomiting.4

Read the full picture

Related questions

What is tirzepatide? Is semaglutide the same as Ozempic? Is Mounjaro available in India? Is Ozempic available in India? How long do Mounjaro side effects last?
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Sources

  1. Novo Nordisk. Wegovy (semaglutide) injection and tablets, US prescribing information, revised 06/2026. US label, not the Indian one. Boxed warning; sections 5, 6.1 (Table and "Hair Loss"). novo-pi.com
  2. Eli Lilly. Zepbound (tirzepatide) US prescribing information, revised 08/2026. US label; Zepbound is not sold in India under that name. Boxed warning; sections 1, 5, 6.1 (Table 1 and "Hair Loss"). pi.lilly.com
  3. Novo Nordisk. Ozempic (semaglutide) injection, US prescribing information, revised 05/2026. US label, not the Indian one: we found no public Indian label. Section 6.2 (Postmarketing Experience). novo-pi.com
  4. Eli Lilly. Mounjaro (tirzepatide) US prescribing information, revised 08/2026. US label, not the Indian one: we found no public Indian label. Sections 5.2, 6.2 (Postmarketing Experience). pi.lilly.com
  5. Gupta AK, Teasell EM, Economopoulos V, Mirmirani P. GLP-1 therapies and hair loss: a systematic review of current evidence and implications for counseling. Sci Prog 2026;109(2), published 17 Apr 2026. doi:10.1177/00368504261444578 · PMID 41998799
  6. Viquez Burboa GU, Flores Guillén MÁR, Duardo González VS. GLP-1 receptor agonists and alopecia: a systematic review and meta-analysis of incidence, risk, subtypes, and mechanisms. Skin Appendage Disord, online 30 Jun 2026. doi:10.1159/000553070 · PMID 42621629
  7. Katragadda R et al. Nonscarring alopecia in adults treated with GLP-1s: a propensity score matched TriNetX cohort study. Laryngoscope, online 26 Aug 2026. doi:10.1002/lary.70810 · PMID 42647098
  8. American Academy of Dermatology. Do you have hair loss or hair shedding? (public education page, checked 5 Oct 2026). aad.org
  9. Indian Pharma Post. Lilly launches Mounjaro in India for treatment of obesity and type 2 diabetes (Lilly India launch statement), 24 Mar 2025. indianpharmapost.com
  10. Business Standard (citing Reuters). Novo Nordisk launches Ozempic in India at ₹2,200/week amid patent battles, 12 Dec 2025. business-standard.com
  11. Business Standard (Anjali Singh). Novo Nordisk launches Wegovy in India to rival Eli Lilly’s weight-loss drug, 24 Jun 2025 (five strengths, 0.25 to 2.4 mg). business-standard.com
  12. Business Standard (citing Reuters). Eli Lilly’s Mounjaro KwikPen launched in India, 13 Aug 2025 (six strengths, 2.5 to 15 mg). business-standard.com
  13. Sun Pharma. Press release on its semaglutide launch in India (Noveltreat for weight, five strengths 0.25 to 2.4 mg), 21 Mar 2026. sunpharma.com (PDF)
  14. PIB Research (Government of India). GLP-1 Drugs: Use, Risks, and Regulation. Backgrounder, 1 Apr 2026. pib.gov.in (PDF)
  15. CDSCO. Recommendations of the Subject Expert Committee (Endocrinology & Metabolism), 100th meeting, 20–21 Apr 2023, item 1 (tirzepatide, Eli Lilly). Committee minutes, not the final permission. cdsco.gov.in (PDF) · archived copy
  16. CDSCO. Recommendations of the Subject Expert Committee (Endocrinology & Metabolism), 13–14 Feb 2024, items 3–4 (semaglutide, Novo Nordisk). Committee minutes for two named products. cdsco.gov.in (PDF) · archived copy

Last checked 5 Oct 2026 · Next review due 5 Oct 2027 · Report an error

How this answer was made. Written by the GLP Guidebook team from the sources above. It's general information, not medical advice. Talk to a qualified doctor before starting, stopping or changing any medicine. How we write