Mounjaro Diarrhea: How Common, How Long It Lasts, What Helps
Yes. In the Mounjaro trials, 17% of people on 15 mg had diarrhea, against 9% on placebo: about 2 times the placebo rate. It is the second most common side effect in that table. Smaller, slower meals help most.
- In the Mounjaro label
- Yes, with a rate
- On Mounjaro 15 mg
- 17%
- On placebo
- 9%
- Rank in the label table
- 2 of 7
Mounjaro: key facts
With a half-life of about 5 days, the amount drops by half every 5 days. About 3% remains after five half-lives (25 d).
In the SURPASS-1 trial of 40 weeks, people with type 2 diabetes lost 7.8 kg, while the placebo group lost 1 kg.
Prices per month in US dollars: the list price, plus self-pay offers, each taken from the maker's price page.
Sources: FDA label (DailyMed), healthsystemtracker.org, pricinginfo.lilly.com.
Mounjaro vs placebo: how often it shows up
Mounjaro diarrhea is shown in the label trials by dose group. The comparison group in that same trial is the placebo.
| Medicine and dose | Diarrhea | Placebo | More than placebo | People in the trials |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mounjaro 5 mg | 12% | 9% | +3 points | Adults with type 2 diabetes |
| Mounjaro 10 mg | 13% | 9% | +4 points | Adults with type 2 diabetes |
| Mounjaro 15 mg | 17% | 9% | +8 points | Adults with type 2 diabetes |
Source: Mounjaro label (DailyMed).
Comparing Diarrhea on Mounjaro with other GLP-1s
Each label covers its own trials, which involved different groups of people. Treat it as a rough guide.
The table also includes the pill forms: Rybelsus, Foundayo.
| Medicine | Highest rate in the label | Dose group | Placebo | People in the trials |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Wegovy | 30% | 2.4 mg | 16% | Adults with obesity or overweight (weight management) |
 Foundayo | 25% | 17.2 mg | 11% | Adults with obesity or overweight (weight management) |
 Zepbound | 23% | 15 mg | 8% | Adults with obesity or overweight (weight management) |
 Saxenda | 20.9% | all doses | 9.9% | Adults with obesity or overweight (weight management) |
| Mounjaro | 17% | 15 mg | 9% | Adults with type 2 diabetes |
| Byetta | 13% | all doses | 6% | Adults with type 2 diabetes |
 Trulicity | 12.6% | 1.5 mg | 6.7% | Adults with type 2 diabetes |
 Victoza | 12% | 1.8 mg | 4% | Adults with type 2 diabetes |
 Rybelsus | 10% | 14 mg | 4% | Adults with type 2 diabetes |
 Ozempic | 8.8% | 1 mg | 1.9% | Adults with type 2 diabetes |
Label sources: Ozempic label (DailyMed), Wegovy label (DailyMed), Rybelsus label (DailyMed), Mounjaro label (DailyMed), Zepbound label (DailyMed), Foundayo label (DailyMed), Trulicity label (DailyMed), Saxenda label (DailyMed), Victoza label (DailyMed), Byetta label (DailyMed).
Source: FDA label (DailyMed).
Why this happens on Mounjaro
These medicines slow the speed at which the stomach empties. Food stays longer, and this can cause diarrhea, most often after large or fatty meals.
Source: health.clevelandclinic.org.
What the Mounjaro label tells you
The label refers to diarrhea in these exact words:
“of the reported events occurred in patients who experienced gastrointestinal adverse reactions leading to dehydration such as nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea [see Adverse Reactions (6)].”
Source: FDA label (DailyMed).
What helps, one step at a time
- Drink water and an electrolyte drink to replace fluids and salts.
- For a while, eat foods that are soft, bland and low in fiber.
- Reduce how much caffeine, alcohol and milk drinks you have.
- Ask your prescriber about an anti-diarrhea medicine from the drugstore.
- Eat smaller meals and stop eating when you feel full. These medicines slow the emptying of the stomach.
- Take your time eating. It takes some time for your brain to recognize when you have had enough.
- If it does not ease, let your prescriber know. Your prescriber may slow the dose increases or suggest a different GLP-1 medicine.
Before taking anything from the drugstore, check it for GLP-1 interactions with the interactions checker.
Source: health.clevelandclinic.org.