Does Tirzepatide Cause Hair Loss?

Key Takeaways:

• Tirzepatide can cause hair loss — 4 to 5 percent of people in Zepbound^® clinical trials report hair loss as a side effect.

• You might lose hair on tirzepatide if you lose a lot of weight or lose weight quickly.

• Tirzepatide hair loss is generally temporary, and hair should start growing back in a few months.
  

Tirzepatide (Mounjaro^®, Zepbound^®) can help people with type 2 diabetes manage their blood sugar and people with overweight or obesity lose weight.

But what about your hair? Does tirzepatide cause hair loss? It can, although it’s probably due to the weight loss tirzepatide can cause, rather than the medication itself.

Read on to learn how tirzepatide can cause hair loss and what to do about it.

Tirzepatide can cause hair loss. In clinical trials of Zepbound^®, 4 to 5 percent of people reported hair loss as a side effect.

There wasn’t a significant enough number of people reporting hair loss in Mounjaro^® clinical trials for it to be listed as a side effect, though.

Btw, Zepbound^® and Mounjaro^® are both tirzepatide injections. Zepbound^® is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for weight loss in people with obesity or those with overweight who also have a weight-related health condition. Mounjaro^® is FDA-approved for type 2 diabetes.

Research on Tirzepatide Hair Loss

More research is needed on tirzepatide and hair loss.

A 2025 systematic review looked at how glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists affect hair loss. GLP-1 medications include tirzepatide, semaglutide (Ozempic^®, Wegovy^®), and liraglutide (Victoza^®, Saxenda^®).

Results were mixed, with some studies showing hair loss on tirzepatide and others showing hair regrowth on tirzepatide.

Why the confusing results? Some experts say GLP-1 receptor agonists could disrupt the hair growth cycle and that semaglutide may cause hormonal changes that increase the risk of androgenic alopecia — which may linger after you stop the medication. Others say GLP-1s could improve hair health through improved insulin sensitivity and blood flow to the scalp.

We don’t yet exactly know why tirzepatide causes hair loss. However, there are a few hypothesized causes of tirzepatide hair loss, including drastic weight loss, stress, and nutritional deficiencies.

Here’s what could be to blame.

Drastic Weight Loss

Tirzepatide can help people with overweight and obesity lose weight. On the whole, that’s a great thing for your health, but it might trigger hair loss, especially if you lose a lot of weight.

Drastic weight loss — like losing 20 pounds or more — can trigger a form of hair loss called telogen effluvium. With this form of hair loss, you might notice more hair shedding than usual.

This might not happen right away. Hair shedding often starts a few months after a stressful event, so you not not notice hair loss at the start of your weight loss journey.

Calorie restriction can also trigger telogen effluvium. If you’re losing weight on tirzepatide, you’re probably eating fewer calories than your body’s used to.

Nutritional Deficiencies

Tirzepatide suppresses your appetite to promote weight loss. But with a much smaller appetite, you might struggle to get in the nutrients you need for optimum hair health. This can lead to hair loss or excessive shedding. 

Nutrient deficiencies that can cause hair loss include:

• Iron 

• Zinc

• Vitamin D 

• Biotin (vitamin B7) 

• Protein

→ Read: Do Hair Vitamins Work for Hair Growth?

Stress

Stress doesn’t just make you want to pull your hair out — it can cause real hair loss.

You might feel stressed as you’re losing weight if you’re navigating significant lifestyle changes and medication side effects. You could also be going through other stressful events while taking tirzepatide.

Besides weight loss, telogen effluvium triggers include:

• Caring for a sick loved one

• Going through a divorce

• Losing your job

• Giving birth

• Undergoing an operation

• Recovering from an illness

• Stopping birth control pills

→ Learn more: Stress and Female Hair Loss

Hair loss from tirzepatide most likely isn’t permanent. If you lose hair due to telogen effluvium, your hair should grow back to full thickness in 6 to 9 months as your body adjusts after a stressful event like weight loss.

If stress or nutritional deficiencies are causing your hair loss, you’ll need to solve the root cause to encourage hair regrowth.

To stop hair loss on tirzepatide, eat nutritious foods, reduce stress, and consider using a hair loss treatment like minoxidil.

Here’s what to do in more detail.

Eat Nutritious Foods

Make sure you’re giving your body the nutrients it needs to grow healthy hair.

Eat a balanced diet with plenty of:

• Fruits and veggies

• Nuts and seeds

• Low-fat dairy

• Lean protein

• Whole grains

• Healthy fats

If you’re struggling to eat enough while your appetite is suppressed on tirzepatide, try having smaller meals more often — i.e., six small meals rather than three larger meals.

Snacks are also a great way to up your protein intake and get more vitamins and minerals to boost hair health.

In particular, make sure you’re getting enough protein, iron, zinc, and vitamin D. Consider working with a nutritionist, dietitian, or healthcare professional to find out if you have any nutritional deficiencies and need supplements.

Also, even though you’re on a weight loss journey, make sure you’re not restricting yourself and still eating enough calories to fuel your body.

Avoid rapid weight loss. Aim to lose weight at a slow and steady rate of 1 to 2 pounds a week to not stress out your body — and hair — too much.

→ Learn more: GLP-1 Diet Plan

Reduce Stress

As much as you can, try to reduce your stress levels to minimize hair loss.

Sometimes, that involves big steps like:

• Working with a therapist

• Cutting back at work

• Hiring more childcare

Other times, day-to-day activities can help you manage emotional stress, like:

• Doing regular exercise

• Spending time with loved ones

• Practicing meditation

• Going out in nature

• Getting enough sleep

If tirzepatide or weight loss is stressing you out, connecting with loved ones, a therapist, or a weight management specialist can help. You can discuss your concerns and find sustainable lifestyle changes that help you work toward your goals, without the stress.

Use Minoxidil

Minoxidil (Rogaine^®) is a hair loss treatment FDA-approved for male pattern baldness and female pattern hair loss. It’s sometimes used off-label for other types of hair loss, including telogen effluvium.

You can get oral minoxidil or topical minoxidil, the latter of which is available over the counter.

Minoxidil comes in the form of a:

• Foam 

• Solution 

• Spray

• Gummy

• Chew

• Pill

Minoxidil works by shortening the resting phase (telogen phase) of the hair growth cycle, encouraging hair follicles to enter the growth stage (anagen phase). It also extends the growth phase, so hair grows longer and thicker. 

You might start to see a difference in 8 weeks, but it can take at least 4 months to see the full effect of minoxidil. You’ll need to use minoxidil every day, continuously, to maintain results.

Tirzepatide can cause temporary hair loss. It’s fairly common, too — 4 to 5 percent of people on Zepbound^® report hair loss.

Here’s what you need to know:

• Tirzepatide hair loss has a few potential causes. It could be down to significant or rapid weight loss, nutritional deficiencies, or stress, rather than the medication itself messing with your hair. But more research is needed.

• It’s probably temporary. Hair should grow back to full thickness in 6 to 9 months if you’re experiencing telogen effluvium — that’s hair loss triggered by a stressful event, like drastic weight loss.

• Make lifestyle changes to encourage hair growth. Eat a nutritious diet, reduce stress, and consider using minoxidil to encourage hair regrowth.

Reach out to a healthcare provider to see if anything else is causing your hair loss.

Get answers to frequently asked questions about tirzepatide hair loss below.

Will hair grow back after taking tirzepatide? 

Yes, hair should grow back after taking tirzepatide, and you probably don’t need to stop taking the medication to regrow your hair. If telogen effluvium is causing temporary shedding, you should be back to full thickness in 6 to 9 months.

How to prevent hair loss while taking Mounjaro^®?

You can prevent hair loss while taking Mounjaro^® by making sure you’re getting enough nutrients (including protein, iron, and zinc) and keeping stress levels low. Minoxidil can help if you’ve already noticed hair loss.

How long does it take for hair to grow back after tirzepatide hair loss?

It can take hair 6 to 9 months to grow back to full thickness after tirzepatide hair loss. That’s if telogen effluvium due to significant weight loss is causing your hair loss. If it’s caused by stress or a nutritional deficiency, you’ll need to address the root cause first.

Will stopping tirzepatide reverse hair loss? 

Stopping tirzepatide might reverse hair loss. But if your hair loss is caused by significant weight loss, stress, or a nutritional deficiency, simply stopping tirzepatide won’t reverse it. Hair might grow back in 6 to 9 months, even if you continue taking tirzepatide, as your body adjusts after a stressful event like weight loss.

Does tirzepatide cause thinning hair?

Tirzepatide can cause thinning hair. But it might be the weight loss that tirzepatide causes that triggers hair thinning, rather than the medication itself.

How common is hair loss on tirzepatide? 

Hair loss on tirzepatide is relatively common. In clinical trials on Zepbound^®, 4 to 5 percent of people reported hair loss.

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. The information contained herein is not a substitute for and should never be relied upon for professional medical advice. Always talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of any treatment. Learn more about our editorial standards.