Ozempic, Mounjaro, Wegovy are now the common injectable medications being prescribed ‘off label’ for weight loss in Australia.
They are a class of drug termed GLP-1 agonists which work by mimicking the action of the body’s own GLP-1 hormone to help regulate blood sugar levels and manage appetite by providing a feeling of ‘fullness’ or satiety.
Both Ozempic and Wegovy are proprietary names for the drug Semaglutide and are used in the treatment of Type 2 diabetes (NIDD) and obesity.
Mounjaro is the brand name of a newer class of GLP-1+ (1) agonist: Tirzapetide. According to studies, Mounjaro’ s benefit over Semaglutide (ie: Ozempic, Wegovy) is it maximises insulin sensitivity to potentially assist with greater weight loss in obese individuals.
Note: ALL GLP-1 agonists are contra-indicated for Type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetics, patients with acute or chronic pancreatitis, pregnant or breast-feeding mothers.
The manufacturers of these medications state ‘hair loss’ is NOT a commonly seen side effect of their use, rather the hair loss is due to the weight loss effect they induce.
This may be so, but some patients report a telogen effluvium (TE) hair shed when commencing the drug at lowest recommended dosage and before any weight loss was observed.
Another explanation might be that the TE hair loss is being caused by hormonal changes from the effects of these GLP-1 agonist drugs.
Telogen effluvium (TE) is the diagnostic term to describe the rapid and excessive shedding of follicle scalp hair following illness, febrile fevers, sudden, dramatic weight loss or significant changes in diet, commencing or ceasing certain medications, post-natal hormonal changes, sudden emotional shock or prolonged mental stress, severe allergic reactions.
TE is arguably the most distressing way to lose one’s hair as up to 60% of scalp hair follicles simultaneously pass into a premature termination of the ‘anagen’ (2) phase, followed by the ‘telogen’ (3) shedding phase usually one – three months after.
Ordinarily TE is considered a ‘temporary & self-correcting’ form of generalised scalp hair loss but will only fully resolve when nutrient-metabolic support is optimised to support a follicle phasing re-set.
An experienced, qualified Trichologist should be able to provide the correct diagnosis and assist with appropriate treatment if required.
- Mounjaro is both a GLP-1 and GIP receptor agonist; GIP means glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide – anther post-prandial (ie: after eating) hormone our body’s produces to promote satiety.
- Anagen: growth phase of a hair follicle.
- Catagen/Telogen: the combined resting and hair shaft shedding of the hair follicle.
Copyright – Anthony Pearce May 2025.