Mounjaro users have been given a stern warning over the potentially dangerous side effects of the drug ahead of the August bank holiday.

The drug, estimated to be taken by around 750,000 individuals nationwide, ranks among the nation’s most popular medications for weight loss and diabetes management.

But while it has been credited with helping people lose 20 per cent of their body weight, it is not all good news for users.

This is due to the potential for users of the medication to experience unforeseen alcohol-related side effects, as reported by SheMed, a UK-based HealthTech company focused on women’s health.

Some users of Mounjaro may believe they are becoming intoxicated more quickly due to their weight loss; however, they might actually be experiencing low blood sugar levels from using the injections, warns Rachael Joy, Chief Clinical Officer at SheMed.  

‘If you feel shaky, sweaty, light-headed, confused, or your vision goes blurry, don’t simply put it down to the alcohol,’ she said. 

‘It is worth considering if it could be hypoglycaemia. It’s important to listen to your body while taking GLP-1 medication and respond accordingly.’ 

Hypoglycemia is a condition where blood sugar levels become too low, leading to a variety of symptoms, ranging from hunger to more severe consequences like seizures or unconsciousness. 

Mounjaro users have been given a stern warning over potentially dangerous side effects of the drug ahead of the August bank holiday

This map illustrates areas most impacted by obesity. It is estimated that up to 750,000 people are using Mounjaro, one of the nation’s most popular drugs for weight loss and diabetes.

Mounjaro users are often susceptible to low blood sugar levels. The medication encourages insulin secretion, which can lead to a further decrease in blood sugar levels. 

‘You may feel less inclined to drink alcohol, as some studies have reported that Mounjaro can blunt the brain’s reward response,’ Ms Joy said.

‘It also slows digestion, whilst alcohol can throw your blood sugar off balance. Put the two together and even a small amount can affect you more than expected.’

Mounjaro is a prescription-only treatment for weight loss and type 2 diabetes.

The NHS recommends the use of it to management obesity for certain patients.

It is sold under the brand name Mounjaro for diabetes treatment and Zepbound for weight loss treatment.

Users inject themselves once a week and they feel fuller for longer. 

Meanwhile, people paying privately for Mounjaro in the UK face a rise in the cost of treatment after manufacturer Eli Lilly said it would raise the price by as much as 170 per cent earlier this month.

Social media users are already claiming to have sourced retatrutide, another weight loss drug, on the black market after Mounjaro’s impending price rise

It means a month’s supply could rise from £122 to £330.

Eli Lilly said it was being sold in the UK at a price ‘significantly below’ what was charged in other European countries

The price rise has sparked panic with slimmers now rushing to get their hands on a powerful new drug dubbed the ‘Godzilla’ of weight loss jabs. 

Early trials of the drug, retatrutide, suggest it can help people shed a quarter of their body weight in under a year – almost twice as effective as Ozempic.

Unlike other slimming injections, the jab, also manufactured by Eli Lilly, not only suppresses appetite but also speeds up metabolism.

Because it targets three hormones involved in eating and weight regulation, it has been nicknamed ‘triple G’.

The once-weekly injection is still in clinical trials, with phase three results not expected until 2026.

Yet social media users are already claiming to have sourced the drug on the black market, boasting of losing more than three stone in just months.