TRIAL RESULTS · SIDE EFFECTS
Tirzepatide side effects
ANSWER
In 19 placebo-controlled trials with posted results, the most common side effects of Tirzepatide were nausea 25.6% (placebo 8.1%), diarrhoea 21.2% (placebo 8.3%), Covid-19 15.5% (placebo 16.0%). Read from ClinicalTrials.gov on 2026-10-03. Not medical advice.
Trial register
Trials with posted results
36
with an arm on Tirzepatide, of 309 registered
Against placebo
19
placebo-controlled trials
People in those trials
6,209
on Tirzepatide · 2,821 on placebo
Read
2026-10-03
ClinicalTrials.gov
VS PLACEBO
Most common side effects, Tirzepatide beside placebo
Share of people with each side effect in 19 placebo-controlled trials with posted results: 6,209 people on Tirzepatide (all doses), 2,821 on placebo, same trials. Listed only when reported for at least half of the people on Tirzepatide. Source: ClinicalTrials.gov, read 2026-10-03. Not medical advice.
ALL TRIALS
The 100 most reported of 2187 side effects reported
Every trial with posted results and an arm on Tirzepatide (n ≥ 20), all phases, by people affected. Placebo is shown where placebo-controlled trials reported the same event. Comparator arms are not counted.
| Side effect | Organ system | Tirzepatide | Placebo | Trials |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nausea | Gastrointestinal disorders | 24.0% (4,769 of 19,849) | 8.1% | 35 |
| Diarrhoea | Gastrointestinal disorders | 21.2% (4,196 of 19,821) | 8.3% | 34 |
| Decreased appetite | Metabolism and nutrition disorders | 14.2% (2,806 of 19,782) | 2.9% | 33 |
| Constipation | Gastrointestinal disorders | 11.0% (2,148 of 19,442) | 4.5% | 29 |
| Vomiting | Gastrointestinal disorders | 10.7% (2,130 of 19,849) | 2.6% | 35 |
| Covid-19 | Infections and infestations | 11.7% (1,957 of 16,788) | 16.0% | 17 |
| Dyspepsia | Gastrointestinal disorders | 8.3% (1,609 of 19,439) | 2.7% | 31 |
| Dizziness | Nervous system disorders | 5.6% (784 of 14,094) | 3.0% | 22 |
| Nasopharyngitis | Infections and infestations | 6.3% (769 of 12,253) | 8.0% | 16 |
| Eructation | Gastrointestinal disorders | 5.2% (667 of 12,885) | 0.6% | 18 |
| Gastrooesophageal reflux disease | Gastrointestinal disorders | 5.0% (605 of 12,027) | 1.6% | 13 |
| Urinary tract infection | Infections and infestations | 4.0% (597 of 14,809) | 4.0% | 18 |
| Back pain | Musculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders | 4.5% (562 of 12,560) | 4.4% | 17 |
| Arthralgia | Musculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders | 4.3% (548 of 12,602) | 3.5% | 13 |
| Weight decreased | Investigations | 6.3% (514 of 8,100) | 1.3% | 6 |
| Headache | Nervous system disorders | 2.9% (480 of 16,353) | 6.2% | 28 |
| Abdominal pain | Gastrointestinal disorders | 3.0% (460 of 15,428) | 2.7% | 21 |
| Hypotension | Vascular disorders | 3.3% (420 of 12,799) | 0.5% | 11 |
| Asthenia | General disorders | 3.6% (394 of 10,880) | 1.0% | 11 |
| Upper respiratory tract infection | Infections and infestations | 2.8% (388 of 13,926) | 6.2% | 19 |
| Cataract | Eye disorders | 3.3% (386 of 11,867) | 0.6% | 10 |
| Hypertension | Vascular disorders | 2.6% (377 of 14,501) | 1.2% | 14 |
| Lipase increased | Investigations | 4.3% (338 of 7,777) | 1.1% | 16 |
| Abdominal distension | Gastrointestinal disorders | 8.7% (335 of 3,840) | 2.6% | 21 |
| Injection site reaction | General disorders | 5.6% (315 of 5,675) | 0.5% | 17 |
| Fatigue | General disorders | 2.1% (235 of 11,061) | 2.2% | 15 |
| Alopecia | Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders | 5.4% (227 of 4,199) | 1.1% | 7 |
| Pneumonia | Infections and infestations | 0.9% (155 of 16,994) | 0.5% | 16 |
| Flatulence | Gastrointestinal disorders | 4.3% (140 of 3,264) | 1.8% | 14 |
| Hyperuricaemia | Metabolism and nutrition disorders | 4.7% (123 of 2,621) | 4.2% | 9 |
| Acute kidney injury | Renal and urinary disorders | 0.8% (114 of 14,556) | 0.3% | 12 |
| Amylase increased | Investigations | 1.0% (113 of 10,835) | 1.0% | 12 |
| Covid-19 pneumonia | Infections and infestations | 0.7% (105 of 15,819) | 0.4% | 12 |
| Abdominal pain upper | Gastrointestinal disorders | 0.9% (101 of 11,424) | 2.6% | 17 |
| Cholecystitis acute | Hepatobiliary disorders | 0.6% (88 of 15,415) | 0.4% | 13 |
| Abdominal discomfort | Gastrointestinal disorders | 5.0% (86 of 1,729) | 2.8% | 10 |
| Gastroenteritis | Infections and infestations | 0.6% (85 of 15,019) | 0.1% | 17 |
| Atrial fibrillation | Cardiac disorders | 0.5% (83 of 17,414) | 0.2% | 15 |
| Angina unstable | Cardiac disorders | 0.6% (78 of 13,283) | 0.4% | 9 |
| Influenza | Infections and infestations | 0.6% (69 of 11,454) | 1.9% | 13 |
| Cholelithiasis | Hepatobiliary disorders | 0.5% (68 of 14,974) | 0.3% | 15 |
| Peripheral arterial occlusive disease | Vascular disorders | 0.7% (66 of 9,580) | 0.2% | 7 |
| Cardiac failure chronic | Cardiac disorders | 0.8% (64 of 8,006) | 0.3% | 3 |
| Hypoglycaemia | Metabolism and nutrition disorders | 0.6% (61 of 10,720) | 0.0% | 7 |
| Cellulitis | Infections and infestations | 0.4% (60 of 15,832) | 0.4% | 13 |
| Hyperglycaemia | Metabolism and nutrition disorders | 0.6% (59 of 10,296) | 16.4% | 12 |
| Cardiac failure | Cardiac disorders | 0.4% (59 of 13,169) | 2.2% | 11 |
| Osteoarthritis | Musculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders | 0.3% (52 of 16,785) | 0.3% | 18 |
| Syncope | Nervous system disorders | 0.4% (50 of 12,691) | 0.1% | 13 |
| Pyrexia | General disorders | 0.4% (49 of 11,957) | 1.3% | 13 |
| Acute myocardial infarction | Cardiac disorders | 0.3% (46 of 16,755) | 0.3% | 16 |
| Angina pectoris | Cardiac disorders | 0.5% (45 of 9,514) | 0.2% | 7 |
| Hyperlipidaemia | Metabolism and nutrition disorders | 2.4% (45 of 1,853) | 3.7% | 6 |
| Sepsis | Infections and infestations | 0.4% (43 of 11,496) | 0.5% | 7 |
| Coronary artery disease | Cardiac disorders | 0.3% (41 of 15,645) | 0.4% | 15 |
| Nephrolithiasis | Renal and urinary disorders | 0.3% (41 of 14,742) | 0.3% | 13 |
| Cough | Respiratory, thoracic and mediastinal disorders | 2.0% (40 of 2,004) | 3.1% | 10 |
| Prostate cancer | Neoplasms benign, malignant and unspecified (incl cysts and polyps) | 0.6% (40 of 6,894) | 0.2% | 7 |
| Anaemia | Blood and lymphatic system disorders | 0.3% (39 of 11,483) | 1.0% | 10 |
| Inguinal hernia | Gastrointestinal disorders | 0.3% (36 of 11,354) | 0.0% | 11 |
| Appendicitis | Infections and infestations | 0.2% (35 of 15,489) | 0.2% | 16 |
| Osteomyelitis | Infections and infestations | 0.3% (35 of 10,837) | 0.1% | 6 |
| Diabetic foot | Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders | 0.3% (35 of 10,059) | 0.3% | 5 |
| Non-cardiac chest pain | General disorders | 0.3% (33 of 11,380) | 0.1% | 6 |
| Fall | Injury, poisoning and procedural complications | 0.4% (33 of 8,858) | 0.5% | 6 |
| Vertigo | Ear and labyrinth disorders | 0.2% (32 of 13,045) | 0.4% | 12 |
| Dehydration | Metabolism and nutrition disorders | 0.3% (32 of 11,565) | 0.1% | 9 |
| Benign prostatic hyperplasia | Reproductive system and breast disorders | 0.5% (32 of 5,876) | 1.9% | 7 |
| Malaise | General disorders | 0.4% (32 of 8,092) | 0.8% | 6 |
| Large intestine polyp | Gastrointestinal disorders | 0.3% (31 of 8,945) | 0.4% | 10 |
| Urosepsis | Infections and infestations | 0.3% (30 of 9,573) | 0.0% | 5 |
| Femur fracture | Injury, poisoning and procedural complications | 0.3% (29 of 11,438) | 0.0% | 6 |
| Pancreatitis acute | Gastrointestinal disorders | 0.2% (28 of 12,967) | 0.1% | 10 |
| Ureterolithiasis | Renal and urinary disorders | 0.3% (28 of 9,792) | 0.2% | 10 |
| Acute respiratory failure | Respiratory, thoracic and mediastinal disorders | 0.3% (28 of 9,902) | 0.2% | 4 |
| Gangrene | Infections and infestations | 0.4% (28 of 7,987) | 0.3% | 3 |
| Sinusitis | Infections and infestations | 0.3% (27 of 8,630) | 5.2% | 8 |
| Intervertebral disc protrusion | Musculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders | 0.2% (26 of 11,190) | 0.2% | 13 |
| Gastritis | Gastrointestinal disorders | 0.3% (25 of 9,774) | 2.4% | 8 |
| Herpes zoster | Infections and infestations | 0.3% (25 of 8,779) | 0.8% | 7 |
| Skin ulcer | Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders | 0.3% (25 of 8,719) | - | 3 |
| Ischaemic stroke | Nervous system disorders | 0.2% (24 of 12,790) | 0.2% | 8 |
| Hip fracture | Injury, poisoning and procedural complications | 0.2% (24 of 10,483) | 0.0% | 5 |
| Chronic kidney disease | Renal and urinary disorders | 0.3% (24 of 8,006) | 0.5% | 3 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease | Respiratory, thoracic and mediastinal disorders | 0.2% (23 of 12,285) | 0.1% | 8 |
| Cystitis | Infections and infestations | 0.3% (23 of 9,173) | 0.4% | 8 |
| Septic shock | Infections and infestations | 0.2% (23 of 11,696) | 0.4% | 6 |
| Bronchitis | Infections and infestations | 0.2% (22 of 9,245) | 2.6% | 8 |
| Pain | General disorders | 0.3% (22 of 7,290) | 5.3% | 7 |
| Humerus fracture | Injury, poisoning and procedural complications | 0.3% (22 of 8,361) | 0.0% | 4 |
| Peripheral ischaemia | Vascular disorders | 0.3% (22 of 8,723) | 0.0% | 4 |
| Pharyngitis | Infections and infestations | 2.2% (22 of 1,005) | 7.7% | 3 |
| Dyspnoea | Respiratory, thoracic and mediastinal disorders | 0.2% (21 of 12,728) | 0.0% | 9 |
| Gastrointestinal haemorrhage | Gastrointestinal disorders | 0.2% (21 of 11,043) | 0.7% | 7 |
| Urticaria | Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders | 1.5% (21 of 1,445) | 2.4% | 5 |
| Type 2 diabetes mellitus | Metabolism and nutrition disorders | 0.2% (21 of 9,068) | 5.5% | 5 |
| Early satiety | General disorders | 10.2% (21 of 206) | 21.4% | 2 |
| Chest pain | General disorders | 0.2% (20 of 12,614) | 0.2% | 9 |
| Urinary retention | Renal and urinary disorders | 0.2% (20 of 9,767) | 0.1% | 6 |
| Atrial flutter | Cardiac disorders | 0.2% (20 of 10,038) | 0.0% | 5 |
Source: ClinicalTrials.gov posted results, read 2026-10-03. A trial lists events above its own reporting threshold, so a rare event may be missing from some trials. Not medical advice.
FDA LABEL
What the FDA label says
Zepbound NDA217806 · label of 2026-08-28 Regulator
The most common adverse reactions, reported in ≥5% of patients treated with ZEPBOUND are: nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, constipation, abdominal pain, dyspepsia, injection site reactions, fatigue, hypersensitivity reactions, eructation, hair loss, gastroesophageal reflux disease.
Serious reactions the label warns about: Risk of Thyroid C-cell Tumors, Severe Gastrointestinal Adverse Reactions, Acute Kidney Injury Due to Volume Depletion, Acute Gallbladder Disease, Acute Pancreatitis, Hypersensitivity Reactions, Hypoglycemia, Diabetic Retinopathy Complications in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.
Mounjaro NDA215866 · label of 2026-08-27 Regulator
The most common adverse reactions, reported in ≥5% of patients treated with MOUNJARO are nausea, diarrhea, decreased appetite, vomiting, constipation, dyspepsia, and abdominal pain.
Serious reactions the label warns about: Risk of Thyroid C-cell Tumors, Acute Pancreatitis, Hypoglycemia with Concomitant Use of Insulin Secretagogues or Insulin, Hypersensitivity Reactions, Acute Kidney Injury Due to Volume Depletion, Severe Gastrointestinal Adverse Reactions, Diabetic Retinopathy Complications in Patients with a History of Diabetic Retinopathy, Acute Gallbladder Disease.
QUESTIONS
Does tirzepatide cause nausea?
In 19 placebo-controlled trials with posted results, 25.6% of people on tirzepatide reported nausea, against 8.1% on placebo. Source: ClinicalTrials.gov, read 2026-10-03. Not medical advice.
Does tirzepatide cause diarrhoea?
In 19 placebo-controlled trials with posted results, 21.2% of people on tirzepatide reported diarrhoea, against 8.3% on placebo. Source: ClinicalTrials.gov, read 2026-10-03. Not medical advice.
Does tirzepatide cause Covid-19?
In 19 placebo-controlled trials with posted results, 15.5% of people on tirzepatide reported Covid-19, against 16.0% on placebo. Source: ClinicalTrials.gov, read 2026-10-03. Not medical advice.
Does tirzepatide cause constipation?
In 19 placebo-controlled trials with posted results, 13.7% of people on tirzepatide reported constipation, against 4.5% on placebo. Source: ClinicalTrials.gov, read 2026-10-03. Not medical advice.
Does tirzepatide cause decreased appetite?
In 19 placebo-controlled trials with posted results, 11.6% of people on tirzepatide reported decreased appetite, against 2.9% on placebo. Source: ClinicalTrials.gov, read 2026-10-03. Not medical advice.
REGISTERED STUDIES
309 registered clinical trials of Tirzepatide
The 10 most recently updated are listed.
| NCT06861439 | GLP-1s to Enhance Lasting Optimal Weight Status: ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING · Updated 2026-10-02 |
|---|---|
| NCT07065552 | Tirzepatide in Obesity-Driven Endometrial Cancer Status: RECRUITING · Updated 2026-10-02 |
| NCT07734792 | Tirzepatide in Thrombectomy-Treated Acute Ischemic Stroke: A Randomized Trial Status: NOT_YET_RECRUITING · Updated 2026-10-01 |
| NCT06854614 | Sequential Therapy Anti-obesitY Medication With Muscle Preservation for Weight Loss and MaintEnance: A PragmAtic Randomized CoNtrolled Trial (STAY-LEAN Trial) Status: ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING · Updated 2026-09-30 |
| NCT06603571 | A Study to Investigate Weight Management With LY3841136 and Tirzepatide (LY3298176), Alone or in Combination, in Adult Participants With Obesity or Overweight With Type 2 Diabetes Status: COMPLETED · Updated 2026-09-29 |
| NCT07527910 | A Phase 2a Study of ALN-PNP With and Without a GLP1R Agonist in Adult Patients With Homozygous PNPLA3-Related MASLD Status: RECRUITING · Updated 2026-09-29 |
| NCT07845500 | A Study to Learn About Switching to a Monthly Study Medicine Called Berobenatide (PF-08653944) to Help Keep Weight Off in People With Overweight or Obesity Status: NOT_YET_RECRUITING · Updated 2026-09-29 |
| NCT07846865 | Tirzepatide Versus Positive Airway Pressure for the Treatment of Obstructive Sleep Apnoea: A Randomised Comparative Effectiveness Trial Status: NOT_YET_RECRUITING · Updated 2026-09-29 |
| NCT07847515 | Effects of Tirzepatide on Gut Microbiota and Gastrointestinal Function After Drug Withdrawal in Obese Patients Status: NOT_YET_RECRUITING · Updated 2026-09-29 |
| NCT06745128 | Tirzepatide for Obesity and Meth Use Disorder Status: COMPLETED · Updated 2026-09-28 |
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