I stopped taking Mounjaro for 2 weeks & here's what really happens – yes, I've gained weight and I was ‘uncontrollable'
Carmel Elizabeth Smith, a mother from the UK, weighed 16 stone before she started using the injections in a bid to slim down.
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Now, the pink-haired beauty, who was previously suffering from pre-diabetes and high cholesterol, has not only reversed these conditions, but has lost four stone and has dropped down to just 12 stone.
But Carmel was eager to set the record straight on what she has recently experienced after she stopped injecting.
Posting on social media, the savvy mum explained: 'So I went on holiday and didn't take Mounjaro for two weeks - I just wanna share what happened when I came off.
'For all the people thinking 'does the appetite come back?' Absolutely, absolutely.'
Mounjaro, which is known as the King Kong of jabs, is now being prescribed on the NHS in the first anti-obesity rollout of its kind.
It is said to suppress the appetite, making people feel fuller for longer.
Such injections are licensed for patients with type 2 diabetes and to assist those who are clinically obese - with a Body Mass Index of 30 or over.
One jab is administered each week but the duration is dependent on a person's weight.
But the content creator explained that she became 'uncontrollable' when it came to eating after stopping the injections, as she added: 'For the first five days on holiday, I was fine, I was just eating my normal little appetite - got to about day six and I started having some dinners, then it started to be little snacks in between.'
After two weeks, Carmel had put on 8lbs, as she explained: 'I got home and I don't know what happened, but I was uncontrollable - crisps, Haribo's, sweets, cake.'
Now, Carmel is back on Mounjaro and luckily, is beginning to see her weight decrease again.
'Back on it and starting to lose again - but yeah, when you stop taking Mounjaro, God help," she confirmed.
Social media users react
Carmel's TikTok clip, which was posted under the username @ mounjarojourneyandme2, has clearly left many open-mouthed, as at the time of writing, it had quickly racked up 223,700 views in just three days.
Not only this, but it had also amassed 1,158 likes and 315 comments.
Everything you need to know about fat jabs
Weight loss jabs are all the rage as studies and patient stories reveal they help people shed flab at almost unbelievable rates, as well as appearing to reduce the risk of serious diseases.
Wegovy – a modified version of type 2 diabetes drug Ozempic – and Mounjaro are the leading weight loss injections used in the UK.
Wegovy, real name semaglutide, has been used on the NHS for years while Mounjaro (tirzepatide) is a newer and more powerful addition to the market.
Mounjaro accounts for most private prescriptions for weight loss and is set to join Wegovy as an NHS staple this year.
How do they work?
The jabs work by suppressing your appetite, making you eat less so your body burns fat for energy instead and you lose weight.
They do this my mimicking a hormone called GLP-1, which signals to the brain when the stomach is full, so the drugs are officially called GLP-1 receptor agonists.
They slow down digestion and increase insulin production, lowering blood sugar, which is why they were first developed to treat type 2 diabetes in which patients' sugar levels are too high.
Can I get them?
NHS prescriptions of weight loss drugs, mainly Wegovy and an older version called Saxenda (chemical name liraglutide), are controlled through specialist weight loss clinics.
Typically a patient will have to have a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher, classifying them as medically obese, and also have a weight-related health condition such as high blood pressure.
GPs generally do not prescribe the drugs for weight loss.
Private prescribers offer the jabs, most commonly Mounjaro, to anyone who is obese (BMI of 30+) or overweight (BMI 25-30) with a weight-related health risk.
Private pharmacies have been rapped for handing them out too easily and video calls or face-to-face appointments are now mandatory to check a patient is being truthful about their size and health.
Are there any risks?
Yes – side effects are common but most are relatively mild.
Around half of people taking the drug experience gut issues, including sickness, bloating, acid reflux, constipation and diarrhoea.
Dr Sarah Jarvis, GP and clinical consultant at patient.info, said: 'One of the more uncommon side effects is severe acute pancreatitis, which is extremely painful and happens to one in 500 people.'
Other uncommon side effects include altered taste, kidney problems, allergic reactions, gallbladder problems and hypoglycemia.
Evidence has so far been inconclusive about whether the injections are damaging to patients' mental health.
Figures obtained by The Sun show that, up to January 2025, 85 patient deaths in the UK were suspected to be linked to the medicines.
Social media users were stunned by Carmel's claims and many eagerly flocked to the comments to share their thoughts.
One person said: 'Thank you for this. I'm going away in a few weeks for two weeks and wasn't sure whether to stop or not but now I'm going to stay on it. For me personally, I'd rather eat a bit less on holiday as it's been so hard for me to lose weight over the last nine months. I'd be devastated if I ended up putting on weight while I was away.'
Another added: 'I'm thinking I'm gonna have to be on this for life.'
A third commented: 'I was fine for six weeks then bang…uncontrollable hunger.'
Whilst someone else wrote: 'I'd never ever stop, it's not worth it, I did it once because of finance but I'd never do it on purpose.'
Meanwhile, another user questioned: 'So does this mean you are trapped in the expensive money go round?'
To this, Carmel replied and confirmed: 'Looks that way.'
The reality of Mounjaro
Although many have boasted about weight loss success since using Mounjaro, last year it was revealed that Scots nurse Susan McGowan, 58, died after taking low-dose injections of Mounjaro over a fortnight.
A probe also found that nearly 400 people have gone to hospital after taking weight loss drugs.
The common side effects include nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea, which can lead to severe dehydration.
What are the other side effects of weight loss jabs?
Like any medication, weight loss jabs can have side effects.
Common side effects of injections such as Ozempic include:
Nausea: This is the most commonly reported side effect, especially when first starting the medication. It often decreases over time as your body adjusts.
Vomiting: Can occur, often in conjunction with nausea.
Diarrhea: Some people experience gastrointestinal upset.
Constipation: Some individuals may also experience constipation.
Stomach pain or discomfort: Some people may experience abdominal pain or discomfort.
Reduced appetite: This is often a desired effect for people using Ozempic for weight loss.
Indigestion: Can cause a feeling of bloating or discomfort after eating.
Serious side effects can also include:
Pancreatitis: In rare cases, Ozempic may increase the risk of inflammation of the pancreas, known as pancreatitis, which can cause severe stomach pain, nausea, and vomiting.
Kidney problems: There have been reports of kidney issues, including kidney failure, though this is uncommon.
Thyroid tumors: There's a potential increased risk of thyroid cancer, although this risk is based on animal studies. It is not confirmed in humans, but people with a history of thyroid cancer should avoid Ozempic.
Vision problems: Rapid changes in blood sugar levels may affect vision, and some people have reported blurry vision when taking Ozempic.
Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar): Especially if used with other medications like sulfonylureas or insulin.
And if that wasn't bad enough, doctors say they have also seen 'life-threatening complications', including seizures, bowel obstruction and inflammation of the pancreas.
Model Lottie Moss, 27, even said she had a seizure after taking high doses of Ozempic.
The makers of Mounjaro, Lilly UK, said patient safety is its 'top priority'.
Lilly UK stressed: 'Regulatory agencies conduct extensive independent assessments of the benefits and risks of every new medicine and Lilly is committed to continually monitoring, evaluating, and reporting safety data.
'If anyone is experiencing side effects when taking any Lilly medicine, they should talk to their doctor or other healthcare professional.'
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