Weight-loss drugs Ozempic, Wegovy and Mounjaro linked to hair loss

Popular weight-loss drugs Ozempic, Wegovy and Mounjaro have been linked to an increased risk of hair loss. A new study published on July 22, 2026, in the medical journal The BMJ found a statistically significant association between GLP-1 drugs and the development of alopecia.

But there is an important caveat: this does not mean that every person taking these drugs will necessarily go bald. The absolute risk of hair loss remains small, and the study does not prove that the drug itself directly damages hair follicles.

What exactly did the scientists find?

Researchers from the University of Pennsylvania studied electronic medical records of adult patients with type 2 diabetes who had started taking GLP-1 drugs.

Several comparison groups were included in the analysis:

12,004 people taking GLP-1 drugs were compared with 15,221 patients taking SGLT-2 inhibitors;

another 11,964 patients taking GLP-1 drugs were compared with 11,233 patients taking DPP-4 inhibitors.

The data covered the period from January 2019 to September 2024. Thus, the popular statement that “researchers analysed 50,000 people” broadly reflects the scale of the analysis, but it is more accurate to speak of nearly 40,000 people in the two main comparison cohorts.

After adjusting for age, sex, ethnicity, body mass index, medical conditions and other medications, the researchers found that:

the risk of alopecia among people taking GLP-1 drugs was 37% higher than among patients taking SGLT-2 inhibitors;

compared with DPP-4 inhibitors, the risk was 68% higher.

It is precisely the 68% figure that is now being widely reported by the media.

However, a relative increase in risk does not mean that 68% of users lose their hair.

In absolute terms, the incidence of diagnosed alopecia was approximately 6.91 cases per 1,000 person-years among GLP-1 users, compared with 5.04 per 1,000 person-years for SGLT-2 inhibitors and 3.89 per 1,000 person-years for DPP-4 inhibitors. In other words, this is a relatively rare complication.

Why does hair loss begin?

This is where the study’s main nuance lies.

The scientists did not prove that semaglutide or tirzepatide directly cause baldness. One of the most likely explanations is not the drug itself, but the changes taking place in the body while it is being used.

These drugs significantly reduce appetite. People start eating less, lose weight more quickly, and their bodies experience metabolic stress.

Rapid weight loss is itself a known trigger of increased hair shedding. In addition, a substantial reduction in calorie intake can lead to deficiencies in certain nutrients, particularly iron and zinc, which are necessary for a normal hair-growth cycle. The scientists also do not rule out the role of hormonal and metabolic changes.

This type of shedding is often associated with telogen effluvium: some hairs prematurely move from the growth phase into the resting phase, after which they begin to fall out some time later.

This differs from scarring alopecia: in non-scarring hair loss, the hair follicles remain intact, so regrowth is possible. It was non-scarring alopecia that showed the strongest association with GLP-1 drugs in an additional analysis.

Which drugs are specifically being discussed?

The term GLP-1 drugs covers an entire group of medications.

Ozempic

Ozempic contains semaglutide. It is a GLP-1 receptor agonist originally developed primarily to treat type 2 diabetes.

In the United States, Ozempic and Wegovy are essentially drugs containing the same active ingredient, but with different approved indications and dosages: Ozempic is primarily for diabetes, while Wegovy is for weight management.

Wegovy

Wegovy also contains semaglutide.

This version of semaglutide is specifically intended for long-term weight management in people with obesity or overweight alongside certain risk factors.

Hair loss is already explicitly reflected in the current US Wegovy prescribing information: at a dosage of 2.4 mg, it was reported in 3.3% of patients compared with 1% in the placebo group. At the higher dosage of 7.2 mg, the figure was 5.8% compared with 1%. The FDA states that these cases were associated with weight loss.

Mounjaro

Mounjaro contains tirzepatide.

This is a somewhat different drug: it acts simultaneously on GIP and GLP-1 receptors. In the United States, Mounjaro is approved for the treatment of type 2 diabetes, while the drug containing the same active ingredient for weight management is called Zepbound.

Hair loss is also already listed among the adverse reactions in the US Zepbound prescribing information. It was observed in 7.1% of women and 0.5% of men receiving the drug, compared with 1.3% and 0%, respectively, in the placebo group. The FDA also notes an association with weight loss.

Therefore, simply saying that “Ozempic causes baldness” is incorrect. A more accurate formulation is that drugs based on semaglutide and tirzepatide are associated with a small increase in the risk of hair loss, particularly against the background of significant weight loss.

What about the FDA and thousands of complaints?

The original news report also requires some clarification here.

The FDA has indeed previously examined reports of hair loss among users of GLP-1 drugs. However, the claim that “the FDA is now considering adding hair loss to the warning” should not be presented as a confirmed recent fact without qualification.

Moreover, the current Wegovy prescribing information already contains a separate Hair Loss section, while hair loss is also listed in the Zepbound prescribing information and linked to weight loss.

So this is no longer merely a matter of user reports from the internet: hair loss is reflected in the official safety information for some of these drugs.

At the same time, the FDA emphasises that reports of adverse events alone do not prove a causal relationship with the drug.

Can hair loss be prevented?

There is no way to guarantee this completely. However, specialists consider it sensible to avoid losing weight too rapidly and to ensure that the diet is nutritionally adequate.

Particular attention should be paid to:

adequate protein intake;

iron in cases of deficiency;

zinc;

overall calorie intake;

vitamins and micronutrients when a deficiency has been confirmed.

It is not advisable to take iron or high doses of biotin “for hair” without a confirmed deficiency.

If noticeable hair loss begins after starting treatment, it is better to consult a doctor. The cause may not be limited to the drug or weight loss: hair loss can also be associated with thyroid disorders, hormonal imbalances, stress, deficiencies and other conditions.

And most importantly, you should not stop taking Ozempic, Wegovy or Mounjaro on your own because of hair loss. Any decision to change the dosage or discontinue treatment should be made by a doctor.

Are Ozempic, Wegovy and Mounjaro sold in Northern Cyprus?

The situation here is particularly interesting.

Ozempic is known and used in Northern Cyprus

There is evidence that it is used in medical practice in Northern Cyprus. For example, Elite Hospital in Lefkosa publishes information about treating obesity with semaglutide/Ozempic.

Moreover, in the official gazette of the TRNC dated December 2024, Ozempic, whose active ingredient is semaglutide, was included in the first list under local pharmaceutical and poisons legislation. This confirms that it is officially regulated in Northern Cyprus.

But there is an important nuance.

In July 2024, the Cyprus Turkish Medical Association separately warned residents about illegally sold and unregistered weight-loss drugs such as Ozempic, also highlighting the risk of counterfeits.

Therefore, buying the drug “from someone privately”, via Telegram, Instagram or from unknown sellers is particularly risky.

Wegovy — no confirmed information about its availability in Northern Cyprus pharmacies was found

As of July 25, 2026, I was unable to find a reliable, up-to-date source confirming that Wegovy was in stock at any specific Northern Cyprus pharmacy.

This does not mean that the drug is unavailable there — imports and the availability of prescription medicines can change very quickly. But it would be incorrect to claim that Wegovy is currently guaranteed to be sold in pharmacies in Kyrenia, Lefkosa or Famagusta without confirmation from a specific pharmacy.

Mounjaro — a similar situation

I also found no reliable confirmation of the current availability of Mounjaro (tirzepatide) in Northern Cyprus pharmacies.

At the same time, tirzepatide-based drugs are widely used in other countries, and the active ingredient itself belongs to the same modern group of medicines used to treat diabetes and manage weight.

Conclusion

The new The BMJ study did indeed find a 68% higher relative risk of diagnosed alopecia among GLP-1 users compared with patients taking DPP-4 drugs. However, the absolute risk remains small — on the order of several cases per thousand person-years. In addition, the study was observational and did not prove that the drugs themselves directly cause hair loss.

The most likely explanation is a combination of rapid weight loss, reduced food intake, possible nutrient deficiencies and metabolic changes.

In Northern Cyprus, the situation is as follows: Ozempic has been confirmed in local medical practice and is officially regulated, but there is a problem with the illegal market; the current availability of Wegovy and Mounjaro at specific pharmacies could not be confirmed through publicly available sources.