Tirzepatide Headache: How Often It Happens in the Trials
Tirzepatide headache was reported by 27 of 287 people on tirzepatide in the SURMOUNT-3 trial, against 22 of 292 people on placebo. So in that trial, headaches were only slightly more common on the drug. In our search of the US Zepbound and Mounjaro labels, headache appears as a possible sign of low blood sugar, not in the side effect table. This page sets out what each source reports and what the label says to do.
This page describes trial records, labels and studies. It does not diagnose a headache or say how to treat one.
Short answer
- How common is headache on tirzepatide?
- In the SURMOUNT-3 trial, 27 of 287 people on tirzepatide reported headache, against 22 of 292 on placebo.
- Is headache a listed side effect?
- In our search of the US Zepbound and Mounjaro labels, headache is not in the side effect table. The Zepbound Medication Guide lists headache as a possible sign of low blood sugar.
- When is low blood sugar more likely?
- The Zepbound Medication Guide says the risk may be higher when Zepbound is used with insulin or a sulfonylurea.
- What does the label say to do?
- The Zepbound Medication Guide says to talk to your healthcare provider about any side effect that bothers you or does not go away.
Sources: SURMOUNT-3 results, ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04657016; Zepbound label and Medication Guide (FDA, via DailyMed)
How often does headache happen on tirzepatide in trials?
In SURMOUNT-3, about 9 in 100 people on tirzepatide had a headache, against about 8 in 100 on placebo. The gap is small.
SURMOUNT-3 tested weekly tirzepatide in people after a lifestyle weight loss program. Its results on ClinicalTrials.gov list headache under nervous system disorders, checked in a set way for everyone:
| Group | People with headache | People at risk | Headache events |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tirzepatide | 27 | 287 | 37 |
| Placebo | 22 | 292 | 27 |
Events are counted per headache, so one person can have more than one. The "about 9 in 100" and "about 8 in 100" figures are our own rounding of the SURMOUNT-3 counts, 27 of 287 and 22 of 292. Many people on placebo also had headaches. That is a reminder that headaches are common for many reasons, and a trial count cannot tell you why any one person has one.
Why might tirzepatide cause a headache?
The labels point to one reason: the Zepbound Medication Guide and the European Mounjaro information both list headache as a possible sign of low blood sugar. The Zepbound guide says low blood sugar is more likely when Zepbound is used with insulin or a sulfonylurea.
| Sign of low blood sugar | US Zepbound guide | EU Mounjaro information |
|---|---|---|
| Headache | Listed | Listed |
| Dizziness or light-headedness | Listed | Dizziness listed |
| Sweating | Listed | Listed |
| Confusion | Listed | Listed |
| Drowsiness | Listed | Listed |
| Blurred vision | Listed | Not listed in our quote |
| Slurred speech | Listed | Not listed in our quote |
| Shakiness | Listed | Not listed in our quote |
| Weakness | Not listed in our quote | Listed |
| Feeling hungry | Not listed in our quote | Listed |
| Irritability | Not listed in our quote | Listed |
| Fast heartbeat | Not listed in our quote | Listed |
The Zepbound Medication Guide says the risk of low blood sugar may be higher if Zepbound is used with medicines that can cause low blood sugar, such as insulin or a sulfonylurea.
No source we found shows how often low blood sugar is behind a headache on tirzepatide. No source we found shows any other cause either, such as fluid loss or diet changes.
Sources: Zepbound label and Medication Guide (FDA, via DailyMed); Mounjaro product information (European Medicines Agency)
What should I do about a headache on tirzepatide, and when should I call my doctor?
The Zepbound Medication Guide says to talk to your healthcare provider if any side effect bothers you or does not go away. No official source gives a treatment for headache on tirzepatide.
Because headache is listed as a possible sign of low blood sugar, the Zepbound guide's full list of low blood sugar signs (in the table above) is worth knowing. That list includes dizziness, sweating, confusion, blurred vision, slurred speech and shakiness. For the dose steps, which differ by week, see the tirzepatide dosage guide. For the drug itself, see the tirzepatide profile.
Sources: Zepbound label and Medication Guide (FDA, via DailyMed)
Is headache a listed side effect of Zepbound or Mounjaro?
Not in the main side effect table, from our search of the US labels. There, headache appears only as a sign of low blood sugar.
The Zepbound label has a table of side effects seen in 2% or more of people and more often than on placebo, in its weight reduction and long-term maintenance trials. We did not find headache in it. A missing word is hard to prove from a quote, so treat this as the result of our search, not a statement from the label. Our GLP-1 side effects guide covers what the labels do list.
Sources: Zepbound label and Medication Guide (FDA, via DailyMed)
What do real-world reports show about tirzepatide headache?
Side effect report databases include headache for tirzepatide. Reports show what people sent in, not how often something truly happens.
A 2026 study of the European EudraVigilance database listed headache for tirzepatide with a figure of 2.51%. A 2026 study of the US FAERS database found a median time to onset of 13 days for tirzepatide reports with onset data, with 67.1% starting within 30 days. That onset figure is for the reports in the study, not for headache alone.
A 2025 review on headache and GLP-1 drugs looked at headache both as a possible side effect and as something these drugs might treat. It noted gaps in what is known and called for more research.
Sources: EudraVigilance reporting study, Pharmaceuticals 2026 (PubMed); FAERS tirzepatide study, Diabetes Obes Metab 2026 (PubMed); Headache and GLP-1 drugs review, Arq Neuropsiquiatr 2025 (PubMed)
How sure is it that tirzepatide causes my headache?
The sources on tirzepatide and headache are very different in strength. This table lines them up.
| Source | What it shows | What it cannot show |
|---|---|---|
| SURMOUNT-3 trial results | Headache in 27 of 287 on tirzepatide and 22 of 292 on placebo | Why a headache happened, or who will get one |
| US Zepbound label | Headache as a sign of low blood sugar | How often low blood sugar causes headache |
| European Mounjaro information | Headache as a symptom of low blood sugar | Any headache rate |
| Report databases (EudraVigilance, FAERS) | Headache is among what people report | True rates, since reports are voluntary |
| IIH analysis and migraine case series | Early signs these drugs may help some headaches | A proven treatment effect |
Sources: SURMOUNT-3 results, ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04657016; Zepbound label and Medication Guide (FDA, via DailyMed); Mounjaro product information (European Medicines Agency); EudraVigilance reporting study, Pharmaceuticals 2026 (PubMed); FAERS tirzepatide study, Diabetes Obes Metab 2026 (PubMed); GLP-1 drugs in IIH, meta-analysis, Eur J Neurol 2025 (PubMed); Tirzepatide and migraine case series, Headache 2026 (PubMed)
Could tirzepatide help headaches or migraine instead?
Early studies looked at this for two kinds of headache. The results are not strong enough to say yes.
IIH stands for idiopathic intracranial hypertension, a condition where headache was one of the outcomes studied. A 2025 analysis of GLP-1 and dual GIP/GLP-1 drugs in IIH found GLP-1 drugs cut monthly headache days at 3 months, by 3.64 days on average. It also found a near-significant trend toward lower headache risk, which means the result fell just short of the usual bar for proof. The authors said well-designed randomized trials are still needed.
A 2026 case series looked at tirzepatide for migraine prevention. Both patients lost weight, and the authors said this limits any conclusion about a direct migraine effect.
Sources: GLP-1 drugs in IIH, meta-analysis, Eur J Neurol 2025 (PubMed); Tirzepatide and migraine case series, Headache 2026 (PubMed)
Common questions
How to get rid of Mounjaro headache?+
The Zepbound Medication Guide says to talk to your healthcare provider about any side effect that bothers you or does not go away. No official source gives a treatment for headache on tirzepatide, and this page does not give one.
Can tirzepatide cause headaches?+
In the SURMOUNT-3 trial, headache was reported by 27 of 287 people on tirzepatide, against 22 of 292 on placebo. So headache was only slightly more common on the drug in that trial.
Can Zepbound cause headaches?+
Zepbound is tirzepatide, so the SURMOUNT-3 trial data apply. The Zepbound Medication Guide lists headache among the possible signs of low blood sugar.
What could be causing my headaches every day?+
The sources on this page cannot tell why one person has daily headaches, and this page does not diagnose them. The Zepbound Medication Guide lists headache as one possible sign of low blood sugar.
What can I do to relieve head pain?+
No official source gives a tirzepatide-specific treatment, so this page does not give one. The Zepbound Medication Guide says to talk to your healthcare provider about any side effect that bothers you or does not go away.
What should you avoid while taking tirzepatide?+
On headache, the Zepbound Medication Guide points to one thing. It says low blood sugar risk may be higher with medicines that can cause low blood sugar, such as insulin or a sulfonylurea.
When do tirzepatide side effects start?+
A 2026 study of the US FAERS database found a median time to onset of 13 days for tirzepatide reports with onset data. That FAERS study found 67.1% started within 30 days, for all reports in the study, not headache alone.
What are the potential side effects of taking retatrutide?+
Retatrutide has no approved label, so there is no official side effect list. The FDA says retatrutide is not part of any FDA-approved drug and has not been found safe and effective for any condition.
Sources: SURMOUNT-3 results, ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04657016; Zepbound label and Medication Guide (FDA, via DailyMed); FAERS tirzepatide study, Diabetes Obes Metab 2026 (PubMed); FDA, concerns with unapproved GLP-1 drugs
Related reading
This guide is for education only and is not medical advice. It reports what trial records, drug labels and published studies say about tirzepatide and headache. It does not diagnose or treat any condition. Talk to a licensed clinician about any headache.