# Gallstones and the gallbladder

> Wegovy’s and Ozempic’s leaflets list gallstones as common, up to 1 in 10, and Mounjaro’s says they were common when used for weight management. The NHS tirzepatide page lists gallstones or a swollen gallbladder as serious. Zepbound’s label says gallbladder events in its trials were associated with weight reduction.

Canonical: https://jabwise.app/guides/gallstones. Sources checked 12 October 2026. General information, not medical advice: follow your prescriber.

## How common it is

Each leaflet’s own words for how common gallstones are, quoted as written. Zepbound’s figure is the share of people in its two weight trials.

- **Mounjaro**: How common: "Increased gallstones were common in the cardiovascular disease study and when used for weight management but uncommon when used in adults for type 2 diabetes." ([Mounjaro KwikPen patient leaflet](https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/product/15481/pil))
- **Zepbound**: How common: 1.1%, against 1% on placebo
- **Wegovy**: How common: "Common: may affect up to 1 in 10 people" ([Wegovy FlexTouch patient leaflet](https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/product/13800/pil))
- **Ozempic**: How common: "Common (may affect up to 1 in 10 people)" ([Ozempic patient leaflet](https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/product/9748/pil))

## What else they say

- **Linked to weight loss**: Zepbound’s label says acute gallbladder events in its two weight trials were associated with weight reduction.
- **A swollen gallbladder**: In those trials, cholecystitis (swelling of the gallbladder) was reported by 0.7% on Zepbound, against 0.2% on placebo.
- **The NHS on tirzepatide**: The NHS tirzepatide page lists gallstones or swelling of the gallbladder, which can cause severe tummy pain, as serious.
- **Gallbladder signs**: Zepbound’s label lists signs to tell your provider about: upper stomach pain, fever, yellow skin or eyes, clay-colored stools.

## Questions

### Can Mounjaro cause gallstones?

Mounjaro’s leaflet says gallstones were common when it was used for weight management, up to 1 in 10 people, and uncommon in adults treated for type 2 diabetes.

### Does Wegovy cause gallstones?

Wegovy’s and Ozempic’s leaflets both list gallstones as common, up to 1 in 10 people. The NHS semaglutide page doesn’t list them.

### What does the NHS say?

The NHS tirzepatide page lists gallstones or swelling of the gallbladder among serious side effects, and says call 111 if you think you’re having one.

## In Jabwise: Progress by dose

Your weight, drawn across each dose. Record each new strength and the day you started it. Progress shades every dose as its own band and runs your weigh-ins across them, so you can see what each dose did.

## Getting real advice

- **A pharmacist, your doctor or NHS 111**: If you’re not sure how to use your medicine, or a side effect bothers you or won’t go away. NHS 111 if you think you might be having serious side effects, or you’ve used too much. [NHS: Semaglutide](https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/semaglutide/), [NHS: Tirzepatide](https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/tirzepatide/), [NHS 111 online](https://111.nhs.uk/)
- **Report a side effect**: Anyone can, not only doctors. [Yellow Card (UK)](https://yellowcard.mhra.gov.uk/), [MedWatch (US)](https://www.fda.gov/safety/medwatch-fda-safety-information-and-adverse-event-reporting-program)

## Sources

- [Mounjaro KwikPen patient leaflet](https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/product/15481/pil)
- [Zepbound prescribing information](https://uspl.lilly.com/zepbound/zepbound.html)
- [Wegovy FlexTouch patient leaflet](https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/product/13800/pil)
- [Ozempic patient leaflet](https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/product/9748/pil)
- [NHS: Tirzepatide](https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/tirzepatide/)
- [NHS: Semaglutide](https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/semaglutide/)