Vicki McFarlane stopped using Mounjaro due to severe nausea and headaches, then switched to berberine supplements costing 30p a day, losing over 3 stone.
Vicki McFarlane, a travel agent from Pickering, Yorkshire, decided to stop using the weight-loss jab Mounjaro after experiencing severe side effects including constant nausea, debilitating headaches, and eggy burps.
Despite losing two stone in two months after starting the medication in January 2025, the mother-of-one found the symptoms unbearable. For years, she had struggled to lose weight, often turning to cakes and biscuits at night, and menopause further slowed her metabolism. Determined to continue her weight-loss journey, she searched for alternatives and discovered berberine, a plant compound used in traditional Chinese medicine, often called nature's Ozempic.
After researching, she ordered slow-release patches for just 8.99 pounds in June, costing about 30 pence per day. Berberine is thought to activate AMP-activated protein kinase, an enzyme that lowers blood sugar and encourages the body to burn stored fat. This differs from GLP-1 receptor agonists like Mounjaro, which mimic a gut hormone to control appetite and blood sugar.
However, for Ms McFarlane, the side effects of Mounjaro outweighed its benefits. She said she had been trying to lose three or four stone forever and always on some diet. While she lost weight on Mounjaro, she felt ill constantly. After switching to berberine, she noticed an impact within days.
From June to mid-October, her weight dropped from 17 stone 9 pounds to 14 stone 2 pounds, which she attributes to losing her sweet tooth. She no longer craves cakes, chocolates, crisps, and biscuits in the evening, sometimes eating only a yogurt. Her friends have been stunned by her transformation and ask for her secret. Yet experts urge caution.
Duane Mellor, a dietitian and honorary associate professor at the University of Leicester, noted that while laboratory and animal studies show promise, human clinical evidence is limited. A 2022 review in the Journal of Clinical Nutrition found modest weight loss of 1-4 kg over 8-12 weeks with 900-1,500 mg of berberine daily. He emphasized it is not as effective as medications like Ozempic and is more comparable to metformin, a diabetes drug.
Berberine can cause gut issues like stomach cramps and diarrhoea and may interact with blood thinners and statins, increasing side effect risks. He advised consulting a healthcare professional before starting. For Ms McFarlane, the biggest advantage of berberine is the absence of the side effects she suffered with Mounjaro, which cost 180 pounds a month through an online provider. Her experience highlights the appeal of cheaper, natural alternatives, but the need for careful consideration remains
Mounjaro Berberine Weight Loss Side Effects Natural Alternative
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Vicki McFarlane Ditches Mounjaro for Berberine After Experiencing Nausea and HeadachesVicki McFarlane, a mother-of-one from Pickering, Yorkshire, has ditched Mounjaro, an appetite-suppressing jab, due to relentless nausea, unbearable headaches and 'eggy burps' she believes were caused by the jab. She has since lost weight after taking berberine, a supplement which costs her around 30p a day. This is a different process to weight-loss jabs like Mounjaro - officially named GLP-1 receptor agonists - which mimic a hormone the gut normally produces that helps control blood sugar and appetite after eating. Experts remain cautious about the use of berberine, highlighting that reviews of existing trials show 'modest results' and that the supplement may interfere with certain medications.
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