GLP-1 side effects.
Nausea, constipation, and when to actually worry — a plain-English overview of GLP-1 side effects, with the official sources to trust.
GLP-1 medicines share a family resemblance in their side effects because they share a mechanism: they slow digestion and reduce appetite. Most effects are gastrointestinal and worst during dose increases.
The common ones
- Nausea — the most frequent; usually settles as your body adjusts
- Constipation or diarrhoea
- Vomiting, indigestion, abdominal discomfort
- Reduced appetite (the point, of course) and occasional hair shedding with rapid weight loss
The ones that mean “call someone”
Severe or persistent abdominal pain (pancreatitis is rare but serious), signs of gallbladder problems, or symptoms of dehydration from vomiting. These need medical advice promptly — not a search engine.
Report what you experience
The MHRA Yellow Card scheme collects side-effect reports and genuinely shapes medicine safety. It takes five minutes.
For the authoritative word on each medicine, read the official patient leaflets at the electronic medicines compendium — and never adjust your dose on your own.
Live prices, per medication.
The official sources, in one place.
These are the bodies that actually regulate, appraise and advise. If anything you read anywhere — including here — disagrees with them, believe them.