What to Expect on GLP-1s: Typical Side Effects and Symptoms

[ad_1] <img width="800" height="534" src="https://blog.myfitnesspal.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/shutterstock_1496799605-1024x683.jpg" class="attachment-large size-large wp-post-image" alt="GLP-1 Side Effects | MyFitnessPal" srcset="https://blog.myfitnesspal.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/shutterstock_1496799605-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://blog.myfitnesspal.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/shutterstock_1496799605-300x200.jpg 300w, https://blog.myfitnesspal.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/shutterstock_1496799605-768x512.jpg 768w, https://blog.myfitnesspal.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/shutterstock_1496799605-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://blog.myfitnesspal.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/shutterstock_1496799605-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https://blog.myfitnesspal.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/shutterstock_1496799605-scaled-e1767195759186.jpg 1504w" /> For those who’re beginning a GLP-1 medicine or have lately begun remedy, you’re in all probability questioning what to anticipate. Possibly you’ve heard tales about intense nausea otherwise you’re presently having digestive points and questioning if what you’re feeling is regular. Right here’s the fact: many individuals do expertise unwanted side effects, significantly within the early weeks, and whereas these signs are usually momentary, they will vary from mildly uncomfortable to genuinely disruptive to your each day life. (1) Understanding what’s regular and what’s not might help you navigate this adjustment interval with confidence. Right here’s a number of the commonest GLP-1 unwanted side effects and signs, what to anticipate, and why they occur.

Nausea and Vomiting

Nausea is likely one of the commonest unwanted side effects individuals expertise when beginning a GLP-1 medicine. (1) You would possibly really feel queasy, lose your urge for food, or really feel uncomfortably full after consuming a lot lower than typical. Some individuals often expertise vomiting, significantly early in remedy because the physique adjusts to the medicine. (6)

The depth of nausea is normally highest in the course of the starting of remedy or when the dose will increase. Many individuals discover that consuming smaller parts and avoiding heavy, high-fat meals helps scale back discomfort throughout this adjustment interval. (6)

“Feeling nauseous and full is usually a actually uncomfortable expertise. Solely you may resolve what feels tolerable, but it surely’s necessary to know that these unwanted side effects are fairly short-lived,” says Stephanie Saletta, a dietitian with MyFitnessPal. “Your physique usually adapts after you’re carried out escalating your dose.” (6)

Whereas these unwanted side effects typically resolve with time, that doesn’t make them any much less actual or uncomfortable within the second. Some individuals discover the nausea manageable with dietary changes; others might have their healthcare supplier to decelerate the dose escalation or discover extra help methods.

Why This Occurs

GLP-1 drugs sluggish gastric emptying. (7) Translation? Meals stays in your abdomen longer earlier than shifting into your intestines. This delayed emptying is a part of how these drugs scale back urge for food and help weight administration, however it could trigger that over-full, nauseous feeling as your physique adjusts to the change.

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Constipation

Constipation is one other quite common facet impact, affecting a big variety of individuals taking GLP-1s. (1) You would possibly discover much less frequent bowel actions or issue passing stools.

This digestive change is often most noticeable within the first month however can persist for longer. (8) Staying well-hydrated and sustaining satisfactory fiber consumption might help handle constipation. (6) Some individuals discover that their bowel habits by no means fairly return to their pre-medication sample, however they settle into a brand new, manageable routine.

Why This Occurs

As a result of GLP-1 drugs sluggish digestion total, meals strikes by means of your total digestive system extra slowly. (10) This slower transit time naturally results in much less frequent bowel actions and might result in constipation.

Diarrhea

Whereas constipation is extra frequent, some individuals expertise the alternative. Diarrhea or free stools can occur, particularly in the event you’ve made vital adjustments to your weight loss plan or are consuming very otherwise than earlier than beginning medicine. (1)

For some individuals, it’s an preliminary adjustment that resolves inside a number of weeks. For others, it might be intermittent. If diarrhea is persistent or extreme, it’s value discussing along with your healthcare supplier, and staying hydrated turns into much more necessary.

Why This Occurs

Diarrhea on GLP-1s could also be associated to particular person digestive responses to the medicine, adjustments in your intestine, or shifts in what and the way a lot you’re consuming. Everybody’s digestive system responds otherwise to those metabolic adjustments.

Decreased Meals Noise

Some of the celebrated results of GLP-1 drugs isn’t uncomfortable in any respect. It’s the discount in “meals noise.” (10) Meals noise refers back to the fixed psychological chatter about meals: excited about your subsequent meal, combating cravings, planning what you’ll eat, feeling preoccupied with meals all through the day.

Many individuals on GLP-1s describe a dramatic quieting of those ideas. You would possibly discover that you just’re merely not excited about meals as a lot, that cravings really feel much less pressing, or which you could make meals choices with out the identical psychological battle. (10)

“Some individuals describe the discount in meals noise as life-changing,” says Saletta. “They lastly really feel like they will deal with issues aside from their subsequent meal.”

You may additionally discover that you just really feel genuinely glad with smaller parts, which you could cease consuming once you’re comfortably full, or that meals you as soon as discovered irresistible merely don’t have the identical pull.

Why This Occurs

GLP-1 drugs work in your mind in addition to your intestine. (3) They have an effect on the reward pathways and appetite-regulation facilities that drive food-seeking habits and cravings. This mind impact is what creates that quieter psychological house round meals choices.

Higher Blood Sugar Management

In case you have sort 2 diabetes or prediabetes, you would possibly discover enhancements in your blood sugar ranges. (3) Your fasting glucose might lower, your post-meal blood sugar spikes could also be much less dramatic, and your A1C might enhance over time.

These blood sugar enhancements can contribute to extra secure vitality all through the day. (11) Some individuals discover they don’t expertise the identical afternoon vitality crashes or the “hangry” emotions they used to get between meals.

Even in the event you don’t have diabetes, extra secure blood sugar can contribute to decreased cravings and extra constant vitality ranges.

Why This Occurs

GLP-1 drugs can enhance blood sugar management in a number of methods. (3) They improve insulin secretion out of your pancreas when blood sugar rises, suppress glucagon (a hormone that raises blood sugar), and sluggish the absorption of glucose out of your meals as a result of delayed gastric emptying.

Vitality and Fatigue

Low vitality and extra fatigue can occur on GLP-1, as a result of decreased calorie and nutrient consumption. (12)(6) You might really feel bodily fatigued, want extra sleep, or discover your exercises really feel tougher than they have been earlier than.

This tiredness is normally the results of under-fueling from consuming much less total. Consultants advocate consuming nutrient-dense meals like fruits, greens, entire grains, and lean proteins to make sure satisfactory nutrient consumption. (1) If persistent fatigue continues, it’s value discussing along with your healthcare supplier.

Why This Occurs

This fatigue can occur for a number of causes. You might be consuming considerably fewer energy than your physique is accustomed to burning. Your physique can be adjusting to the medicine itself and the metabolic adjustments it creates. Moreover, shifts in your blood sugar patterns (even constructive ones) can quickly have an effect on vitality ranges as your physique adapts.

When Facet Results Want Medical Consideration

Whereas many GLP-1 unwanted side effects are typical and momentary, sure signs require immediate medical consideration. It’s additionally value noting that ‘manageable’ is subjective. If unwanted side effects are considerably impacting your high quality of life—even when they don’t fall into the extreme classes beneath—that’s value discussing along with your supplier. You shouldn’t should white-knuckle by means of weeks of persistent discomfort.

Name your well being care supplier in the event you expertise any of the next: (5)

Extreme stomach ache that doesn’t enhance or is positioned in your higher stomach radiating to your again (potential signal of pancreatitis)

Persistent vomiting that forestalls you from maintaining down meals or fluids for greater than 24 hours

Indicators of extreme dehydration (darkish urine, excessive dizziness, fast heartbeat, incapability to urinate)

Allergic reactions (issue respiratory, extreme rash, swelling of face or throat)

Imaginative and prescient adjustments or indicators of diabetic retinopathy worsening

Belief your instincts. If one thing feels severely flawed or totally different from the standard unwanted side effects described right here, contact your healthcare supplier. It’s all the time higher to examine in than to attend and fear.

How Lengthy Do Facet Results Final?

For many individuals, the timeline seems one thing like this:

Weeks 1 to 4: Unintended effects are usually most intense throughout this era, significantly nausea, decreased urge for food, and digestive adjustments. That is your physique’s preliminary adjustment section. (4)

Weeks 4 to eight: Digestive signs can enhance for some individuals. You should still discover decreased urge for food and meals noise, however the uncomfortable features can reduce significantly. (4)

Past 8 weeks: Some individuals discover they’ve adjusted effectively and expertise minimal unwanted side effects, although some extent of urge for food suppression and slower digestion usually continues (that is a part of how the medicine works).

It’s necessary to know that when your dose will increase, you might expertise a short lived return of unwanted side effects. (6) This sample of adjustment after dose adjustments is totally regular.

Some individuals have minimal unwanted side effects all through their remedy, and that’s regular too. Having fewer unwanted side effects doesn’t imply the medicine isn’t working for you.

Ideas for Managing Frequent Facet Results

A number of methods might help you navigate the adjustment interval extra comfortably: (6)

Regulate your consuming patterns: Smaller, extra frequent meals typically really feel higher than three massive meals. Hearken to your fullness cues and cease consuming once you’re glad, even when there’s meals left in your plate.

Keep hydrated: Sipping water all through the day helps with each nausea and constipation. Some individuals discover that chilly or carbonated drinks assist settle their abdomen.

Be strategic about meals decisions: If nausea is a matter, avoiding very greasy or high-fat meals might help. If constipation is an issue, prioritize fiber-rich meals and satisfactory water consumption.

Talk along with your healthcare supplier: If unwanted side effects really feel unmanageable, your supplier might alter your dosing schedule or recommend extra methods. Don’t undergo in silence, and by no means cease your medicine with out consulting your supplier first.

“It’s actually necessary to remain in shut communication along with your healthcare staff,” says Saletta. “They will advise when a gentle facet impact turns into one thing to fret about, and even within the case of delicate unwanted side effects, there are nearly all the time changes that may make the expertise extra tolerable.”

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Often Requested Questions

Are unwanted side effects an indication the medicine is working?

Not essentially. Whereas unwanted side effects present that the medicine is affecting your system, not everybody experiences unwanted side effects of the medicine. (13) Effectiveness is healthier measured by urge for food adjustments, weight developments, and (if relevant) blood sugar enhancements.

Will unwanted side effects worsen when my dose will increase?

You might expertise a short lived return of unwanted side effects after a dose enhance, however they usually resolve extra rapidly than throughout your preliminary begin. (6) Many individuals discover that subsequent dose changes trigger milder signs than their first few weeks.

Ought to I cease taking my GLP-1 if I've nausea?

Nausea is likely one of the commonest unwanted side effects and normally improves inside a number of weeks. (1) Speak to your healthcare supplier about methods to handle it—they might recommend taking your dose at a unique time, adjusting your consuming patterns, or quickly staying at your present dose longer earlier than growing.

Is it regular to not have any unwanted side effects?

Sure, everybody’s expertise is totally different. Not everybody studies experiencing unwanted side effects on GLP-1 drugs. This doesn’t imply the medicine isn’t working.

Can I do something to forestall unwanted side effects?

Whilst you can’t forestall them totally, beginning on the lowest dose and growing steadily (as prescribed) provides your physique the very best likelihood to regulate. Following the consuming methods talked about above from the beginning might also assist decrease discomfort. (6)

The Backside Line

Beginning a GLP-1 medicine comes with an adjustment interval for most individuals. Whereas many unwanted side effects do enhance over time, the expertise can vary from barely noticeable to genuinely difficult—and each experiences are legitimate. Nausea, constipation, and different digestive adjustments are typical within the first few weeks and sometimes enhance by the one- to two-month mark. Many individuals additionally expertise welcome adjustments like decreased meals noise and higher blood sugar management. Keep in shut contact along with your healthcare supplier, particularly in the course of the first few months, and do not forget that most unwanted side effects don’t require stopping your medicine—they only require endurance and generally a number of strategic changes. With correct help and sensible expectations, you may navigate this era efficiently and work towards your well being objectives.