GLP-1 medications can be very effective for weight loss and blood sugar management, but like any medication, they can cause side effects. Many side effects will improve as your body adjusts, although they may return for a short time when your dose increases. The tips below can help you manage common side effects and stay on track with treatment. Always follow your medical provider’s advice and keep them informed on the side effects you are experiencing.

Common Side Effects and What May Help

• Nausea: Nausea is common, especially when starting treatment or increasing your dose. Try eating smaller meals, eating slowly, and stopping before you feel too full. Because you will fill up quickly, choose protein-rich foods first when you eat.
• Vomiting: Sip water regularly and consider alternating with a low-calorie electrolyte drink to help prevent dehydration. If vomiting continues, contact your medical provider.
• Constipation: Constipation may happen if you are not drinking enough fluids, moving enough, or getting enough fiber. Drink water throughout the day, stay active, and include fiber-rich foods such as fruits, vegetables, beans, legumes, nuts, seeds, and whole grains to enhance your gastrointestinal motility by increasing stool bulk and transit time. If constipation does not improve, contact your medical provider. They may recommend a stool softener such as MiraLAX.
• Diarrhea: Drink water regularly and consider alternating with a low-calorie electrolyte drink to avoid dehydration. If diarrhea continues or becomes severe, contact your medical provider.
• Bloating, gas, or belching: These symptoms can happen because food stays in the stomach longer. Try eating slowly, stopping before you feel overly full, and choosing flat drinks instead of sparkling or carbonated beverages. Avoid lying down after eating.
• Acid reflux: Slower stomach emptying can make reflux worse. It will help to avoid caffeine, chocolate, alcohol, spicy foods, and fried foods. Do not lie down after meals.
• Stomach pain: Mild stomach discomfort may happen if you eat too much, eat too fast, or choose high-fat or highly processed foods. If you have severe abdominal pain, seek medical attention right away.
• Low blood sugar: This is more likely if a GLP-1 medication is taken with certain diabetes medicines. Symptoms may include dizziness, shaking, sweating, or feeling weak. If you have diabetes, keep glucose tablets, juice boxes, or hard candy available and ask your care team how to treat low blood sugar.
• Headache, fatigue, or dizziness: These symptoms may happen if you are not eating enough, not drinking enough fluids, or have low blood sugar. Focus on regular meals, protein intake, and hydration. If dizziness is severe or does not improve, contact your medical provider.
• Hair loss or hair thinning: This can happen temporarily during rapid weight loss. Try to get enough protein and eat a balanced diet with the nutrients your body needs. Reducing harsh hair treatments and excessive styling may also help.
• Injection site reactions: Wash your hands, clean the skin with alcohol before injecting, and rotate injection sites. A cold compress may help reduce discomfort or swelling.
• Low appetite and weight loss: This is an expected effect of the medication. Even if you are eating less, it is still important to get enough protein, fiber, vitamins, minerals, and fluids. A Registered Dietitian can help you plan balanced meals and snacks to support both your weight loss and equally important, weight maintenance, safety.
• Loss of muscle mass: Eating enough protein is important while taking a GLP-1 medication, especially when your appetite is low. Try not to skip meals. Strength training, such as weightlifting or resistance exercise several times per week, with a skip day in-between, can also help preserve muscle. Preserving and building muscle is critical to increasing the amount of energy you burn, insulin sensitivity and long-term maintenance success. 

Journaling: You will find it helpful to keep a journal of what and how much you are eating, meal timing and the symptoms you experience. This can provide insight as to what foods and beverages you no longer tolerate well and how meal frequency and volume are impacting your ability to safely consume the adequate nutrients to support your weight loss efforts.

When to call your provider: Contact your medical provider if side effects are ongoing, worsening, or making it hard to eat or drink. Seek urgent medical attention for severe abdominal pain, ongoing vomiting, signs of dehydration, or symptoms that feel serious or sudden. More serious risks may include pancreatitis, gallbladder problems, kidney problems, low blood sugar, and severe delayed stomach emptying.

Choosing your dose day: If you take a weekly GLP-1 medication, talk with your provider about the best day of the week for your dose. Some people prefer Friday, so they have the weekend to adjust if side effects occur. Others may do better with an earlier weekday dose depending on work, parenting, or activity schedules. Do not alter the day you take your dose on your own. Contact your provider on how to safely navigate this change in injection dates. 

This information does not replace your doctor’s guidance. Report symptoms to the medical provider managing your GLP-1 treatment as soon as they happen. Do not wait until your next scheduled appointment.

Categories: Nutrition & Wellness

Tags: GLP-1, health, Nutrition, ozempic, Side Effects, wegovy, weight-loss, Weightloss, zepbound