What to Anticipate on GLP-1s: Typical Aspect Results and Signs

[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" decoding="async" 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" sizes="(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /> If you happen to’re beginning a GLP-1 treatment or have not too long ago begun remedy, you’re in all probability questioning what to anticipate. Perhaps you’ve heard tales about intense nausea otherwise you’re at present having digestive points and questioning if what you’re feeling is regular. Right here’s the truth: many individuals do expertise unwanted effects, notably within the early weeks, and whereas these signs are usually short-term, they'll vary from mildly uncomfortable to genuinely disruptive to your each day life. (1) Understanding what’s regular and what’s not can assist you navigate this adjustment interval with confidence. Right here’s a few of the commonest GLP-1 unwanted effects and signs, what to anticipate, and why they occur.

Nausea and Vomiting

Nausea is without doubt one of the commonest unwanted effects individuals expertise when beginning a GLP-1 treatment. (1) You may really feel queasy, lose your urge for food, or really feel uncomfortably full after consuming a lot lower than regular. Some individuals sometimes expertise vomiting, notably early in remedy because the physique adjusts to the treatment. (6)

The depth of nausea is often 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'll be able to resolve what feels tolerable, however it’s essential to know that these unwanted effects are fairly short-lived,” says Stephanie Saletta, a dietitian with MyFitnessPal. “Your physique usually adapts after you’re finished escalating your dose.” (6)

Whereas these unwanted 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 may have their healthcare supplier to decelerate the dose escalation or discover further assist methods.

Why This Occurs

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

You may also like

The 11 Greatest GLP-1 Myths, Busted by Professional Dietitians

Constipation

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

This digestive change is often most noticeable within the first month however can persist for longer. (8) Staying well-hydrated and sustaining ample fiber consumption can assist 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 medicines sluggish digestion general, meals strikes by your whole digestive system extra slowly. (10) This slower transit time naturally results in much less frequent bowel actions and may result in constipation.

Diarrhea

Whereas constipation is extra frequent, some individuals expertise the alternative. Diarrhea or free stools can occur, particularly when you’ve made important modifications to your eating regimen or are consuming very otherwise than earlier than beginning treatment. (1)

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

Why This Occurs

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

Diminished Meals Noise

Some of the celebrated results of GLP-1 medicines 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, preventing 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 may discover that you just’re merely not excited about meals as a lot, that cravings really feel much less pressing, or you could make meals selections with out the identical psychological wrestle. (10)

“Some individuals describe the discount in meals noise as life-changing,” says Saletta. “They lastly really feel like they'll give attention to issues aside from their subsequent meal.”

You may also discover that you just really feel genuinely happy with smaller parts, you could cease consuming if 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 medicines 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 conduct and cravings. This mind impact is what creates that quieter psychological area round meals selections.

Higher Blood Sugar Management

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

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

Even when you don’t have diabetes, extra steady blood sugar can contribute to decreased cravings and extra constant power ranges.

Why This Occurs

GLP-1 medicines 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 resulting from delayed gastric emptying.

Power and Fatigue

Low power and extra fatigue can occur on GLP-1, resulting from decreased calorie and nutrient consumption. (12)(6) Chances are you'll really feel bodily fatigued, want extra sleep, or discover your exercises really feel tougher than they had been earlier than.

This tiredness is often the results of under-fueling from consuming much less general. Specialists suggest consuming nutrient-dense meals like fruits, greens, entire grains, and lean proteins to make sure ample nutrient consumption. (1) If persistent fatigue continues, it’s price discussing along with your healthcare supplier.

Why This Occurs

This fatigue can occur for a number of causes. Chances are you'll be consuming considerably fewer energy than your physique is accustomed to burning. Your physique can also be adjusting to the treatment itself and the metabolic modifications it creates. Moreover, shifts in your blood sugar patterns (even optimistic ones) can quickly have an effect on power ranges as your physique adapts.

When Aspect Results Want Medical Consideration

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

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

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

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

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

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

Imaginative and prescient modifications or indicators of diabetic retinopathy worsening

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

How Lengthy Do Aspect Results Final?

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

Weeks 1 to 4: Uncomfortable side effects are usually most intense throughout this era, notably nausea, decreased urge for food, and digestive modifications. That is your physique’s preliminary adjustment part. (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 facets can reduce significantly. (4)

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

It’s essential to know that when your dose will increase, it's possible you'll expertise a brief return of unwanted effects. (6) This sample of adjustment after dose modifications is totally regular.

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

Ideas for Managing Frequent Aspect Results

Just a few methods can assist you navigate the adjustment interval extra comfortably: (6)

Alter your consuming patterns: Smaller, extra frequent meals typically really feel higher than three giant meals. Take heed to your fullness cues and cease consuming if you’re happy, 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 selections: If nausea is a matter, avoiding very greasy or high-fat meals can assist. If constipation is an issue, prioritize fiber-rich meals and ample water consumption.

Talk along with your healthcare supplier: If unwanted effects really feel unmanageable, your supplier could modify your dosing schedule or counsel further methods. Don’t endure in silence, and by no means cease your treatment with out consulting your supplier first.

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

<img decoding="async" width="1024" height="710" src="https://blog.myfitnesspal.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/foods-to-eat-and-avoid-on-GLP-1s-1024x710.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-67295 size-full" srcset="https://blog.myfitnesspal.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/foods-to-eat-and-avoid-on-GLP-1s-1024x710.jpg 1024w, https://blog.myfitnesspal.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/foods-to-eat-and-avoid-on-GLP-1s-300x208.jpg 300w, https://blog.myfitnesspal.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/foods-to-eat-and-avoid-on-GLP-1s-768x533.jpg 768w, https://blog.myfitnesspal.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/foods-to-eat-and-avoid-on-GLP-1s.jpg 1298w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /> You may also like

Meals to Eat and Keep away from on GLP-1s, Based mostly on the Newest Vitamin Science

Incessantly Requested Questions

Are unwanted effects an indication the treatment is working?

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

Will unwanted effects worsen when my dose will increase?

Chances are you'll expertise a brief return of unwanted 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 without doubt one of the commonest unwanted effects and often improves inside a number of weeks. (1) Speak to your healthcare supplier about methods to handle it—they could counsel taking your dose at a distinct time, adjusting your consuming patterns, or quickly staying at your present dose longer earlier than growing.

Is it regular to not have any unwanted effects?

Sure, everybody’s expertise is completely different. Not everybody reviews experiencing unwanted effects on GLP-1 medicines. This doesn’t imply the treatment isn’t working.

Can I do something to stop unwanted effects?

Whilst you can’t forestall them totally, beginning on the lowest dose and growing step by step (as prescribed) provides your physique the perfect probability to regulate. Following the consuming methods talked about above from the beginning might also assist reduce discomfort. (6)

The Backside Line

Beginning a GLP-1 treatment comes with an adjustment interval for most individuals. Whereas many unwanted 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 modifications are typical within the first few weeks and infrequently enhance by the one- to two-month mark. Many individuals additionally expertise welcome modifications 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 effects don’t require stopping your treatment—they simply require persistence and generally a number of strategic changes. With correct assist and real looking expectations, you'll be able to navigate this era efficiently and work towards your well being objectives.