Among the most common side effects observed in studies when taking GLP-1 receptor agonists (incretin mimetics) such as Wegovy, Ozempic, or Saxenda are gastrointestinal side effects, i.e., complaints affecting the gastrointestinal tract. These include, among others, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach and abdominal pain, as well as constipation.
"This is because this medication acts on the satiety switch, but partly also on this nausea switch, and also delays gastric emptying; this means that food remains in the gastrointestinal tract longer before it is transported further," says Dr. Stefan Kabisch of the Medical Clinic for Endocrinology and Metabolic Medicine at Charité Berlin to RBB (Rundfunk Berlin-Brandenburg).
Gastrointestinal side effects such as nausea are usually caused by an excessively high dose or an overdose. In addition to dose adjustment, however, there are other measures that patients can take to minimize side effects.
Gastrointestinal complaints from weight-loss injections: What you can do about side effects
To minimize gastrointestinal side effects such as nausea, constipation, or diarrhea, the following measures can help:
- Eat smaller portions
- Eat slowly – main meals should take at least 20 minutes
- Stop eating when you are full
- Ensure sufficient fluid intake (at least 1.5 liters per day) to avoid possible dehydration
- Change the time of administration
- Avoid fatty and fried food
- Avoid heavily spiced and strong-smelling food
- Adjust the dose (always in consultation with a doctor)
- Avoid drinks containing alcohol or high amounts of carbonation.
- Incorporate physical activity into your daily routine, ideally in the fresh air (keyword: "digestive walk")
The following behaviors can aggravate gastrointestinal side effects and should therefore be avoided:
- Eating shortly before going to bed
- Alcohol consumption
- Consuming very fatty, spicy, acidic, or particularly strong-smelling foods
- "Forcing" yourself to eat
- No break between eating and (intense) exercise
Does everyone suffer from digestive issues when taking GLP-1 medications?
Whether and to what extent side effects occur is individual and depends on various factors such as health status, the current dose, and potential intolerances. In the clinical studies conducted, most of the participants' gastrointestinal disorders were mild to moderate and temporary; they predominantly did not lead to treatment discontinuation.
When do gastrointestinal side effects occur and how long do they last?
Especially at the beginning of using the weight-loss injection, side effects may occur in the first few weeks. As a rule, the body needs some time to get used to the active ingredient.
Side effects may also increase after an increase in dose. Similar to the beginning of treatment, the body must first adjust to the new situation when the dose is increased.
Side effects can also occur during ongoing treatment. However, these may only be indirectly caused by the medication – the process of losing weight itself is a major change for the body.
As a rule, the symptoms disappear after a few days or weeks. If side effects persist or are felt to be very severe, the attending physician should be informed immediately.
You also always have the option of reporting side effects (including those that are not yet known) to the Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices. In doing so, you contribute to improving medication safety.
How does SoLean support you with side effects?
With your order of a GLP-1 medication, you will receive detailed information about the side effects via email in an information letter from our qualified medical team, in addition to the patient information leaflet. In the case of severe side effects, however, the attending physician should be informed. For follow-up prescriptions where side effects are reported, the prescribing physician evaluates the severity of the side effects via a digital re-anamnesis and decides individually on a prescription or dose adjustment.
Read more here: Weight-loss injection for overweight: Does the injection hurt? Are you afraid that the injection might cause pain in addition to potential side effects? Find out more in our article!
Learn more about potential risks with comorbidities: The weight-loss injection for obesity. Risk with comorbidities?
Sources:
- Patient information leaflets for the medications Wegovy, Saxenda, and Ozempic
- Weight-loss injection Wegovy (semaglutide) - Chances & Risks: rbb Fernsehen
