What are the side effects of GLP1-RAs?
Why do people take GLP-1 RAs?
GLP-1 receptor agonists mimic a natural hormone called glucagon-like peptide 1, or GLP-1. This hormone is produced in the gut in response to a meal. GLP-1 stimulates the pancreas to secrete insulin and blocks your liver from releasing sugar, which prevents your fasting blood sugar from rising too high. In addition, it slows down the emptying of your stomach, helps you feel full, and reduces cravings, thereby reducing calorie intake and blood sugar increase after meals.
GLP-1 RAs are effective at helping to control blood sugar. Studies have shown that the use of these medications in people with diabetes can decrease the risk of serious complications, including heart attacks, strokes, and kidney failure. GLP-1 RAs can be used on their own, along with lifestyle changes like diet and exercise to further improve diabetes control. They can also be used along with other diabetes medications, like metformin, if needed.
GLP-1 RA works by slowing down how fast food moves from the stomach into the intestines, causing an individual to become full quicker and stay full longer. This slowing of digestion is also believed to help individuals lose weight and/or lower their metabolic markers (such as blood glucose, cholesterol and blood pressure) as the body has adapted to eating less food.
Because of this mechanism and because your body is now adapting to eating (often) less, individuals taking GLP-1 RA may experience a wide range of side effects.
What are the common side effects of GLP-1 RAs?
Although GLP-1 RAs can be very beneficial in treating diabetes, they can also have some side effects. One of the rare side effects is delay in gastric emptying (gastroparesis or “paralysis of the stomach”). However, gastroparesis can have many causes, including diabetes.
Some of the more common side effects include:
Nausea
Vomiting in some cases
Abdominal discomfort and bloating
Indigestion or acid reflux (or heartburn)
Constipation or diarrhea or changes in your bowel movement
Weakness during exercise
Headache
Because GLP-1 RAs slow down the digestive process (meaning: food stays in your stomach longer and you feel full earlier), you may experience some changes, such as less hunger, eating less, getting full quickly, or simply not craving food as much.
These changes also mean that your body may feel different. For example, your energy levels may shift because your body is taking in fewer calories than you’re used to. Or your appetite, mood around food, or emotional reaction to eating may shift.
Often, these side effects are more pronounced when you first start the medication. For many individuals, digestive side effects will improve over time as their body adapts. Although they can be unpleasant, these effects are generally not dangerous and can be reduced through small adjustments to our lifestyle.
What you might experience in daily life
You might eat less, feel full sooner, but that’s part of how the medication works. Reduced appetite means you would normally consume smaller portion sizes. You find yourself eating less, feeling full faster than usual, or finding that your snack cravings are diminishing.
You might feel some queasiness, fullness, or changes in digestion at first. That’s normal, and often improves as your body adapts. You may feel queasy after meals or may be sensitive to certain foods until your body has adapted to the GLP-1s.
You might experience some shifts in your energy or mood. Some people feel more empowered as they are able to control their hunger and have more energy. Others may experience temporary fatigue or dizziness, affecting their personal lives or work productivity.
That’s where lifestyle adjustments come in: it could mean that you have to eat more slowly, be mindful of meal timings, or choose lighter, easier-to-digest meals initially. Also, remember to hydrate.
The good news is that many of these digestive side effects will improve over time as your body adapts to the weight loss medications.
What about the more serious side effects of GLP-1 RAs?
Although GLP-1 RAs are generally considered to be a safe medication option, serious side effects can occasionally occur. Some of these include:
Hypoglycemia (a blood sugar level that’s too low)
Allergic reactions
Worsening of diabetic retinopathy (eye disease)
Acute kidney injury
Possible increased risk of pancreatic or thyroid cancer
Interactions with other medications
If you experience any of these serious side effects, seek medical help right away. Depending on the severity of your symptoms, immediately contact your healthcare provider or go to the nearest emergency room.
What should new users of GLP-1 RAs look out for?
Please seek medical advice if you:
Experience persistent or severe nausea/vomiting, or gastrointestinal pain that doesn’t settle down
Have symptoms that suggest more serious problems: severe abdominal pain, rapid changes in energy or blood sugar, signs of dehydration, or injection-site reactions that worsen.
Have existing medical conditions that include thyroid disease, a history of pancreatitis, or other comorbidities.
Wish to stop or pause your medication. Your doctor will advise that appetite may return, old eating habits may resurface, and weight may come back, unless healthy habits remain.
What can you do to manage these side effects?
The body often adjusts to GLP-1 RAs over time, with side effects typically resolving themselves within a few weeks. Although the initial phase of taking the medication may be uncomfortable for some, this discomfort frequently diminishes as treatment continues.
There are also a few ways to manage the side effects of GLP-1 RAs:
To minimize side effects, consume smaller portions and limit your intake of oily or fatty foods. Since GLP-1 RAs already slow down the digestive process, eating large or high-fat meals (which are naturally slow to digest) can exacerbate symptoms such as bloating and indigestion.
Stay well-hydrated. To prevent constipation, which can happen because the slower digestive process causes your gut to absorb more water from food, it is important to
To help prevent reflux and indigestion, wait at least 3 to 4 hours after eating before lying down. Give your digestive system sufficient time to process your meal.
To avoid weakness during intense exercise that lasts over 30 minutes, consume a snack beforehand. Choose a snack with simple carbs, such as a piece of fruit or crackers. This is helpful because GLP-1 RAs reduce the release of glucose from your liver, which can lead to your muscles running out of energy once the circulating glucose is used up. The carbs in your snack will provide your body with the energy that it needs to fuel your activity.
If the side effects of your GLP-1 RA are bothering you a lot, you should discuss this with your doctor. They may be able to help you find ways to help manage these issues.
Why is a holistic approach to weight loss medication most recommended?
Medication is just part of the journey. For lasting results, combining it with good nutrition, movement, and support is what really builds sustainable change.
Reports showed that while users can lose significant weight and improve health markers such as lower blood pressure, improved cholesterol, those benefits often reverse when the medication is stopped.
In other words, after stopping weight loss medications, the underlying habits (diet, movement, stress, sleep, support) go back to what they were, so the weight and the metabolic benefits tend to follow.
That’s why GLP-1 RAs should ideally be part of a broader, longer-term plan. This means approaching weight loss holistically, and coupling medication with:
Healthy, sustainable eating habits
Physical activity tailored to your lifestyle
Behavioral and lifestyle support that includes coaching, accountability, mental-health awareness around eating and body image
A long-term mindset, which means recognizing that weight management is a journey.
The goal should be to develop sustainable habits and confidence in one's ability to make healthy choices.
This publication does not constitute an advertisement, and is intended solely for educational purposes. Please seek professional medical advice as to whether a health product would be appropriate for you.