GLP-1 Nausea and Constipation: What Can Help
Based on National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, Prescription Medications to Treat Overweight and Obesity (2024)
Practical ways to manage nausea and constipation on semaglutide or tirzepatide, why dose increases matter, and the warning signs that need a call.
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In this guide
Easing Nausea
- Eat smaller meals, slowly
- Go easy on greasy and fried foods
- Sip fluids through the day
Easing Constipation
- Drink more water than you think
- Add fiber gradually
- Keep moving
Other Safety Points
- Tell your surgeon before a procedure
- On insulin? Ask about low blood sugar
- Tirzepatide and the pill: use a backup
What the guideline says
- GLP-1 medicines such as semaglutide and tirzepatide work partly by slowing how fast your stomach empties, which is why stomach side effects are the most common complaint.
- Nausea, fullness, burping, heartburn, constipation and diarrhea are the most common side effects, and for most people they are mild to moderate and fade as the body adjusts to each dose.
- Smaller meals eaten slowly, fewer greasy or fried foods, not lying down right after eating and sipping fluids through the day can help with nausea.
- Side effects often flare for a few days after each dose increase, and your prescriber can slow the schedule or keep you at a lower dose longer.
- Severe, constant belly pain that may spread to the back, pain under the right ribs with fever or yellow skin, or vomiting that keeps you from holding down fluids needs same-day or emergency care.
- These medicines should not be used if you or a family member has had medullary thyroid cancer or MEN2.
Read the full article: How to Manage GLP-1 Side Effects on Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro or Zepbound →
This guide is general health information and does not replace advice from your own provider.
Frequently Asked Questions
Tirzepatide can make birth control pills less effective for four weeks after starting and after each dose increase, so use a backup or non-pill method during those times.
Yes. Tell your surgeon or anesthesiologist before any procedure, because a slow stomach matters for anesthesia.
If you also take insulin or a sulfonylurea, your blood sugar can drop too low. Ask your prescriber whether those doses need to change.