GLP-1 drugs are associated with a wide variety of side effects.
Common Side Effects
Gastrointestinal distress is the most common side effect reported by people who take GLP-1s, and is experienced by a high percentage of users. Nausea and diarrhea are most common, followed by constipation, vomiting, and abdominal pain.
[7]
[6]
In the majority of people in clinical trials, these side effects have been mild or moderate. Gastrointestinal issues are usually strongest in first-time users, or when people step up to a larger dosage, but they usually dissipate over time. A small number of users may experience gastrointestinal effects so severe that they need to stop taking the medication.
Rare, More Serious Side Effects
Other side effects are much more rare, but potentially serious. GLP-1 agonists can cause inflammation of the pancreas, called pancreatitis, bowel obstruction, and gastroparesis (paralysis of the stomach).
[27]
In people who are allergic or hypersensitive to GLP-1s, the drug can cause anaphylaxis, a dangerous reaction that can involve the rapid onset of hives, swelling, and even loss of consciousness.
[28]
GLP-1 drugs can also create a risk of hypoglycemia, or dangerously low blood sugar, in people who use certain type 2 diabetes drugs, chiefly insulin and sulfonylureas.
Anecdotal Side Effects
There has also been plenty of media buzz about anecdotal side effects with names like “Ozempic face” and “Ozempic butt.”
These cosmetic side effects aren’t unhealthy, and aren’t directly caused by GLP-1s. Instead, they are caused by rapid significant weight loss.
Weight loss can make parts of your body look different. While your belly may slim down, so might your buttocks and face. In some people, weight loss can lead to looser or sagging skin. Weight loss can also cause hair loss, and may be responsible for other rarely reported side effects, such as tiredness.
