What is the top question I get from patients?
“What are the side effects?”
NAUSEA
Nausea is the top side effect. About half of people who take semaglutide will experience nausea. How you experience the nausea can range from small waves of nausea that resolve without any issue, all the way to nausea that leads to vomiting. There’s no way to predict how you will respond to this medication.
So, how do I support you through this? Well, first of all, my patients are prescribed anti-nausea medication. In your initial visit with me, we talk about when to take this medication and how often. The other way nausea is managed is by starting at the lowest dose and gradually increasing that dose over time. As my patient, you are in close contact with me so that I can help you through the side effect of nausea.
CONSTIPATION
Constipation is probably the second most common reported side effect. Constipation results from how the medication works in your gut. It causes your stomach and bowels to empty more slowly. This makes you feel fuller longer (and that’s a good thing). Unfortunately, it can also lead to constipation. Your first defense against this is to drink enough water!!!! So for women that’s 2-3 liters daily. After that, I may recommend some type of stool softener that draws water into your bowel, keeping your stool “fluffy” instead of dried out and hard (constipation). As my patient, I will be checking in with you on this possible side effect to make sure you are constipation free.
OTHER SIDE EFFECTS
There are some other possible side effects that are not as common. Gastric reflux, sometimes referred to as “heart burn.” Abdominal pain, diarrhea, and headaches. Again, these are not as common. Nonetheless, as my patient, I’m going to inquire and manage these symptoms with you if they occur.
WEIGHT MANAGEMENT
If you have wondered about semaglutide or any of the other GLP-1 agonists but have been scared off by the side effects you’ve heard about I don’t blame you. Just know that under the direction of a qualified prescriber, these side effects do not have to be “the worst.” In fact they can be easily managed with our partnership. I enjoy helping my patient’s achieve their goals with the least amount of side effects.
About the Author
Renee Storm graduated from University of South Alabama (Mobile, Alabama) in May 2021 with a dual role as a family nurse practitioner (FNP) and an adult-gerontological acute care nurse practitioner (AGACNP). She is board certified as both an FNP and an AGACNP through the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC). She is licensed in both Washington and Oregon states.
She received her Associate in Nursing from Lower Columbia College, Longview Washington in 2002. She procured her Bachelor in Nursing from Fort Hays State University (Fort Hays, Kansas) in 2017.
