Semaglutide: the Good, the Bad, and the Bottom Line: Part 2

In Part 1 of this blog series we discussed how GLP1 medications like Semaglutide work on our brains to release hormones that make us feel full, and on our GI tract to slow gastric emptying. We also reviewed some of the established benefits and potential future benefits that GLP-1 medications have to offer, such as cardiovascular risk reduction, craving and addiction treatment, and anti-inflammatory benefits. Part 2 reveals the less attractive side, the cons, of treatment: the risks and semaglutide side effects. Because after all, it is important to understand both benefits and risks before making an informed decision to start any treatment.

Understanding how GLP1 medications work helps us understand why side effects occur, as well as how to prevent GLP1 side effects whenever possible. Let's begin with the most common side effects of Semaglutide and other GLP1 medications: nausea and constipation. Remember, GLP1s slow gastric emptying, so food moves through our bodies much slower on these medications. With slower gastric motility, patients often don't realize how quickly food gets "backed up" in our GI tract. Picture your meals getting stacked on top of one another in your stomach. The congestion of food creates a sort of "traffic jam" (if you will) that backs up more and more, resulting in heartburn, bloating, belching, and nausea.

The longer food sits in our intestines, the more water gets pulled from that food back into our bodies. This creates more solid bowel movements that are more difficult to pass. It is important to notify your provider of changes in bowel habits while on these medications. While constipation by itself is more of an annoyance than a dangerous issue, letting constipation progress for too long can lead to more serious consequences such as bowel obstruction, appendicitis, and can even worsen other pre-existing health issues.

One much less frequently discussed side effect of GLP1 medications is dehydration. When patients experience appetite reduction from taking GLP1s, they often lose the urge to hydrate as well. While it is rare, dehydration can lead to kidney injuries, so it is important to stay hydrated while taking these medications.

Other side effects that can temporarily occur from GLP1s include increased heart rate, headache, dizziness, and fatigue. You might notice that we experience these symptoms when we are HUNGRY! At FreshRx, we advise our patients to try some juice or a small snack if those symptoms arise because this could be our bodies trying to tell us that our blood sugar is low.

GLP1 medications like Semaglutide are shaping up to be the best medications to lose weight quickly because they are very effective and safe weight loss options. However, like all medications, they do come with possible side effects that are important to monitor. Hopefully this blog post helped you understand how GLP1s lead to different side effects, and how to identify side effects during your own treatment.

Stay tuned for our next post on how to prevent side effects and how to be successful while taking Semaglutide and GLP1 medications!