GLP-1 side effects, tracked and explained.
The most common GLP-1 side effects on Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro and Zepbound, and what the research actually says to do about each one.
Every GLP-1 has the same family of side effects: nausea, fatigue, constipation, occasional vomiting, headache, and a few rarer but important ones. They are mostly predictable. They mostly improve. A small number are emergencies worth recognising the first time, not the fifth.
Steady's research hub is a clear, evidence-based library of what works for each one, and Steady's symptom tracker is the place to log what is actually happening to you. The combination is the difference between a vague memory of 'a bad month' and a concrete map of when, how often, and how severe.
Below: a short list of the side effects worth knowing about, with a full explainer for each. Every article cites the registration trials, the FDA labels, and peer-reviewed sources. No diet-culture noise. No miracle cures.
Built around how this medication actually works.
Nausea on day 3
Why it lands two days after the dose, when to call your doctor, and what helps without bringing back hunger.
Constipation, the loop that works
Fibre, water, magnesium, movement, the four-part protocol most prescribers don't have time to walk you through.
Gallbladder and pancreatitis
Rare but real. The signs to recognise immediately, and who's at higher risk.
Mood, sleep, fatigue
The less talked-about ones. The data, the framework, and the path back to feeling like yourself.
What the studies actually say.
Evidence-based summaries of the papers that informed every part of this page. Each article cites its sources.
Nausea on day three: what actually works, and when to call your doctor
Most GLP-1 nausea peaks 48–72 hours after the shot, then eases. Here is the evidence-based playbook, and the red flags that override it.
Constipation on a GLP-1: the fibre, water, magnesium loop that actually works
Slower gastric emptying is how GLP-1s work. It is also why a third of women on the drug develop constipation. Here is the protocol that fixes it without bringing back hunger.
GLP-1 fatigue: why month two flattens you, and what to do about it
The exhaustion that hits at week six is one of the least talked-about side effects of GLP-1s. Here is the math behind it, not enough food, not enough protein, not enough…
Gallbladder risk on a GLP-1: what to watch for, and what protects you
Fast weight loss is the biggest single risk factor for gallstones. GLP-1s deliver fast weight loss. Here is what the data shows about the actual risk, and the small things that…
Pancreatitis on a GLP-1: rare, real, and exactly what to watch for
Acute pancreatitis on a GLP-1 is uncommon, but it is the side effect that earns a label warning for a reason. Here are the exact signs that should send you to A&E, and the people…
Mood, anxiety, and GLP-1s: what the data actually shows
There were reports. There were FDA reviews. There were headlines. Here is a careful look at what the suicidality and mental-health data on GLP-1s really says, and what to do if…
GLP-1s and sleep: better, worse, or both?
Some women sleep better the moment they start. Others develop new acid reflux at 3am for the first time in their lives. Here is what the literature says, and what to do if the…
GLP-1s and gastroparesis: separating the noise from the signal
Reports of severe stomach paralysis on GLP-1s made headlines in 2023. The data since has been more careful. Here is what gastroparesis is, who it actually happens to, and the…
GLP-1s and your heart: the protection that starts before the weight comes off
Ozempic and Mounjaro do more than shrink the scale. They lower the risk of heart attack and stroke, and the latest data shows the protection begins early, before most of the…
GLP-1s and fatty liver: what the new MASH approval actually means for you
Fatty liver is common, quiet, and more frequent in women than most people realise. In 2025 and 2026, GLP-1 medications became the first drugs approved to treat its serious form.…
Ozempic face: what it is, what helps, what doesn't
Loose skin and a hollow look after fast weight loss has a name now. It isn't the drug, it's the speed. Here's what the evidence says about slowing it down without slowing your…
Hair shedding on Ozempic: why it happens at month three, and what actually helps
Telogen effluvium is the medical name. Rapid weight loss is the trigger. Protein, iron, and patience are most of the answer.