Most GLP-1 side effects are mild, but some need prompt attention. Here are the warning signs listed on the Zepbound and Wegovy labels, in plain language.
Save this page. It’s the list you hope you never need.
| Warning sign | What the label is concerned about |
|---|---|
| Severe stomach pain that won’t go away, with or without vomiting, sometimes spreading to your back | Pancreatitis |
| Pain in the upper right belly, fever, yellow skin or eyes, pale stools | Gallbladder problems |
| A lump or swelling in the neck, hoarseness, trouble swallowing, shortness of breath | Thyroid tumors (the boxed warning) |
| Shakiness, sweating, confusion, fast heartbeat, if you take insulin or a sulfonylurea | Low blood sugar |
| Very little urine, dizziness, after vomiting or diarrhea | Dehydration and kidney problems |
| Changes in vision, if you have type 2 diabetes | Diabetic eye disease. The label carries a warning about diabetic retinopathy complications, and it applies to people with type 2 diabetes |
| New or worse depression, or thoughts of self-harm | Mood changes. Call or text 988 in a crisis |
| Fast heartbeat at rest that doesn’t settle | Increased heart rate |
GLP-1s slow stomach emptying, which matters for anesthesia: there have been rare reports of food being breathed into the lungs during procedures under general anesthesia or deep sedation. The label’s instruction is simply to tell your healthcare providers before any planned surgery or procedure that you take one. It does not tell you to stop your doses — that decision is your prescriber’s and your anesthesiologist’s, so give them time to make it.
If something happens, note when it started, how severe it was, and your recent doses. It helps whoever you speak to act quickly.
Denise, 57, has stomach pain that’s been getting worse for a day and now reaches around to her back. She’s vomiting and can’t keep water down. She remembers reading that this can be a sign of pancreatitis, and goes to the emergency department instead of waiting. Acting quickly is exactly the right call.
| Info | Example |
|---|---|
| Medicine and dose | Zepbound 7.5 mg weekly |
| Last dose | Sunday 8 am |
| Symptom and when it started | Stomach pain since yesterday |
| How bad, 1–10 | 8 |
| Other medicines | Estradiol patch, the pill |
The labels describe severe stomach pain that doesn’t go away, sometimes spreading to the back, with or without vomiting. Get medical help right away.
In rodent studies these medicines caused thyroid C-cell tumors. It’s unknown whether this happens in humans, so the labels warn people with certain thyroid cancer histories not to use them.
Some people do, especially when eating much less. Mention it to your prescriber if it’s affecting daily life.
Call your prescriber first, unless it’s an emergency. They’ll tell you whether to pause.
Not necessarily. Many ease over time or with a slower dose schedule. Your prescriber can help.