Nausea and diarrhea in the label tables
Nausea and diarrhea are among the most common side effects in every one of these labels. The table below copies those two rows from each label’s main placebo-controlled table, using the highest dose column in that table.
| Label (population) | Placebo nausea % | Nausea, highest dose in table % | Placebo diarrhea % | Diarrhea, highest dose in table % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ozempic® 1 mg (type 2 diabetes) | 6.1 | 20.3 | 1.9 | 8.8 |
| Rybelsus® 14 mg (type 2 diabetes) | 6 | 20 | 4 | 10 |
| Wegovy® 2.4 mg injection (weight management) | 16 | 44 | 16 | 30 |
| Mounjaro® 15 mg (type 2 diabetes) | 4 | 18 | 9 | 17 |
| Zepbound® 15 mg (weight management) | 8 | 28 | 8 | 23 |
| Victoza® 1.8 mg (type 2 diabetes) | 5 | 20 | 4 | 12 |
| Saxenda® 3 mg (weight management) | 13.8 | 39.3 | 9.9 | 20.9 |
| Trulicity® 1.5 mg (type 2 diabetes) | 5.3 | 21.1 | 6.7 | 12.6 |
| Foundayo™ 17.2 mg (weight management) | 10 | 35 | 11 | 25 |
Each row comes from a different trial programme with different people, durations and doses. The labels themselves say rates from one medicine’s trials cannot be compared directly with another’s, so this table is not a ranking. [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9]
Serious warnings the labels share
Every label on this page carries a boxed warning on thyroid C-cell tumors and rules out use after medullary thyroid carcinoma in the person or a close relative, or with MEN 2. Their section 6 lists these serious adverse reactions in common (wording varies slightly between labels) [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9]:
- Risk of thyroid C-cell tumors (the boxed warning)
- Acute pancreatitis
- Acute gallbladder disease
- Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia), with a higher risk alongside insulin or sulfonylurea-type medicines
- Acute kidney injury due to fluid loss (volume depletion)
- Severe gastrointestinal adverse reactions
- Hypersensitivity (allergic) reactions
- Diabetic retinopathy complications (eye problems related to diabetes)
- Food or liquid entering the lungs (pulmonary aspiration) under general anesthesia or deep sedation
The Wegovy® and Saxenda® labels also list heart rate increase as a serious warning.
What happens if I stop a GLP-1 medicine?
None of these labels describes how side effects change after stopping. Two withdrawal trials report what happened to weight:
In weight-management research, after 68 weeks on semaglutide 2.4 mg, people who then stopped had put back roughly two-thirds of their lost weight a year later (STEP 1 extension) [15].
In SURMOUNT-4, people who had taken tirzepatide for 36 weeks were randomly switched to placebo or kept on treatment: over the next 52 weeks, weight changed by +14.0% on placebo vs −5.5% on continued tirzepatide [16].
Stopping, pausing or restarting is a decision to make with your prescriber.
GLP-1 medicines, pregnancy and birth control
Slower stomach emptying can make a birth-control pill less effective, so the Mounjaro® and Zepbound® labels single out the first 4 weeks of treatment and the 4 weeks after every dose step-up. In those windows they suggest a contraceptive that is not swallowed, or a barrier method alongside the pill; non-oral hormonal methods are not expected to be affected [4][5]. For Foundayo™ the label uses 30-day windows instead [9].
The semaglutide labels ask for a gap of at least 2 months ahead of a planned pregnancy because semaglutide leaves the body slowly [1][2][3]. The weight-management labels say to stop when a pregnancy is recognized [3][5][7][9].
Should I mention a GLP-1 medicine before surgery or sedation?
Yes, according to the labels. They describe rare postmarketing reports of food or liquid getting into the lungs (pulmonary aspiration) under general anesthesia or deep sedation in people taking GLP-1 receptor agonists, even when they had followed fasting instructions. They say the data are not enough to recommend whether to change fasting or pause the medicine, and asks patients to tell their healthcare providers before any planned surgery or procedure [1][4][9].
Can I drink alcohol while taking a GLP-1 medicine?
None of these labels mentions drinking alcohol [1][4]. Two related facts come from general medical sources: heavy alcohol use is one of the most common causes of pancreatitis [10], which the labels list as a serious risk [1][4]; and drinking too much alcohol without enough food can cause low blood sugar in people with diabetes [11]. How alcohol fits with your treatment is a question for your prescriber.
Is hair loss listed for a GLP-1 medicine?
Three labels list hair loss in their trial tables, more often in women and associated with weight reduction: Wegovy® (3.3% vs 1% on placebo), Zepbound® (4–5% vs 1%) and Foundayo™ (4–5% vs 2%) [3][5][9].
In Ozempic®, Rybelsus®, Mounjaro®, Victoza®, Saxenda®, Trulicity®, hair loss is not in the clinical-trial tables; “alopecia” appears only in the postmarketing section, where neither frequency nor cause can be reliably established [1][2][4][6][7][8].
MedlinePlus describes a usually temporary kind of shedding (telogen effluvium) that can follow major physical stress, illness, surgery or crash diets [14].
Ozempic®, Wegovy®, Rybelsus®, Victoza® and Saxenda® are trademarks of Novo Nordisk; Mounjaro®, Zepbound®, Trulicity® and Foundayo™ are trademarks of Eli Lilly and Company. PepLabo is not affiliated with either company. This page is not medical advice; percentages come from clinical-trial tables in the labels and do not predict what you will experience.
When to get help
| Sign | Who to contact | How fast | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Swelling of the lips, tongue, face or throat, struggling to breathe or swallow, fainting or a racing pulse | Emergency services. According to the guide, GLP-1 medicine should be stopped and urgent medical help sought. | Emergency | Medication Guides of these medicines [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9]; MedlinePlus [13] |
| Belly pain that is severe and does not ease, whether or not you vomit; it can reach through to the back | Your healthcare provider right away; the guide says to stop using GLP-1 medicine. If you cannot reach them, urgent care. | Emergency | Medication Guides of these medicines [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9]; NIDDK [10] |
| Ongoing nausea, vomiting or diarrhea, or dehydration signs such as feeling very thirsty, a dry mouth, urinating less than usual, dark urine or dizziness | Your healthcare provider, right away: fluid loss can lead to kidney problems. | Today | Medication Guides of these medicines [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9]; MedlinePlus [12] |
| Pain in the upper stomach, fever, yellowing of the skin or eyes, or clay-colored stools | Your healthcare provider (gallbladder problems). | Today | Medication Guides of these medicines [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9] |
| Shakiness, sweating, confusion, blurred vision or a fast heartbeat; the risk is higher alongside insulin or a sulfonylurea | Follow the low-blood-sugar plan from your healthcare provider; the guide asks you to discuss it before starting. | Today | Medication Guides of these medicines [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9]; MedlinePlus [11] |
| A new neck lump or swelling, a hoarse voice, difficulty swallowing or breathlessness | Your healthcare provider (thyroid section of the guide). | Today | Medication Guides of these medicines [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9] |
| A racing or pounding heart at rest that lasts several minutes | Your healthcare provider. | Today | Medication Guides of these medicines [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9] |
| Changes in vision during treatment | Your healthcare provider. | Today | Medication Guides of these medicines [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9] |
| A planned surgery or a procedure with anesthesia or deep sedation | Tell every healthcare provider involved that you use this medicine, before the procedure. | At your next appointment | Medication Guides of these medicines [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9] |
| Mild nausea, constipation, heartburn or other common side effects that you can manage | Mention them at your next appointment; a dated log helps. | At your next appointment | Common reactions: label section 6 [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9] |
