Is this normal, worth raising, or a reason to call?
Pick what you’re noticing. You’ll see the honest spectrum for that symptom — what usually settles, what’s worth flagging at a visit, and the specific signs that mean don’t wait. It helps you decide when to reach out; it doesn’t diagnose you.
Routes to care — never a diagnosis
The one rule that overrides this tool: if something feels severe, is getting worse fast, or frightens you — don’t sort it, act on it. Call your clinician, or your local emergency number. When you’re unsure, treat it as worth a call. This tool explains general patterns; it can’t see or assess your specific situation.
What are you noticing?
Gut & digestion
Whole-body
Ones the label flags
Nausea or vomiting
The most common GLP-1 side effect. It’s usually mild–moderate, worst after a dose increase, and eases over days to weeks as your body adjusts.
Usually settles
Occasional queasiness that improves between doses, and you’re still keeping fluids and some food down.
Worth raising
Nausea that isn’t settling after a few weeks, is limiting what you can eat, or keeps coming back with every dose — worth a call so the plan can be adjusted.
Don’t wait — seek care
Vomiting you can’t keep any fluids down with, signs of dehydration (little/dark urine, dizziness, racing heart), or severe belly pain with the vomiting — don’t wait.
When in doubt, treat it as worth a call — this can’t assess your specific situation.
Mild cramping can come with the slowed digestion. But the labels single out belly pain as a symptom to take seriously, because it can signal pancreatitis or a gallbladder problem.
Usually settles
Brief, mild cramps that pass, tied to eating or constipation, with no fever and no vomiting.
Worth raising
Recurring or new belly pain you can’t explain — flag it promptly rather than waiting it out.
Don’t wait — seek care
Severe or persistent abdominal pain, especially in the upper belly and radiating to your back, with or without vomiting — this is a labelled warning for pancreatitis. Seek care now.
When in doubt, treat it as worth a call — this can’t assess your specific situation.
Rapid weight loss and GLP-1s both raise gallbladder risk; the labels list gallbladder disease as a possible event.
Don’t wait — seek care
Pain in the upper-right belly (especially after fatty meals), fever, nausea, or yellowing of the skin or eyes can mean a gallbladder attack. Seek care now.
When in doubt, treat it as worth a call — this can’t assess your specific situation.
Slower stomach-emptying can worsen reflux for some people.
Usually settles
Occasional heartburn that responds to smaller meals and not lying down after eating.
Worth raising
Frequent or worsening reflux — worth a conversation before adding an antacid, and to rule out other causes.
Don’t wait — seek care
Chest pressure or pain — especially spreading to the arm, jaw, neck, or back, or with sweating, shortness of breath, or brought on by exertion — can be a heart attack, not heartburn: call your local emergency number now. Also seek care for trouble or pain swallowing, vomiting blood, or black stools.
When in doubt, treat it as worth a call — this can’t assess your specific situation.
Often downstream of eating and drinking less — mild dehydration or low blood pressure. In people on insulin or a sulfonylurea it can also be low blood sugar.
Usually settles
Brief lightheadedness on standing that improves with fluids and eating regularly.
Worth raising
Dizziness that keeps happening, or is limiting your day — flag it, especially to review other medicines.
Don’t wait — seek care
Fainting, confusion, chest pain, or slurred speech — or, if you take insulin or a sulfonylurea, shaking, sweating and confusion that don’t lift after fast sugar — seek emergency care.
When in doubt, treat it as worth a call — this can’t assess your specific situation.
GLP-1s alone rarely cause lows, but the labels warn the risk rises when combined with insulin or a sulfonylurea — which is a clinician conversation about those other doses.
Usually settles
If you feel low right now, treat it promptly with fast-acting sugar and recheck — don’t wait for a visit. If it doesn’t lift, or you can’t treat it, seek emergency care.
Worth raising
A recurring pattern of shakiness, sweating, or hunger you suspect is low sugar — flag it so your other medicines can be reviewed. This page gives no dose changes.
Don’t wait — seek care
Confusion, seizures, or passing out — treat as an emergency and get help now.
When in doubt, treat it as worth a call — this can’t assess your specific situation.
Serious allergic reactions are uncommon, but the labels list hypersensitivity — and it’s the one that can’t wait.
Don’t wait — seek care
Swelling of the face, lips, tongue or throat, a spreading rash or hives, or any trouble breathing — this can be anaphylaxis. Call your local emergency number now.
When in doubt, treat it as worth a call — this can’t assess your specific situation.
An emerging, unproven signal (NAION — a type of sudden vision loss) has been studied with semaglutide; it’s uncommon and not established as caused by the drug.
Don’t wait — seek care
Sudden loss or change of vision in an eye is a same-day emergency — seek emergency or urgent eye care immediately, don’t wait.
When in doubt, treat it as worth a call — this can’t assess your specific situation.