Effectively Dealing with Nausea for GLP-1 Medication Users

There is no one, universal experience for patients who use GLP-1 medications, and each patient will have different side effects to varying degrees of severity. However, there are several common side effects that many patients report experiencing when they begin using GLP-1 medications. One of the most common side effects includes nausea or queasiness.

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Nausea can make day-to-day life rather difficult and uncomfortable, but luckily there are ways to manage the nausea you can experience. Let’s dive into some useful tips on how you can deal with nausea associated with GLP-1 treatments.

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Tips for Managing Nausea

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One of the most effective ways to combat nausea is to stop it before it even starts. The best way to prevent bouts of nausea is to understand what might be causing them. Start a health journal to document your meals, how much you eat, and how you feel throughout the day.

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By documenting your day-to-day, you can start to find what foods, meal sizes, and meal timing might be causing your nausea and make adjustments with the advice of your doctor or pharmacist. 

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As you build your nausea-busting plan with your doctor, they might recommend meal plans and certain foods to avoid. It’s possible that certain foods, like ones with lots of spice or fatty foods, may trigger adverse reactions in patients who take GLP-1s. Your provider will be able to give advice or recommend you see a registered dietitian who can provide you with a tailored meal schedule.

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If you feel a wave of nausea coming on, try upping your water intake to ensure you’re staying fully hydrated. Water is one of the most effective ways to naturally prevent and stop nausea and queasiness. Beyond water, other herbs like ginger and peppermint are natural remedies that may alleviate nausea symptoms. Before using any supplement or over-the-counter treatment to stop your nausea, always consult with your pharmacist to ensure it’s a safe course of action.

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General Lifestyle Adjustment Strategies

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One of the best things you can do as you start your GLP-1 treatment is to give yourself grace and time to adjust. You may need to pencil in downtime around your injection days to properly rest and ride out potential side effects. 

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As you journal how you’re feeling, remember to consistently report back to your providers so they can give advice and even potentially adjust your treatment plan or GLP-1 medication to best suit your unique needs. Your health journey should be an ongoing process to find which course of action works best for your lifestyle and body. 

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Also, make time to prioritize your mental and physical health and take a holistic approach to wellness. Remember to fit in exercise as recommended by your physician and try stress reduction techniques when you feel overwhelmed. Nausea can be exacerbated by stress!

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If you’re experiencing extreme nausea and vomiting, be sure to contact emergency services as soon as possible, it may be a sign of a more serious underlying condition.

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The information on this site is for informational purposes only and should not replace direct medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment from your doctor or another qualified healthcare provider.

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Sources:

“GLP-1 Agonists.” The Cleveland Clinic.

“Clinical Recommendations to Manage Gastrointestinal Adverse Events in Patients Treated with Glp-1 Receptor Agonists: A Multidisciplinary Expert Consensus.” National Library of Medicine.