Serious Side Effects

Woman sitting on a sofa holding her stomach, depicting abdominal discomfort or pain.

Although serious side effects are uncommon whilst taking GLP-1 medication, it is important you can recognise them should they occur. Knowing the signs can help you stay safe and act quickly if something doesn't feel right.

Here's what to look out for and when you should seek medical help urgently:

  • Severe pain in your stomach area (abdomen) that will not go away, with or without vomiting.
  • Fever, yellowing of your skin or eyes (jaundice), or clay-coloured stools.
  • Shaking, sweating, headache, drowsiness, weakness, dizziness, confusion or irritability.
  • You feel a swelling in your neck, and you expereince difficulty in swallowing or persistent hoarseness.
  • You feel short of breath or if you feel your heart racing or pounding in your chest and it lasts for several minutes.
  • Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhoea that does not go away, or if you cannot drink liquids by mouth.
  • Serious allergic reactions such as swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat, fainting or feeling dizzy, very rapid heartbeat, problems breathing or swallowing, or severe rash or itching.
  • You should pay attention to any mental health changes, especially sudden changes, in your mood, behaviours, thoughts, or feelings. Contact us or your own GP right away if you have any mental health changes that are new, worse, or worry you.

In the event you experience any of these serious side effects, you MUST stop taking your GLP-1 medication immediately and report the side effects to us. To report a side effect, please use the form on this webpage: https://support.shemed.co.uk/s/side-effects

If you feel that your symptoms are severe and you require immediate support, contact medical support immediately through either NHS 111 or 999 emergency services:

For medical emergencies or life threatening emergencies such as severe allergic reaction: call 999

For immediate medical advice or if you are unsure if you need 999 support: call 111

*this information is in line with NHS guidance on GLP-1s (https://www.guysandstthomas.nhs.uk/health-information/diabetes-medicines-glp-1-agonists)