Long-term stomach problems from being on GLP ones for 3+ years

@jayanthk The potential for these side effects, possibly permanently, is unacceptable to me - I won't take these drugs for this reason. I don't want permanent nausea - it is miserable. Everyone has to decide for themselves if it is worth it. To me, it isn't.

@lylii blindness is another side affect of them ..

@19281928 Yikes!!

I only did 2 injections of semaglutide, quickly experiencing nausea. Even having stopped after the 2nd injection, I'm still experiencing nausea more than 2 weeks later. So even a very short course of the med can cause lasting side effects. I'm hoping that 4-5 weeks from now, this nightmare will be behind me. The only bright side is that I have no desire to overeat, only taking small amounts of food at a time, and drinking plenty of water.

@sfk48
It is reported that Mounjaro has far less stomach issues than Wegovy does. Do not give up, especially if you are taking the medication for health issues. It has proven beneficial to the heart, brain, and of course, weight control, which affects nearly all aspects of our overall health. I know people who switched to Mounjaro and had no stomach problems whatsoever. What a difference compared to constant stomach distress. They have none.
Plus, data shows people lose more weight with Mounjaro as compared to Wegovy. Have your doctor switch your prescription. Good luck!

I was on one for about 4 1/2 months… Since I went off it, my G.I. problems have increased tremendously. I can barely eat anything without being bloated, full and uncomfortable. The gas is off the charts. Feel like I may never have a normal G.I. system again!

This drug is being pushed as the new “ wonder drug”. My pcp suggested I stay on it for life! I lost around 70 pounds and decided that was enough. Gradually tapering off.
I’ve had major diarrhea & gas now for months. I live on anti gas / anti diarrhea otc meds to get me through the day. On the FODMAP diet, still digestive problems. 😞

Hi @bodhi57, welcome to Connect. Your comment caught my attention because, although I haven’t taken a GLP-1, I also lost quite a bit of weight and noticed other symptoms and changes happening at the same time. It can be difficult to sort out what is related to the weight loss, a medication, or something else.

It sounds like you’ve been dealing with significant diarrhea and gas for months and have already tried quite a bit, including a low-FODMAP diet and over-the-counter medications to manage the symptoms day to day.

Have you talked with your primary care doctor or a gastroenterologist specifically about the continuing diarrhea and gas? If so, have they done any testing or talked with you about whether the GLP-1 is causing the symptoms or what else might be contributing?

@jlharsh
Thanks for your support. My pcp of many years retired in January of 2026. He encouraged me to begin Ozempic in 2024. I could only tolerate the lowest dose due to vomiting. I did lose around 70 lbs. when I saw him in January of this year, right before he retired, we discussed me going off glp1 and his response was it was the best drug and that I should continue to use it for the rest of my life. Glp1’s were going to cure many diseases. A week later I got his retirement letter.
We struggled to find a new pcp. Had to wait 6 weeks to get an appointment. New doctor is very nice, but focused on general health care. I am a diabetic type 2. My A1C at the time was 5.7. His response to my blood work was he said we’d work on lowering my A1C. For a diabetic my understanding is that anything below 7 is good. He suggested that taking metformin was the cause of the diarrhea.
Anyway, I’ve not had good luck with health care.
When I went to the emergency room for dehydration in connection to a kidney stone, (which had been evaluated by a urologist), they recommended keeping me overnight & hospitalizing me. No rooms were available so they parked me in a room used to store extra equipment turned out the lights & locked me in. Finally at 3 am I beat on the door to get help. A nurse came and told me I could sign myself out.
This is just a bit of the medical mishaps I’ve experienced. So I am very reluctant to throw myself into the medical system for endless tests & possibly unnecessary procedures that I don’t want.
I’ve spoken to many people in my same situation that have been through a battery of tests with no definitive diagnosis. I am frustrated and looking for answers.

I have several friends taking GLP1 drugs. Haven't heard of these digestive side effects, so I'm glad to read of these cases! Has anybody tried re-plenishing gut flora, possibly with kimchee, fermented kraut, or supplements?