Not everyone experiences Zepbound side effects when they start taking it, but if you do, they tend to be transient. Most people find that they gradually reduce in intensity as your body adjusts to the medication.
The most common issues are gastrointestinal: nausea, stomach issues, diarrhea, and constipation. These can also occur when your dose is increased but, once again, they usually subside over the next few days. It’s injected weekly, and your doctor will usually prescribe a low dose of 2.5mg for the first four weeks, before raising the amount.
So, let’s talk about the side effects…
In clinical trials, 29% of people reported nausea in the first few days after injecting Zepbound. Now, how bad this might be is very subjective. For some, it might just be a vague feeling of sickness, but for others, it can be more severe. Active vomiting is more rarely reported and might be influenced by the interactions with other prescribed medications and coexisting conditions, such as type 2 diabetes.
The average duration of nausea in clinical trials was 3-4 days after injections and 1-2 days of vomiting. Naturally, your healthcare provider will monitor you carefully to assess how well you tolerate the drug before increasing your dose when appropriate.
Diarrhea has been reported in up to 23% of patients and constipation in up to 17%. Loose bowel movements last an average of 3 days, usually with gradually reducing intensity. Constipation, while reported by fewer people, can potentially last a little longer. But this can be mitigated to some extent by ensuring you drink plenty of liquid to avoid dehydration and ensure your diet is packed with high-fiber food.
While the above issues are generally only shared with you and your bathroom, you should be prepared for, potentially, an increase in flatulence and burping. This—and, indeed, all the gastrointestinal changes—are the result of food traveling more slowly through the digestive tract. This gives the stomach enzymes more time to break it down, which in turn can create more gas.
Bloating, burping, and farting can result. But, once again, this usually reduces and perhaps resolves completely as your body adjusts.
Zepbound can also cause mild abdominal pain, indigestion, and/or heartburn. But note the word “mild”. Any severe changes warrant a chat with your doctor, who will make the decision whether or not you should persevere or stop the medication entirely.
Non-stomach-related side effects include feeling unusually tired and pain or redness at the injection site. The latter usually disappears over hours, and the former generally diminishes over days as your body adjusts.
Most of the above common side effects, while unpleasant, are generally harmless and a worthwhile trade-off for the advantages that weight loss and diabetes control brings. However, we’d be remiss if we didn’t at least touch on some very rare, but potentially serious, side effects that you should be aware of.
One of these is the worsening of diabetic retinopathy. Because the drug dramatically and quickly helps stabilize blood sugar, there is a risk of temporary worsening of vision issues. For that reason, you’ll need to be carefully monitored, both during the first 30 days and, as long as you stay on the medication, to assess any retinopathy progression.
Other unlikely but more serious side effects include issues with the gall bladder, kidneys, and pancreas.
With the exception of the rare issues mentioned above, most side effects can be managed and reduced by:
Remember, Zepbound is one of a group of FDA-approved weight loss drugs. So, if you’re started on it and really can’t tolerate the side effects, your healthcare provider has many other options that might better suit you. These include Ozempic, Wegovy, and Saxenda.
Discover more about Zepbound and the other weight-loss drug options at https://www.refills.com/weight-loss/zepbound
Disclaimer
The assessment provided on the Refills Health website does not create a clinician–patient relationship between you and Refills Health. Refills Health is not a medical services provider. We serve as a technology platform that connects users with independent, licensed clinicians through partners such as Beluga Health, Bask Health, and Wasef Health. These clinicians follow established medical protocols and determine eligibility for treatment based on individual assessments. All prescribing decisions are made solely at the discretion of the clinician.
Results and treatment experiences shared on this website are based on self-reported information from users under clinician supervision. Individual outcomes may vary depending on adherence to the prescribed plan and the clinician’s guidance. Refills Health does not manufacture or dispense any medications.
