Key takeaways
- Your doctor will typically start you on a low dose for the first month of treatment with GLP-1s. This initiation phase helps your system adjust to the drug.
- Some people may experience changes in appetite or weight loss during the first month of GLP-1 treatment.
- Digestive side effects are more common with GLP-1 medications. Avoiding certain foods, such as greasy foods, may help with managing these side effects.
Starting a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (GLP-1) agonists is a major step for your health. During the first 30 days, your body begins a significant transition as the medication starts to mimic natural hormones that regulate hunger and blood sugar.
While the first month is primarily an initiation phase to help your system adjust, you may notice changes in your appetite and digestion almost immediately. Understanding these early milestones can help you stay on track for long-term success.
The first month is typically focused on titration, where you start at the lowest dose to minimize side effects. Even at the beginning, many people report a noticeable shift in how they interact with food.
- Reduced “Food Noise”: You may notice fewer obsessive thoughts about eating or cravings for high-calorie foods.
- Early Satiety: You will likely feel full much faster than usual, even after eating small portions.
- Initial Weight Loss: While results vary, many users may notice a small amount of weight loss in the first month as their calorie intake naturally decreases.
Responses to GLP-1s can vary. For some people, they may not experience noticeable changes in appetite or weight changes in the first month. Your doctor may still increase your dose even if you haven’t noticed changes yet.
Some people may not experience side effects from a lower dose of GLP-1s during the first month. If you do experience side effects, you are more likely to experience digestive side effects during the first four weeks of treatment. This is because GLP-1s slow down the rate at which your stomach empties. These are usually mild and tend to improve as your body adapts to the medication.
- Nausea: This is a more common side effect and often occurs a day or two after the injection.
- Digestive Shifts: You may experience either constipation or diarrhea as your gut motility changes.
- Fatigue: Some people feel temporary tiredness as their body adjusts to a lower caloric intake.
To minimize discomfort, experts recommend eating smaller, more frequent meals and staying well-hydrated. Avoiding greasy or highly processed foods can also reduce the likelihood of nausea.
If your side effects become severe or if you have concerns about your dosage, it is important to talk with your doctor.
Medical Perspective“Certain foods can increase the probability of developing side effects from GLP-1 medications. For example, you may experience worsened nausea or bloating when you eat fried food or fast food.”
— Alex Nguyen, PharmD, RPh, CPh
Learn more about what foods to eat while using Zepbound.
Quotes represent the opinions of our medical experts. All content is strictly informational and should not be considered medical advice.
If you’ve started a GLP-1 medication for weight loss, talk with your doctor to learn more about what to expect after the first month of treatment. Here are a few other articles to check out about what to expect with GLP-1 medications:
Note: Some GLP-1s are approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to help with weight loss management. Some may have other uses, such as helping manage blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes. For these GLP-1s, they may be used off-label for weight loss. Talk with your doctor to see which GLP-1 is the right fit for you.
Disclaimer: Healthline has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.
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