Important safety considerations include: Pancreatitis risk : If you develop severe, persistent abdominal pain that may radiate to your back, with or without vomiting, stop taking the medication and seek urgent medical attention Gallbladder disease : Sudden pain in the upper right abdomen, fever, or yellowing of the skin/eyes requires urgent medical review GLP-1 medications are not recommended in people with severe gastrointestinal disease, including severe gastroparesis [10] [11] Clinical considerations include: Starting with the lowest available dose and titrating slowly Monitoring symptom patterns carefully during initiation Distinguishing between temporary side effects (which often lessen over weeks) and persistent symptom changes Adjusting dietary intake, particularly meal size and composition Most gastrointestinal side effects of GLP-1 medications are dose-dependent and tend to diminish over time as the body adapts

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Transdermal patches, by contrast, have not been evaluated in large human safety trials, so the incidence and severity of side effects remain unknown
Cost and coverage: What GLP-1s actually cost in 2026 GLP-1 costs vary depending on your insurance coverage, the type of medication prescribed, and where you get your medication