These 35 People Took GLP-1s And Are Now Revealing What No One Warned Them About, And Anyone Considering The Medication Needs To Read These Stories

Originally developed to dainty Type 2 diabetes, GLP-1 medications similar Ozempic, Wegovy, and Mounjaro person completely reshaped however radical deliberation astir value loss. What was erstwhile framed arsenic a substance of subject is progressively becoming understood arsenic thing acold much analyzable — and, for many, treatable with aesculapian support.

You've apt seen the melodramatic weight-loss transformations from celebrities and idiosyncratic friends alike. But those glossy before-and-after photos don't seizure the day-to-day world of taking GLP-1 medications, and the scope of intelligence and carnal broadside effects they tin bring on. That's wherefore we recently asked members of the BuzzFeed Community who've taken GLP-1s to get brutally honorable astir their experiences.

The station gained truthful overmuch traction that much radical shared their idiosyncratic stories astir the myriad ways GLP-1s changed their lives, for amended oregon worse. Here are 35 of them:

1. "I americium truthful overjoyed taking a GLP-1 due to the fact that I yet consciousness similar a mean person. Zepbound allows maine to NOT deliberation astir nutrient ALL the time. I highly urge taking the medicine with a afloat nutritional team. I person an obesity doctor, a nutritionist, and a behaviorist, and I assistance weights 2 to 3 times a week. I consciousness amended astatine 70 than I did successful my 40s. But it's not each easy; it requires work. I person to ticker my calories, the types of nutrient I eat, and enactment retired regularly."

—edgysun393

2. "I did suffer value connected GLP-1s, but I had to halt taking them due to the fact that I’m hypoglycemic, which is the other of diabetes. My A1C is 4.7%. When my humor sweetener crashes, it goes down beneath 4%. It was crashing each the time."

3. "I’ve been connected Ozempic since the pandemic. I went from 300+ to 190 pounds. One side-effect I’ve got is 'Ozempic butt.' I miss my ass, LOL. I usage mints to assistance calm sulfur burps. I don’t person arsenic overmuch vigor arsenic I did successful my 20s, but I’m enjoying beingness erstwhile more, and apparel are starting to marque maine consciousness blessed again. Bottom line: Ozempic isn’t for everyone, but if it’ll assistance power your diabetes, I accidental spell for it, but don't dainty it similar a value nonaccomplishment 'miracle' drug."

—bluebooky13

4. "Sulfur burps are caused by the slowing down of digestion, usually of meat. I person had sulfur burps since I was a kid, and I americium astir 50 years aged now. Mounjaro did not assistance that astatine all. Sometimes I person them truthful atrocious I get nauseous. Pepto Instacool helps immoderate erstwhile it gets excessively bad. Eating little nutrient and chewing the nutrient precise thoroughly helps, too. Yet I would inactive not springiness up the Mounjaro. I person not mislaid immoderate weight, and I americium astatine a precocious dosage, but that doesn't substance to me. It has lowered my A1C levels. I went from an A1C of 14% down to 8%."

(Cont'd) It has besides helped with my autoimmune triggers. I person not had a Hidradenitis Suppurativa (HS) flare successful months. My sarcoidosis is nether control. I person energy, and I americium nary longer utilizing a cane everywhere. I person much bully days wherever I bash not request the cane than days erstwhile I do. Now that I consciousness better, I americium moving more, truthful hopefully I tin commencement an workout program and suffer immoderate value soon.

—aduckisaduck

5. "I started connected GLP-1s aft being diagnosed with hyperinsulinemia and fatty liver disease. I conjecture you could telephone it pre-pre-diabetic due to the fact that I had mean A1C and glucose tolerance. I experienced the worst vomiting 48 hours aft my archetypal dose — each hr for 8 hours. I got amended astatine avoiding foods that triggered it and taking Zofran to mitigate symptoms of nausea. I'm astatine the maximum dosage now, and inactive vomit from clip to clip — erstwhile a period oregon less. I enactment with it due to the fact that my liver looks better, and my pancreas isn't overproducing insulin anymore. I property the value nonaccomplishment to my habits and nary longer being hindered by my physiology."

—fancyjellyfish26

6. "GLP-1s person been a literal lifesaver for me. Every azygous idiosyncratic successful my household is/was a diabetic. No substance however galore 'right' things I did, similar fare and exercise, the chances of maine processing it were highly high. I lasted until my 30s. I've been connected each medicine you tin name, and portion they helped support maine retired of the information zones, my labs were ever terrible. Ozempic has been a miracle. It's the lone medicine that has improved anything. My past A1C earlier this period was 4.7%, which is outrageously mean adjacent for non-diabetics. Some radical interest astir continuing to suffer value and becoming excessively bladed connected the medicine. I person been connected it for respective years, and portion I did suffer rather a spot of value the archetypal year, it yet settled. If I were to up the dose, I would apt suffer more, but determination is nary need."

—daisydee

7. "I’ve been connected the lowest dose of GLP-1 medicine for 2 years. I ne'er needed a dose increase. I’ve mislaid 45 pounds, nary longer snack constantly, and person nary nutrient noise. Eating was thing I did with family, making meal each evening and cooking satisfying meals everyone liked…except me. I’ve ne'er been a foodie; I conscionable gained restitution from feeding everyone. Now, my kids are grown and gone, my hubby has passed, and I support a value of 100 pounds without adjacent trying. I program connected staying connected my GLP-1 medicine for life."

8. "I was connected Wegovy for immoderate clip and mislaid implicit 100 pounds, which I person ne'er been capable to bash successful my life! I person tried Jenny Craig, Nutri System, Weight Watchers, paleo, Mediterranean diet, and countless others. This was the lone mode I was capable to execute specified a value loss. I went disconnected the meds due to the fact that my security ended with retirement, and the nutrient cravings and value summation were truthful unexpected! I gained backmost 25 pounds successful 5 months! I americium starting to instrumentality the meds again now, and I volition beryllium connected them for the remainder of my life, which is good due to the fact that I americium successful the champion wellness that I've ever been in."

—Anonymous, 66, F, GA

9. "I americium connected Zepbound, and portion I knew constipation and tummy issues were common, I was not prepared for the changeless tummy pain. I consciousness truthful afloat 99% of the time, adjacent though I hardly devour immoderate food. I've tried state pills and peppermints, but thing truly alleviates the symptom and fullness. Since I started respective months ago, my tummy symptom levels person stayed betwixt 6 and 8. I conscionable went up to a higher dosage, hoping to instrumentality disconnected the past 15 pounds! I volition say, earlier I started taking the medication, nary fare oregon magnitude of workout could bring my pre-diabetic numbers down. So, to me, the symptom is worthy it. Thirty-five pounds down successful 10 months!"

—Anonymous, 51, F, TX

10. "I was successful my precocious 60s erstwhile my endocrinologist prescribed Ozempic for diabetes. I could woody with the nausea and constipation due to the fact that my A1C was coming down. I had this 'sunburn' feeling connected my arms and back, truthful I saw a neurologist and an allergist. When I stopped taking the injection owed to processing pancreatitis, the 'sunburn' sensation went away. Then my girl found a study done successful England that galore radical utilizing Ozempic besides developed the unusual broadside effect of feeling similar they had gotten sunburned! Oh, and I had lone mislaid 5 pounds with the medication, but gained 20 pounds aft I stopped taking it."

11. "I instrumentality Wegovy due to the fact that I person a cardiac information and struggled to suffer value the accepted ways. I’m nauseous ALL the time, and I've developed what’s called allodynia, a tegument sensitivity to airy touch, clothing, air, etc. It feels similar a chronic sunburn. My dermatologist said it isn’t a communal broadside effect, but I’ve work 3 probe studies astir it truthful far. I’ve mislaid 25 pounds truthful far, but I’m not funny successful cooking, smelling food, oregon eating."

—Anonymous, 71, F, MN

12. "I had been taking Zepbound for 4 months, and successful that time, I mislaid rather a spot of weight. I had acold much vigor and felt amended astir myself. The 1 broadside effect I had was terrible constipation — truthful atrocious that it sent maine to the ER. It was miserable and truthful painful. The straining was unbearable and caused maine to person ruptured hemorrhoids. My supplier referred maine to a colorectal surgeon, and I volition beryllium moving tests connected my colon now. I’ve not taken Zepbound for implicit 7 months now, but I’ve been capable to support my value loss! I inactive find myself falling backmost into overeating astatine times, but I drawback myself and get backmost connected track. It’s not been easy. I americium arrogant of myself for however overmuch value I’ve mislaid and kept off, but it decidedly has travel with a BIG PRICE!"

—Anonymous, 56, F, OK

13. "I conscionable started taking a GLP-1 successful pill form. Right away, I noticed I was nary longer funny successful nutrient (YAY!). Then, I got diarrhea. No achy gut, conscionable liquidity. I wasn’t getting capable fiber. I don’t usually devour until the afternoon, truthful I had to alteration my routine. I added a tiny vessel of oatmeal oregon Raisin Bran successful the morning, and that nonsense stopped. I’ve mislaid 7 pounds successful the past 2 weeks. At this rate, I should beryllium backmost to a mean value by September. I did intermittent fasting backmost successful 2020 and mislaid astir 50 pounds. I maintained that for a mates of years, but I stopped being rigorous astir the eating plan. Then, I had a fewer crises, started backmost into atrocious eating habits, and gained 30 pounds back. I americium blessed with this medicine for present and volition proceed to usage it for arsenic agelong arsenic possible."

14. "I person been taking Mounjaro present for astir a year. After taking it for 3 months, 1 of the broadside effects was tiny bowel obstruction. I was successful the infirmary for 3 days, costing $24K total, $2,500 retired of pocket. All the doctors that treated maine told maine to halt taking it. I person decided not to instrumentality it immoderate longer. I conscionable can’t spend to spell done that again. I volition woody with my Type 2 diabetes different way. I instrumentality insulin daily."

—Anonymous, 62, M, NM

15. "Taking Zepbound wholly removed my tendency for alcohol. I wasn't a dense drinker, but I enjoyed hitting the barroom occasionally oregon having a brew present and there. It doesn't dependable appealing astatine ALL anymore."

—Anonymous, 46, F, IL

16. "I started Semiglutide with an online pharmacy due to the fact that going done security was prohibitively expensive. I had been pre-diabetic for years, but security wouldn’t screen it astatine all, until I was afloat diabetic! I initially mislaid astir 20 pounds and stalled out, past switched to Zepbound and mislaid 50 much pounds. I had a fewer broadside effects, similar superior heartburn if I ate greasy nutrient oregon excessively overmuch abdominous and sugar. I’ve learned conscionable to enactment distant from the greasy stuff, and to halt eating instantly erstwhile I commencement to consciousness full."

(Cont'd) "One unexpected broadside effect was going down fractional a footwear size! I deliberation it’s related to the simplification of inflammation. When I had my babies, my feet got a afloat size larger, which is reasonably common. I recovered retired erstwhile I went to bargain caller moving shoes, due to the fact that I’m moving regularly present that don’t person associated pain!"

17. "Facial musculus nonaccomplishment is simply a occupation for older adults implicit 70 years of age. On Mounjaro, I mislaid 50 pounds but gained 10 years successful wrinkles. Collagen helps but doesn’t lick the problem, and I can’t spend a facelift!"

—Anonymous, 78, F, NJ

18. "In immoderate uncommon cases, the GLP-1 drugs really origin cravings. No 1 told maine that until I mentioned to my doc that I was craving carbs, and she replied that this was unusual due to the fact that for the folks who bash get cravings, it was usually for fruit. I had been diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes and had already mislaid 45 pounds connected my ain by eating healthier and exercising much earlier my doc prescribed Ozempic. The broadside effects weren’t the greatest, but what was adjacent worse was that portion the Ozempic did little my A1C levels, I ended up GAINING backmost 25 pounds of the value portion taking the drug."

"So I went disconnected the Ozempic, and the value is inactive dilatory coming off, but my A1C is dilatory climbing backmost up again, too. According to my doctor, I americium the 3rd idiosyncratic she knows of who gained value connected these types of medications. It’s truly rare, but yeah, it tin happen."

—Anonymous

19. "I person not seen this successful immoderate comments, but I americium presently utilizing Ozempic, person mislaid a decent magnitude of weight, my A1C is 5.7%, but I person this unthinkable craving for APPLES...ALL THE TIME! I don't cognize if this is normal."

20. "One happening I’ve noticed aft starting GLP-1s is simply a alteration successful my dreams. They are each dramas, not amusive comedy, not sexual; conscionable similar watching non-stop bull shows. Really odd."

—Anonymous, 70, M, NJ

21. "When connected the little doses of Mounjaro, I had non-stop nightmares. Every azygous night. They were truly brutal, but look to person vanished connected the higher doses, thankfully. I've besides noticed that I tin yet tummy sweeteners without becoming precise ill, which has done wonders for my diabetes! So, positives and negatives, each idiosyncratic volition respond differently."

—Anonymous, 30, F, UK

22. "The lone 'side effect' I’ve encountered isn’t considered a technological broadside effect. But for the 30 days that I’ve been taking GLP-1s, I’ve been experiencing vivid dreams (and sometimes nightmares) that aftermath maine up drenched successful sweat. I’ve ever been a 'dreamer,' but the lone clip I’ve perspired similar this was 40 years agone erstwhile I took aerobics! Now, I aftermath up, alteration my slumber shirt, and spell backmost to bed. It besides means showering, washing my hair, and changing my bedding much frequently. But arsenic agelong arsenic my feline doesn’t mind, neither bash I! Six pounds down and 11 much to go!"

23. "I took Wegovy earlier it became a viral sensation and mislaid 110 pounds successful lone 9 months! I had ever been clinically obese, but cipher would person ever called maine that conscionable looking astatine me. But successful reality, that value was virtually and figuratively weighing maine down successful life. Before taking Wegovy, I would enactment truthful hard astatine fare and workout and suffer 40 pounds implicit and implicit again. Any clip I took my oculus disconnected the shot and enjoyed thing that wasn't low-carb, I would commencement to enactment that 40 pounds backmost connected again. I started Wegovy and learned what nutrient sound was and that it wasn't astir my willpower astatine all! There was decidedly thing incorrect with my metabolism that Wegovy conscionable fixed. It was amazing, and I felt escaped for the archetypal clip successful my life. My lone broadside effect was nausea and constipation. I learned to negociate the nausea with tiny meals, and Miralax fixed the constipation completely."

(Cont'd) "It was aboriginal on, truthful nary 1 knew astir that yet, and it felt similar my doc and I were learning arsenic we went with precise small assistance and support. I yet switched to a 10 mg dose of Zepbound alternatively of the highest dose of Wegovy and person been capable to support my value nonaccomplishment with astir nary broadside effects. At the little dose, the nutrient cravings commencement to travel backmost astatine the extremity of the week erstwhile it's clip for my shot, but I'm inactive capable to support the value loss. I usage Miralax regular for constipation and person nary issues with nausea if my meals are small."

"I experienced nary musculus nonaccomplishment astatine all, but did spot grooming during the full process portion monitoring my assemblage creation connected my astute ticker to support a accordant percentage. That's the astir indispensable thing: bash spot grooming truthful you're losing fat, not muscle. I privation I had known that immoderate radical get utmost fatigue astatine first, but I inactive wouldn't person done thing differently. I'm inactive amazed sometimes erstwhile I look successful the reflector and spot the size 2 maine alternatively of the size 20 pistillate I had become, but that has gotten amended with each passing year. It's decidedly NOT a shortcut oregon taking the casual mode out!"
—Anonymous, 48, F, MN

24. "I’ve had a occupation with the nerves successful my look my full life, but it was minor. At 49, it went disconnected the rails. Nothing helped it. I was besides going done perimenopause, and my thyroid, aft ailing for astir of my 40s, died. My women’s wellness specializer treated maine with thyroid drugs, and aft my humor unit changeable up, she offered a GLP-1. I was heavier than I’d ever been, though inactive connected the debased standard of overweight. The GLP-1 is the lone happening that did thing for my facial nerves. Three neurologists and 2 musculus relaxers were useless, but it’s overmuch amended now. It’s besides brought my value backmost to a mean level for me. No broadside effects astatine all. I threw up erstwhile aft being connected it for astir a year, and that was astir apt due to the fact that I ate thing bad."

"My security doesn’t screen astir of what I instrumentality for perimenopause, and it definite doesn’t screen GLP-1s. But I’ll wage vanity prices for the remainder of my beingness to enactment connected and support a mean weight. I had a consultation with a symptom specializer for my nervus issue, and helium besides prescribes GLP-1s for these conditions. Being thinner helped little my humor pressure, and, successful general, I consciousness similar myself for the archetypal clip successful years. I inactive request immoderate further attraction for the nervus thing, but if I don’t get it, that’s inactive ok. These drugs should beryllium affordable and much wide available. I person less broadside effects than radical who instrumentality humor unit medications. I privation idiosyncratic had warned maine that this would springiness maine my aged beingness back. I would person asked to instrumentality them mode sooner."

—Anonymous, 51

25. "I’ve ever been obese, adjacent with exercise. During COVID, I wasn’t getting arsenic overmuch workout and besides wasn’t eating arsenic well, and managed to summation 40 much pounds. Then I recovered retired that I person bosom disease, which my household has a agelong past of. I wholly changed my fare and accrued my workout to 1 to 2 hours per day, and I managed to get backmost to my pre-COVID weight. But I was inactive obese — nary substance however good I ate oregon however overmuch I worked out, I conscionable could not driblet immoderate much value and was stuck connected addressing my bosom illness hazard factors similar cholesterol, humor pressure, and triglycerides. Then I recovered GLP-1 medication, which I’ve been taking for astir 2.5 years now. I kept up my workout and eating healthy, but present I was 'magically' eating less! For the archetypal clip successful my life, I knew what it was similar to devour a tenable magnitude of nutrient and past consciousness full."

26. (Cont'd) "I realized precise rapidly connected the starting dose that I’d gone my full beingness being capable to devour fundamentally a limitless magnitude of nutrient without feeling full, and GLP-1 medicine wholly changed that. Now, erstwhile I devour a tenable portion, I consciousness full, and the thought of continuing to devour aft that conscionable feels disgusting. I dropped 60 much pounds implicit the adjacent respective months and person maintained that value ever since. My humor pressure, cholesterol, triglycerides, and different factors are the champion they person ever been successful my life. I’ve been capable to wholly halt immoderate medications and trim my dosage of others."

"Yes, determination were immoderate antagonistic broadside effects, but I hardly woody with them, and the wide benefits for my wellness outweigh the insignificant inconveniences. I’m precise thankful for GLP-1 medicine and what it’s done for my wide health. Hopefully, someday, security companies volition recognize that taking this medicine whitethorn assistance support maine from having a bosom onslaught oregon stroke, and they'll statesman to screen the cost!"
—Anonymous, 51, M, Kansas City, MO

27. "I didn't expect the aggravated nutrient aversions. Especially aft eating something, you tin go precise averse to that nutrient adjacent if it was thing you liked antecedently and enjoyed eating astatine the time. Not that you conscionable don’t privation to devour it, but the thought of it turns your stomach. Sometimes the aversion goes away, but not always. I utilized to emotion leftovers, but present I tin seldom devour the aforesaid repast again the adjacent day. Same for prepping a ample information of nutrient for the week. And I inactive overshop for groceries due to the fact that it seems similar I should bargain food, but past I don’t really privation to devour it."

—Anonymous, 59, F, CA

28. "Not a broadside effect, but nary 1 warned maine astir however clueless truthful galore aesculapian professionals are astir however GLP-1 medicine works. I person had respective doctors and a nutritionist explicit astonishment that I americium connected Ozempic due to the fact that 'I americium astatine a mean BMI.' Like duh! How bash you deliberation I got here, and haven’t you been speechmaking astir what happens if you halt taking it?"

29. "I’m taking Wegovy. I precocious had to spell backmost down a dose aft spending 3 weeks alternating betwixt sitting connected the toilet and sticking my caput down it. The broadside effects person been beauteous brutal. But I’ve mislaid 2.5 chromatic (16kg), and I’m blessed with that truthful far. I’ve inactive got a agelong mode to go, but I’m determined to bash it. When I’m eating, it tin beryllium similar flicking a switch. All of a sudden, I’m not bare anymore. Sometimes I deliberation I’m truly bare and past I commencement eating and recognize I conscionable don’t privation it. I person nary involvement successful accelerated nutrient oregon takeout anymore. I inactive request to readjust my reasoning a spot truthful that I don’t heap it each backmost connected later. I’ll get there."

—Anonymous, 40, F, Yorkshire, UK

30. "I privation idiosyncratic had told maine radical would inquire questions like, 'Are you ok? You’ve mislaid a batch of weight, and your look looks skinny.' I inactive person a batch near to suffer to beryllium genuinely healthy, too. I privation adjacent more, though, that my parent could person taken GLP-1s. Her full satellite would person changed, and she would astir apt inactive beryllium live today. I deliberation of that truthful often. Remember, skeptics, obesity tin beryllium deadly. These medications tin beryllium lifesaving."

31. "For the astir part, I enjoyed my abbreviated clip connected the medication. I saw results wrong the archetypal 4 weeks, and my associated inflammation decreased significantly. However, I would not picture myself arsenic an anxious person. Still, portion connected the medication, I became anxious. I besides started to acquisition bouts of hives, which I had ne'er experienced earlier taking the medication. Needless to say, I stopped taking the medication, and the hives stopped, my anxiousness went away, and of course, I gained the fewer pounds I mislaid close back."

—Anonymous, 41, F, MI

32. "I person mislaid rather a spot of value — adjacent to 25% of my starting value — taking Wegovy and past Zepbound, and I've hardly had immoderate antagonistic broadside effects. Interestingly, it has besides reduced my involvement successful intoxicant astir to zero and has besides eliminated immoderate impulse I had to wound my nails. I was a nail-biter successful my youth, and person felt the impulse to wound regular until I started the GLP1s."

—Anonymous, Male, 67, UK

33. "I’ve been connected some Wegovy and Zepbound and I've mislaid 80 pounds with minimal broadside effects. I privation idiosyncratic had told maine it’s good to beryllium connected a GLP-1! It’s not cheating, it’s not taking the casual mode out. I was told by my cardiac specializer to suffer value for amended bosom health, and my wide practitioner talked to maine astir the options for value nonaccomplishment medications. At first, I was embarrassed, but aft losing 80 pounds and going down 6 formal sizes with minimal broadside effects, it’s changed my life. I tin store for apparel wherever I want, and I inactive bask nutrient and cooking; it conscionable looks a spot antithetic now. I prioritize macromolecule and way everything, and enactment with a nutritionist to guarantee I’m eating capable bully foods daily."

—Anonymous, 36, F, Canada

34. "I did not cognize that I would vomit during workout erstwhile taking the medication. Several times portion playing pickleball, I would person to tally disconnected the tribunal and puke. Super embarrassing and wholly uncontrollable. I person tried each sorts of anti-nausea meds, but it inactive happens."

35. And finally, "I person mislaid 125 pounds successful 1 twelvemonth portion taking GLP1s. It has been amazing, but I cannot poop. I person been to the ER erstwhile with impacted bowels. Even medicine doesn't assistance arsenic overmuch arsenic I privation it to; sometimes, it conscionable causes truthful overmuch symptom that I vomit. The value nonaccomplishment makes this broadside effect worthy it, though."

—Anonymous, 43, F

You should ever consult your doc earlier making aesculapian decisions. That said, we anticipation these stories made you consciousness seen if you've experienced thing similar, oregon much informed if you're deciding whether GLP-1s whitethorn beryllium close for you.

If you person thing other to add, we would emotion to perceive astir your acquisition connected GLP-1s successful the comments, oregon utilizing the anonymous signifier below. Your effect could beryllium featured successful an upcoming BuzzFeed Community post.