The side effect rates are fairly similar, but that doesn’t mean that each drug will affect everyone equally. Anthony Puopolo, MD, an internal medicine physician and the chief medical officer at the telehealth platform LifeMD, believes that Foundayo hits some people harder: “The types of symptoms are the same — the intensity and dropout rate are not.”
Preventing and Managing GI Problems
To prevent and manage GI side effects with GLP-1s, first be conscious about what you’re eating.
“Often, when patients start a GLP-1 medication, they are surprised that certain foods can cause significant side effects,” says Meghan Garcia-Webb, MD, a board-certified internal, lifestyle, and obesity medicine physician in private practice in Wellesley, Massachusetts.
High-fat foods such as pizza tend to cause side effects for many people, so stick to smaller meals with lean protein and plenty of fruits and vegetables, she suggests.
“For patients who are more sensitive to nausea, I may prescribe anti-nausea medication,” says Mir Ali, MD, a bariatric surgeon, bariatric medicine specialist, and the medical director of MemorialCare Surgical Weight Loss Center at Orange Coast Medical Center in Fountain Valley, California.
