GLP-1 Receptor Agonists Adverse Effect Profile

Established Adverse Effects

Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea occur in 15-20% of patients and are the most frequently reported adverse effects, typically occurring during initial treatment and gradually diminishing over several weeks to months with dose titration, according to the American Diabetes Association and the European Association for the Study of Diabetes 1, 2, 3
Heart rate increases by approximately 5 beats per minute, but this has not been associated with higher blood pressure or other adverse cardiovascular events, as reported by the American Heart Association and the European Society of Cardiology 1, 3
Injection site reactions occur in less than 1% of patients, as documented by the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists and the Endocrine Society 1, 3
Hypoglycemia may occur when GLP-1 receptor agonists are combined with sulfonylureas or insulin, according to the American Diabetes Association 1

If a patient reports sweating while on GLP-1 therapy, investigate alternative causes rather than attributing it to the medication, such as hypoglycemia, dehydration from gastrointestinal losses, unrelated medical conditions, or autonomic dysfunction from underlying diabetes itself, as recommended by the American Diabetes Association and the European Association for the Study of Diabetes 1, 2, 3, 4