Read the concerns
What can go wrong?
Separate common symptoms from the label warnings. Ask for a clear plan for each before deciding how to get care.
Common stomach problems
The semaglutide, tirzepatide and liraglutide weight-treatment labels list nausea, diarrhea and vomiting among common side effects, as of September 2026.
Nausea is feeling sick to your stomach. Ask the clinician how common each problem is for the proposed medicine.
- Ask who answers a symptom question.
- Ask how to reach someone if the usual reply route is too slow.
- Ask when the care plan will be reviewed.
Warnings belong in the health-history review
As of September 2026, the medicine information warns about serious belly illnesses and allergic reactions. These include pancreas inflammation, which can cause lasting, severe belly pain, and gallbladder problems, such as gallstones. Vomiting or diarrhea can cause enough water loss to damage the kidneys.
A boxed warning is the strongest kind of warning on a medicine label.
The warning concerns growths called thyroid tumours that were seen in rats or mice. It is unknown whether these medicines cause those growths in people.
The labels say these medicines must not be used by someone who has had a rare cancer named medullary thyroid cancer, or whose family has had it.
The labels also exclude people with a rare family illness named MEN 2. Its full name is multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2; bring that name to the clinician when discussing family medical records.
You do not need to identify these illnesses yourself. If you only know that a relative had cancer or another serious illness, say so and ask the clinician what records would help.
- Raise your health history and other medicines in the assessment.
- Ask how pregnancy plans affect the choice.
- Ask how any planned surgery affects care.
Report a medicine problem
Patients can report a medicine problem using MedWatch. This reporting program belongs to FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration).
A report is not proof that a medicine caused the problem, as FDA explains.
- Keep the product and pharmacy names with your records.
- Write down the concern to discuss with the treating clinician.