Why It Happens
Nausea is the most common side effect of GLP-1 medications. Here's what's actually going on:
Delayed gastric emptying: GLP-1 medications slow down how fast food leaves your stomach. If you eat too much or eat too fast, your stomach gets over-full. That triggers nausea.
Brain signals: The medication also works on areas of your brain that control appetite—and some of those overlap with nausea centers. Your system needs time to adjust.
Dose escalation: Nausea often returns or worsens when you increase your dose. Each titration is like a mini-restart for your body.
Good news: For most people, nausea peaks in the first few weeks of each dose and improves significantly over time. It's temporary, not permanent.
8 Ways to Beat It
1 Eat smaller portions
This is the single most effective strategy. Your stomach can't handle the portions you used to eat. What felt normal before now causes distress.
Try this: Use smaller plates. Serve yourself half of what you normally would. You can always get more (but you probably won't want to).
2 Eat slowly
Speed eating is a nausea trigger. When you eat fast, you don't give your stomach time to signal that it's full—and you overshoot.
Try this: Put your fork down between bites. Take 20+ minutes to finish a meal. Chew thoroughly.
3 Avoid trigger foods
Certain foods make nausea worse for most GLP-1 users:
• Fried and greasy foods
• Heavy, rich meals
• Very spicy foods
• High-fat meats
• Carbonated drinks
Try this: Stick to bland, easy-to-digest foods during rough patches: chicken, fish, eggs, rice, toast, bananas.
4 Use ginger
Ginger is a proven natural anti-nausea remedy. It won't eliminate GLP-1 nausea, but it takes the edge off.
Try this: Ginger tea, ginger chews, or ginger candies. Keep some on hand for when waves of nausea hit.
5 Stay hydrated (but don't gulp)
Dehydration makes nausea worse. But chugging water on a sensitive stomach also triggers it.
Try this: Sip water consistently throughout the day. Don't drink large amounts at once. Avoid drinking during meals—wait 30 minutes after eating.
6 Time your injection strategically
Many people find nausea is worst in the 24-48 hours after injection. Plan accordingly.
Try this: Some inject Friday evening so the worst symptoms fall on the weekend. Others prefer mornings so they can sleep through the initial response.
7 Don't skip the titration schedule
Jumping to higher doses too fast is a recipe for severe nausea. The slow ramp-up exists for a reason.
Try this: If nausea is unbearable, talk to your provider about staying at your current dose longer before increasing. "Low and slow" works.
8 Consider anti-nausea options
If lifestyle changes aren't enough, medications can help:
• OTC options: Pepto-Bismol, Dramamine (with caution)
• Prescription: Ondansetron (Zofran) or promethazine if severe
Try this: Ask your telehealth provider about short-term anti-nausea prescriptions during dose transitions.
When to Be Concerned
Some nausea is expected. But contact your provider if you experience:
- Persistent vomiting (can't keep liquids down for 24+ hours)
- Signs of dehydration (dark urine, dizziness, rapid heartbeat)
- Severe abdominal pain
- Nausea that doesn't improve after 2-3 weeks at the same dose
The Timeline
Week 1-2: Often the worst. Your body is adjusting to something completely new.
Week 3-4: Usually improving. Most people notice significant relief.
After dose increases: Temporary return of nausea is normal. Same pattern: rough at first, then improves.
Long-term: Most people on stable maintenance doses report minimal or no nausea.
Remember: Nausea is a sign the medication is doing something. It's uncomfortable, but temporary. For most people, it's a worthwhile trade-off for the results.
Looking for a GLP-1 provider?
Compare 12 Providers →