Constipation

Constipation is, after nausea, the most common gastrointestinal side effect of GLP-1 medications — reported by a notable share of participants across the semaglutide and tirzepatide trials. It’s rarely dangerous, but it’s genuinely uncomfortable and, happily, one of the more fixable side effects. This is the short definition; the full constipation guide has the complete fix list, the OTC options, and how long it lasts.

Why it happens

A few of the medication’s effects line up against you:

• Slower digestion moves everything through more slowly, including through the intestines.
• Eating much less means less fiber and less food volume to keep things moving.
• Drinking less — blunted thirst leads to mild dehydration, and hard, dry stool.

In other words, the same appetite suppression that’s doing the work also quietly sets up constipation.

What helps

Three levers, in order of impact: fiber (deliberately — a shrunken diet is low-fiber by default), fluids on a schedule rather than on thirst, and daily movement. OTC options like a stool softener or gentle osmotic laxative cover the rest; the guide walks through each, including what to avoid.

When to escalate

Constipation that becomes severe — no bowel movement for several days, with significant pain, bloating, vomiting, or a hard distended abdomen — is worth a prompt call, since bowel obstruction, while uncommon, is a serious concern with slowed motility. For the everyday version, though, fiber + fluids + movement resolves most cases.