@maddieshae23's GLP-1 side effects list, fact-checked

What does this TikTok claim?

@maddieshae23 lists seven side effects of GLP-1 medications: nausea, constipation, diarrhea, bloating and gas, fatigue, dizziness and headaches, and hair thinning. She presents these as "common" without specifying which drugs or what percentage of users experience them.

The video appears aimed at people considering or starting GLP-1 medications for weight loss. Her approach is straightforward but lacks the context that would help viewers understand how likely these effects actually are.

Does the science back up her list?

Most of her claims are accurate based on clinical trial data. The STEP 1 trial (Wilding et al., NEJM, 2021) found that 44% of semaglutide users experienced nausea, making it the most common side effect. Constipation affected 24% of participants.

The SURMOUNT-1 trial (Jastreboff et al., NEJM, 2022) showed similar patterns with tirzepatide. Nausea occurred in 12-22% of users depending on dose, while diarrhea affected 16-23%. Fatigue and dizziness appeared in roughly 11% and 6% of participants respectively.

Hair thinning is where things get murkier. While some users report it, major trials don't list alopecia as a common adverse event. This might be related to rapid weight loss rather than the medication itself.

What did she miss about timing and severity?

@maddieshae23's biggest omission is that most GLP-1 side effects are temporary and dose-dependent. The STEP trials showed that nausea typically peaks during the first 4-8 weeks and decreases as the body adjusts.

She also doesn't mention that side effects often correlate with how quickly you increase the dose. The standard semaglutide protocol starts at 0.25mg weekly and increases every four weeks to minimize problems.

More serious but rare side effects like pancreatitis (0.2% incidence) or gastroparesis don't make her list. While these affect fewer people, they're more medically significant than the common but mild effects she focuses on.

What should you actually expect?

The data suggests you'll probably feel nauseous for the first month, especially after dose increases. About half of people experience this, but it usually fades. Digestive issues like constipation or diarrhea affect roughly one in four users.

The fatigue and headaches @maddieshae23 mentions are real but less predictable. They might be related to eating less food or adjusting to the medication's effects on blood sugar.

Her hair thinning claim needs perspective. Rapid weight loss from any cause can trigger temporary hair loss called telogen effluvium. This isn't necessarily a direct drug effect and typically resolves once weight stabilizes.