If you are unwell right now
Severe stomach pain that will not go away, especially if it spreads to your back and comes with vomiting, needs urgent medical attention. Call 111, or 999 if you are seriously unwell. Do not wait to hear back from us first.
Common, and usually settling
These are the effects most people notice. They are generally worst in the first days after starting or stepping up a dose, and ease as the body adjusts.
- Nausea
- Diarrhoea or constipation
- Vomiting
- Indigestion, burping or reflux
- Feeling tired
- Headache
- Redness, itching or a lump where you inject
What tends to help
- Smaller meals, eaten more slowly, and stopping when you feel full
- Going easy on fatty, fried and very rich food while symptoms are at their worst
- Drinking enough water, particularly if you have been vomiting or have diarrhoea
- Changing the injection site each week
Less common
- Dizziness, or feeling faint
- Gallbladder problems, including gallstones
- Hair thinning
- Changes in taste
- A faster heartbeat
Uncommon, but serious
Stop and get medical advice if you experience:
- Severe, persistent stomach pain, with or without vomiting — this can be inflammation of the pancreas
- Signs of an allergic reaction — swelling of the face, lips or throat, difficulty breathing, a widespread rash
- Symptoms of low blood sugar — shaking, sweating, confusion — which are more likely if you also take insulin or a sulfonylurea
- Severe or lasting vomiting or diarrhoea, which can leave you dehydrated and affect your kidneys
- Changes to your vision, if you have diabetic eye disease
Dose increases are when to pay attention
Side effects usually return for a short time after each step up. That is expected, and it is also why doses are increased gradually rather than all at once. If symptoms are severe or not settling, a prescriber may hold you at your current dose for longer or step you back down — tell us rather than stopping on your own.
Reporting a side effect
Anyone in the UK can report a suspected side effect from any medicine directly to the regulator through the MHRA Yellow Card scheme. Reports build the safety picture for everyone taking the medicine, and you do not need to be certain the drug caused it.
Tell us as well — email info@slimn.co.uk — so your treatment can be reviewed.
Before you start
Every consultation asks about your medical history and current medicines so that risks specific to you are considered before anything is prescribed. Read who treatment is suitable for, or start a consultation.
Always read the patient information leaflet that comes with your medicine. It lists every reported side effect, not only the ones summarised here.