Social Media Captures GLP-1 Receptor Agonist Side Effects Not Seen in Clinical Trials

Follow Drugslib on

By Lori Solomon HealthDay Reporter

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com

via HealthDay

THURSDAY, April 16, 2026 -- Social media posts about glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists may identify patient concerns not captured in clinical trials, according to a study published online April 10 in Nature Health.

Neil K.R. Sehgal, from the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, and colleagues analyzed 410,198 Reddit posts (May 2019 to June 2025) mentioning semaglutide or tirzepatide to assess patient-reported experiences.

The researchers identified 67,008 self-reported users of whom 43.5 percent described at least one side effect. The most common side effects were gastrointestinal symptoms, including nausea (36.9 percent), fatigue (16.7 percent), vomiting (16.3 percent), constipation (15.3 percent), and diarrhea (12.6 percent). Unrecognized potential effects were also identified, including reproductive symptoms (e.g., menstrual irregularities) and temperature-related complaints (e.g., chills and hot flushes).

"Clinical trials generally identify the most dangerous side effects of drugs," coauthor Lyle Ungar, also from the University of Pennsylvania, said in a statement. "But they can fail to find what symptoms patients are most concerned about; even though social media is not necessarily representative, a large collection of posts may reflect additional concerns."

One author disclosed ties to the pharmaceutical industry.

Abstract/Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)

Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.

Source: HealthDay

Posted : 2026-04-17 02:06

Read more

Disclaimer

Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Drugslib.com is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Drugslib.com information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Drugslib.com does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Drugslib.com's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Drugslib.com's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners.

The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Drugslib.com does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Drugslib.com provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

Popular Keywords