Orforglipron Side Effects: What Should You Expect?

Orforglipron is a weight loss tablet that’s recently been approved for use in the US under the brand name Foundayo. It is a glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist like Wegovy, Ozempic, and Mounjaro but is taken as a pill rather than an injection.

This medication works in a similar way to other GLP-1 medications by slowing down stomach emptying, improving blood sugar control, and reducing hunger cues, helping you to feel less hungry and eat fewer calories. This, along with regular exercise, helps you to lose weight.

Like other GLP-1s, orforglipron is only effective when combined with a balanced, reduced-calorie diet and regular physical activity. It can help people lose an average 10-15% of their bodyweight after 72 weeks of taking the highest dose. Although this is slightly less than the average with GLP-1 injections, many people prefer the ease of taking a tablet rather than an injection.

As with any medication, orforglipron can come with side effects, and you may be wondering: What are the side effects of orforglipron? In this article, we’ll explore common orforglipron (Foundayo) side effects like nausea, vomiting, and diarrhoea, discuss more serious side effects, and when to seek help.

Common digestive side effects

Digestive or gastrointestinal side effects are some of the most common associated with orforglipron.

These include:

• Nausea

• Constipation

• Diarrhoea

• Vomiting

• Heart burn

• Abdominal pain

• Bloating

• Burping

• Passing wind

• Acid reflux

In clinical trials, between 60-69% of patients taking orforglipron experienced digestive side effects compared to just 37% of people taking non-active placebo pills. Around 6% of people taking the highest dose had to stop the medication due to these gastrointestinal side effects.

Around 60% of the time, digestive side effects are mild, but they can be severe in around 4% of people experiencing these side effects.

When they improve

The digestive Foundayo (orforglipron) side effects tend to be worse when you first start the medication. They usually improve as your body adapts to orforglipron being in your system, but this can take a few days or weeks.

You may also notice your side effects flare up again after each dose increase, but they should settle down after your body becomes used to the new higher dose. Again, this may take a little while.

Once you reach your maintenance dose and are no longer increasing your dose every month or so, you may well find your side effects level off.

How to manage digestive side effects

Digestive side effects often improve by themselves with time as your body gets used to the medication.

In some cases, you may need to speak to your prescriber about reducing your dose down. Some people’s bodies need longer to get used to dose increases or are unable to tolerate higher doses.

If your symptoms don’t get better with time and are severe or are significantly interfering with your daily life, you may need to stop orforglipron. After stopping the medication, your side effects should disappear. In this case, a healthcare professional may suggest an alternative weight loss medication instead.

For many people, mild digestive side effects like nausea or heartburn can be managed with a few simple changes such as:

• Eating small meals regularly throughout the day

• Opting for low-fat, easily digestive foods

• Drinking plenty of water

• Not lying down right after eating

If you have vomiting or diarrhoea, it’s important to avoid becoming dehydrated. If these symptoms continue for more than a few days, it’s important to seek medical advice.

Other common side effects

Other common side effects of orforglipron that impact 5% or more of people taking the medication include:

• Headaches

• Fatigue/tiredness

• Hair loss

Again, these side effects are mostly mild and can be managed by waiting for your body to adjust to the medication, reducing the dose, taking pain killers, and/or resting.

Serious side effects

Serious side effects of orforglipron are much rarer, but they can happen. If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms, it’s important to see medical attention.

Allergic reactions

Allergic reactions are a severe side effect that can happen when taking any medication. They can be mild with just a rash and/or itchy skin or can be more severe with swelling affecting the face and airway.

Always seek medical attention if you’re worried you’re experiencing an allergic reaction and call 999 in an emergency. If you know you are allergic to any of the ingredients found in Foundayo, do not take it.

Low blood sugar

Low blood sugar events are uncommon but have been reported in some people with type 2 diabetes who are take orforglipron along with other medications for diabetes like insulin. Severely low blood sugar is rare.

Signs of low blood sugar include hunger, sweating, dizziness, irritability, and very low blood sugar can cause shaking, confusion, dizziness, and even loss of consciousness. Your diabetes doctor should talk to you about what to look out for and what to do if you have low blood sugar.

Pancreatitis

GLP-1 medications can increase the risk of inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis), and this may be true with orforglipron.

In clinical trials, patients taking orforglipron seemed to be at an increased risk of developing pancreatitis. The data shows that if 10,000 people were followed up for 1 year, 14 taking orforglipron would be expected to develop pancreatitis compared to 4 taking a placebo.

The main symptom of pancreatitis is severe stomach pain (especially in the top part of the abdomen) that doesn’t go away and is worse after eating or moving. It may also come with back pain, a fever, bloating, bruising on the stomach, a fast heartbeat, and/or difficulty breathing.

Gallbladder problems

Gallstones have been reported in 1% of people taking orforglipron in clinical trials (compared to 0.7% of people taking a placebo) while gallbladder inflammation was reported in 0.4% (vs. 0.3% in patients on a placebo).

Signs to look out for include pain the right upper stomach, nausea, vomiting, and/or fever.

Kidney problems

Acute kidney problems have been reported in some people taking orforglipron, especially those who have experienced vomiting/diarrhoea and become dehydrated or have underlying kidney issues.

Usually, acute kidney problems are picked up with a blood test, but people can also feel tired, short of breath, confused, nauseous, have swollen feet/legs, or notice they’re urinating less often.

Diabetic retinopathy (eye problems)

Orforglipron may worsen an eye problem known as diabetic retinopathy in people with type 2 diabetes. This is usually temporary.

Signs of diabetic retinopathy include worsening eyesight, blurred vision, floaters in your vision, and/or difficulty seeing in low light.

Thyroid tumours

In studies involving mice and rats, GLP-1 medications have been shown to slightly increase the risk of a type of thyroid cancer known as C-cell tumours. Orforglipron was not shown to have this effect in rodent studies.

However, the medication leaflet carries a warning that the medication should be avoided by people with an increased risk of these types of tumours.

Signs of thyroid cancer to look out for include a mass in the neck, difficulty swallowing or breathing, persistent hoarseness.

Increased risk during surgery with general anaesthesia

When receiving a general anaesthetic (being put to sleep for surgery), the muscles in your throat and neck relax and don’t work as well as normal. This means in some cases the stomach contents can come up into the throat and go down into the lungs, which can lead to a type of aspiration pneumonia.

As orforglipron slows down how quickly the stomach empties, food and drink stay there for longer. This means it can increase the risk of aspiration pneumonia.

It’s important to tell your doctor you are taking orforglipron and they should be able to make adjustments to minimise the risk of this happening during surgery. Fasting before surgery minimises the risk of this.

A full list of all the side effects is available in the Foundayo US medication insert, but different information may be provided in the UK patient information leaflet when orforglipron is released in the UK.

When to seek help

If you’re worried you’re experiencing any severe or worrying medication side effects, it’s always best to seek advice from a medical professional. If you have chest pain, a fast heart rate, are struggling to breathe, or in any other emergency situation, call 999.

For less severe side effects, it’s always worth discussing them with your prescriber if they’re affecting your daily life.

Safety precautions

Some people may be at increased risk of side effects when taking orforglipron because of an underlying medical condition or other medications they take.

It’s always important to discuss your medical history with a healthcare professional before starting orforglipron or any new medication. That way, you’ll know it’s safe for you to take.

Remember, orforglipron has not yet been licensed for use in the UK so anyone selling the medication in the UK currently is doing so illegally. In this situation, the medication may not be legitimate and should not be taken.

If you’re looking for weight loss medication but don’t know where to start, why not complete an online weight loss consultation with Quick Meds. We offer personalised advice on the current weight loss medications available in the UK, and which is the best option for you.

Our team can review your medical history and then prescribe the most appropriate weight loss medication. Simply purchase your prescribed medication from us and we’ll deliver it quickly and safely to your home or local collection point.